Just recently, it was revealed that J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame had written a crime novel under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Quite a few reknowned writers have done that actually. Actors and actresses quite often adopt a stage name or screen name which is catchier or easier to remember or just sound better than their real name. And this got me thinking.
Do you use a real name when you blog or do you too, use a pen name or pseudonym? Should you use your real name?
I’m one to talk aren’t I? No one in their right minds would think I was really named “Paris B” LOL! 😀 My parents just weren’t that imaginative thankfully! I might have been laughed out of school and developed a complex. Or I might have been the coolest kid in school. Darn! 😛
But “Paris B” is what I blog under and the nom de plume I have been using ever since I set up my first blog over 7 years ago. It was a little more elaborate than this before, but Paris B will do for now 😉 There were reasons why I chose to adopt a nom de plume and why I will continue to use my nom de plume which I’ll share with you. There is no right or wrong way. Just your way.
So, I’d love to hear the story behind your blogging identity and whether you have chosen to use your real name or adopt a pseudonym 🙂 Here’s why I use a pseudonym.
A pseudonym helps with privacy
In my case, I chose to adopt a pseudonym because I wanted to keep my non-blog life private. I am a private person as I’ve shared before this, and I like to keep it that way. It’s ok for me if no one recognises me on the street. I don’t crave that sort of publicity. I suppose I am more like a writer and less of a public figure in that regard. I let my words do the talking, not me.
I have opened up a little more than usual in the past few years, but for the most part, I prefer to keep my cards close to my chest. I’m not embarrassed about my real name, but I know how easy it is to track down a person and their personal details just using their full name and I’d prefer not to go there.
When the pseudonym fits the blog personality better
The other reason I choose to blog under “Paris B” is because it just felt right for a beauty blog. A little glamorous, a little mysterious and a little fun. My real name isn’t half as much fun. I don’t think my parents planned for me to be an actress that’s for sure! 😛 When pressed, I go by the name “Sue” which isn’t half as glamorous, I think you’d agree 😉
I like to think of “Paris B” as my social face, and I can keep my real name and identity for my professional face. I dare say, it is rather awkward when the two worlds collide, which thankfully has only happened once or twice todate 😛 It surprised us both, that’s for sure!
The pseudonym could take on a life of its own
Does it bother me that “Paris B” is associated with My Women Stuff, or that I may not be receiving the accolades (or brickbats) due to me personally instead of letting “Paris B” take all the credit (or flack)?
Well, no it doesn’t. I suppose “Paris B” has evolved into a character and personality of her own, infused with a lot of my traits and values but with a more interesting name to front the blog. Paris B sure has a lot more fun than plain ol’ Sue 😛
Be sure to use a name to identify yourself
Whichever route you choose, I will highly recommend that you pick a name to identify yourself when you start blogging. Having a name, real or made up, makes you easier to relate to and for people to find some affinity with you. It is easier for me to relate to a “Paris from mywomenstuff.com” than to relate to “that blogger from mywomenstuff.com” or just “My Women Stuff”. The last has a faceless, flat tone to it and can make it harder to warm up to the person behind the blog because there doesn’t seem to be one behind the blog at all!
How do you pick one? Well, there’s always your real name if you’re stumped and aren’t as paranoid as I am. Or you could use a nickname or maybe a name you’d call yourself if you could.
Real name or make it up?
I’ve noticed that many bloggers I associate with go by their real names. A couple don’t but it hasn’t cramped their blogging style. The common thread is that almost everyone has a name, real or made up. It makes it easier for us all to relate to each other and to identify each other. Yes, I answer to “Paris” these days as much as I answer to my own name. You could say, I’ve grown into my “Paris B” persona. She lets me do things I might never do, and go places I could only dream of going to. I have a lot to thank her for! 😀
If you blog, do you use your real name or a pseudonym? As a reader, does it matter to you either way and do you find yourself identifying more closely to someone with a name?
