That's not what it says on my birth certificate

April 8, 2009 3:15 PM

I do a lot of writing under an assumed name. Recently, people who know me through my writing have started offering me paid work, which involves filling out tax forms and giving my social security number. The name I've chosen for myself is one that someone would logically have (it's not a handle like Wonkette or an obviously fake name like Lydia Lunch). What's the best way to address this issue with my potential employers so they don't think I'm schizophrenic or up to no good?

I chose my nom de plume to distance my writing from my day job and because I'm not especially fond of my birth name. Out of respect for my parents, I haven't legally changed it. I'm not running from the law or hiding any major crimes, and a Google search under my birth name turns up very little. Apart from a rather unfortunate first name, I have nothing to hide, but I don't want to cause undue concern with potential employers. What should I do?

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (9 answers total)

I write Real Name AKA Pen Name on my tax forms and claim the income that way. I do tell employers I use a pen name. They can make the checks out to pen name or my real name. But I work under the fake name.
posted by Maisie Jay at 3:19 PM on April 8, 2009

The nom de plume is a respected tradition; just explain the situation honestly and you should be fine. There are even people with "unsellable" names who are asked to use a pseudonym by their publishers. Don't worry about it.
posted by sonic meat machine at 3:19 PM on April 8, 2009 [1 favorite]

It's always best to keep things simple. Just explain that you write under a different name "in order to set up a different and distinct corporate or brand identity for my writing. I've found it has worked well over the years, but at the same time payment will need to be made out to my given or birth name. Let me know if this is confusing or if you have any questions."
posted by KokuRyu at 3:20 PM on April 8, 2009

If you really want to avoid anyone knowing this, you could ask to work as a contractor, and have them pay you as such (to your pen/business name). But as SMM says it's a very common thing in writing circles anyway.

I'd frame it as something you don't mind trusting them with, but also make it understood that it is a private thing. Like...

"I'm using my real name on the forms, please don't publish it."
"All right, here are the forms you needed. Notice I used my real name, which I don't like getting out, so can you ask HR to respect that?"
posted by rokusan at 3:39 PM on April 8, 2009

Just fill out the forms using your real name, but include a note saying that you prefer to use your assumed name for your byline.

They won't think it's strange at all -- writers do this all the time. Just ask Eric Blair (whom you probably know better as George Orwell), Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain), Anne Rice (aka Anne Beaudelaire), or Stephen King (aka Richard Bachman, sometimes).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:58 PM on April 8, 2009

"Jane Jones is my pen name, so we'll have to do all the paperwork and checks under my legal name, Dorothy Doe."
posted by Sidhedevil at 4:00 PM on April 8, 2009

Back when I was in college, a friend made a pretty good living writing porn novels under a pseudonym. Then one publisher accidentally included his real name as the author on one of the inside pages.

So there is some risk in disclosing the real name to the publisher.
posted by yclipse at 5:26 PM on April 8, 2009 [1 favorite]

Setup a LLC named Pen-Name llc. Get checks made to Pen Name.

QED
posted by Xhris at 7:36 PM on April 8, 2009 [2 favorites]

I use my legal first & middle names for everything but my taxes. I ONLY use my legal last name for *legal* purposes. Like you, I haven't legally changed my name (and probably never will) to avoid alienating my family.

For work purposes, I guess it's a bit easier for me since only the last names are different. Still, I end up explaining "Oh, I have both of my parents' last names and only use my mom's socially, but my dad's is still the one on my taxes" when it comes time for employers to write a check. My bank will allow me to cash checks with just first & middle names written on it - see if you can do something like that with your bank, ask if you can use your Nom de Plume on your account somehow.

I know plenty of artists & writers who don't work under their legal names. You might get a funny look when you explain it the first time, but it usually doesn't cause any confusion past "shrug, write the check, move on."
posted by grapefruitmoon at 10:59 AM on April 9, 2009