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Thread: Can self-published authors use pen names on their titles?


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Permlink Replies: 8 - Pages: 1 - Last Post: Nov 3, 2012 7:43 AM Last Post By: zan23rd
mademli

Posts: 2
Registered: 04/02/12
Can self-published authors use pen names on their titles?
Posted: Apr 2, 2012 2:00 PM
 
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Hi there

I've been meaning to publish one of my books, and I wonder whether I can use a pen name for it (and still be eligible to be paid)?

I know the name of the bank account/cheque must be the same with the name of the account, but is it still possible to use a nick name for that account?

Thanks in advance.
gldrummond

Posts: 3,689
Registered: 05/08/09
Re: Can self-published authors use pen names on their titles?
Posted: Apr 2, 2012 3:25 PM   in response to: mademli in response to: mademli
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You can put any pen name you'd like in when submitting your books.
megapixpublishing

Posts: 48
Registered: 10/19/10
Re: Can self-published authors use pen names on their titles?
Posted: Apr 3, 2012 12:06 AM   in response to: mademli in response to: mademli
 
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As I posted on a previous thread re: pen names (liability etc)

You can't afford to forget when writing/self-publishing under a pen name copyright with the Library of Congress.

This is the bottom line:

http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl101.html

"An author of a copyrighted work can use a pseudonym or pen name. A work is pseudonymous if the author is identified on copies or phonorecords of the work by a fictitious name. Nicknames and other diminutive forms of legal names are not considered fictitious. Copyright does not protect pseudonyms or other names.

If you write under a pseudonym but want to be identified by your legal name in the Copyright Office’s records, give your legal name and your pseudonym on your application for copyright registration. Check “pseudonymous” on the application if the author is identified on copies of the work only under a fictitious name and if the work is not made for hire. Give the pseudonym where indicated.

If you write under a pseudonym and do not want to have your identity revealed in the Copyright Office’s records, give your pseudonym and identify it as such on your application. You can leave blank the space for the name of the author. If an author’s name is given, it will become part of the Office’s online public records, which are accessible by Internet. The information cannot later be removed from the public records. You must identify your citizenship or domicile.

In no case should you omit the name of the copyright claimant. You can use a pseudonym for the claimant name. But be aware that if a copyright is held under a fictitious name, business dealings involving the copyrighted property may raise questions about its ownership. Consult an attorney for legal advice on this matter.

Works distributed under a pseudonym enjoy a term of copyright protection that is the earlier of 95 years from publication of the work or 120 years from its creation. However, if the author’s identity is revealed in the registration records of the Copyright Office, including in any other registrations made before that term has expired, the term then becomes the author’s life plus 70 years.

FL-101, Reviewed December 2011
mademli

Posts: 2
Registered: 04/02/12
Re: Can self-published authors use pen names on their titles?
Posted: Apr 4, 2012 6:04 AM   in response to: megapixpublishing in response to: megapixpublishing
 
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Thank you very much.
cindyiii

Posts: 2
Registered: 05/24/12
Re: Can self-published authors use pen names on their titles?
Posted: May 24, 2012 4:25 PM   in response to: mademli in response to: mademli
 
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I hate to hone in on someone else's question, but I am new to this site and new to the world of kindle direct publishing. My question is very similar. If I copyright my book and state that I am using a psuedonym, how do I fill out the author section in kdp so I still receive payment. Do I just write my pseudonym as author or do I need to add a slash and then my real name in order for the check to be made out to me. I considered using my psuedonym under author and my real name under publisher since it seems like they make the checks out to the publisher anyway. Would that work? Any advice on this would be really helpful.
dameleo

Posts: 243
Registered: 06/18/11
Re: Can self-published authors use pen names on their titles?
Posted: May 27, 2012 3:16 PM   in response to: cindyiii in response to: cindyiii
 
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I use three different names as author in three different genres of books that I have done but my payment information is in my 'real name'. I have had no problems with this system.

What you list under, "Author," is how it will be published. If is published under your account and that publishing account is under your real name, the money will go to you're account.

Message was edited by: dameleo

ETA a few times to clarify further.

Message was edited by: dameleo
thorkill71

Posts: 261
Registered: 03/06/12
Re: Can self-published authors use pen names on their titles?
Posted: May 29, 2012 6:15 AM   in response to: mademli in response to: mademli
 
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Your main account has all your "real" details...address, payment info, etc.

When you post a book, that's when you use your pen name. Payments are attached to the over account information...to each book.

v/r

Thorkill71

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wfdodds

Posts: 1
Registered: 06/21/12
Re: Can self-published authors use pen names on their titles?
Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:23 AM   in response to: mademli in response to: mademli
 
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I used a pen name and my own, too, for "How to Write Your Novel in Nine Weeks." I was surprised, and amused, when KDP listed the sock puppet's name ("Little Willie Sockspeare") first.
http://www.amazon.com/Write-Your-Novel-Weeks-ebook/dp/B005Q371FI/ref=sr_1_8?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1317423272&sr=1-8
zan23rd

Posts: 99
Registered: 09/18/12
Re: Can self-published authors use pen names on their titles?
Posted: Nov 3, 2012 7:43 AM   in response to: wfdodds in response to: wfdodds
 
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