Recently, I’ve been having an internal debate with myself on a very particular question.  One that is somewhat important when it comes to my writing, and with that my public/social network persona.  It has to be a question many writers ask themselves at some point when preparing for their career.

Should I write under a pseudonym?

It’s a valid question, and deciding whether or not to use a nom de plume is not as easy a decision as you might think.  You have to take a lot of factors into account.  First off is, how much do you like your real name?  Is it easy to pronounce and/or spell?  Does your name fit the genre you write?  Do you share a name with someone who is already published? Do you want your real name bouncing around out there in the social cyberspace?

These are just a few of the things I’ve thought about in the time before the book is picked up by a publisher. There are a slew of other questions to take into account when you finally do reach the stage of being published.  Where will your book be shelved at the local bookstore?  Toward the top shelf?  At the bottom shelf?  What other authors will be surrounding your book?  Do you plan on writing in multiple genres?

Personally, I’ve never much cared for my last name. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to be part of the family I’m in, and I am proud of my heritage.  But after going through years of butchering mispronunciations from nearly everyone I meet (Cam-pez… Cam-pasi… Cam-pies…etc.) it becomes a little grating.

So would I be better suited using a name that rolls off the tongue easily?  Maybe one that is more memorable?  Or shorter?

No decisions yet, but something to think about.

– DC