It doesn’t bother me if a blogger doesn’t use a name, but it does make me feel a little more detached from them. Interacting with a blog doesn’t feel like interacting with a person if you have to refer to them by their blog name, unless of course they adopt a spin on their blog name for themselves. But it doesn’t always work 🙂 Your turn!
Paris B
Simple Blogging Tips are some simple tips I have for fellow bloggers, based on my own experiences. I’m no ‘guru’ but I hope they will help you. You may read up on previous Simple Blogging Tips here or please feel free to ask your question in the comment box or in email.
hahaha good talk! I actually always thought Paris was your real name/real life nickname LOL. I’ll probably always go by Morselz or MM on the blog. I put my real name out there because of my job, but I’ve come to associate those monikers with my blog. And I agree exactly with what you said, that it’s like a whole other persona. Obviously it’s still me, but in my mind, MM just IS my blog and so I’ll keep writing from that name.
Hehe the fun thing is that with more and more people being named after places, Paris doesn’t seem so strange as a name anymore 😉 It was a surprise learning your real name, and although you never put out one before, I think you’re an MM through and through 🙂 It also helped that you were active on Twitter so I knew there was a real person behind the blog, not just a faceless entity 😀
I used to use names associated with animals or cooler names. So it’s funny having someone calling me e.g. “Birdy” all the time. Then coz. of my style & attitude,
it shocked many when they found out that I’m actually a female. A girl!
Now, being more comfortable with myself. I go by the name “Vera” although certain group of friends (IT/non-IT/English speaking/non-Eng. speaking/diff. group age) & schoolmates are more comfortable with my nickname or Chinese name.
Sometimes, I get multiple identity disorder coz. each group of those friends communicate & understand in diff. ways. So hv. to switch & fine-tuned all my “settings”.
But like you & Harry Potter’s author, I still leave comments & posts in initials that doesn’t expose the gender or race.
YES! We live in a funny world, sadly people do tend to judge your background/IQ based on your name!
Just yesterday, I left a comment & suggestion about a How To post (IT related) on a US online site & surprisingly a number of replies came back negatively.
Funny & sad ones goes – “What do you know, you’re a girl!”, “Where you from China?” “Wow ur English v. gud!”.
But it’s all good, being more mature, I’m more comfortable with both my online & offline self. So yup, I’ve starting my own website again 😀
Goodness, that is so strange and so bigoted! You’d think we’d have moved on from all that by now -_-” That’s the problem with the online world, I’ve realised. People feel they can say/do anything just because they are faceless. If they had to say/do it in person, I doubt they’d dare. In real life, I have my own nickname/name too so only people from a very distant past or who I know in a professional capacity know my full name, which is how I want it 😀 Good to know you’re starting up your website again. I’m sure it’ll be very helpful/interesting 😀
Yes truly! 🙂 Thanks for replying all my comments.
You are an inspiration to many & to me!
I do hope my site will do more good than evil. LOL
My pleasure! It’s my way of “chatting” with everyone who’s taken time to leave a comment! 😀 I do hope your site will do more good than evil LOL! Importantly, it’s to go out there and have fun doing it!
It never really occurred to me to use a pseudonym. But now that you’ve pointed out those points, I see what you mean about having your pen name take a life on its own. I actually love yours Paris B – because it suits the beauty and lifestyle blog you have here.
Aww thank you Shari! 🙂 Your name is pretty on its own so, there’s no need for a pseudonym! 😉 Also, I think I over-think things haha!
I use my real name, Rute 🙂 it doesn’t bother me at all.
But yeah, real or fake, the important is having a name to be called by!
Is Rute why your blog is called Beautyroots? 😀
It is! That’s how I came up with a name for the blog, ahah 😀
I have the habit of using the nickname Root, or Rootinha as a subtitute for my real name (like on the internet and such), but in the end it’s read the same way basically!
You are probably one of the first persons to associate the two names, congrats! ahaha
Haha yay me! 😀 I wasn’t sure initially if it was pronounced “Root” or “Riute” but I figured it should be the former to match the blog name. I was right yay 🙂
Pseudonym for me too – Sam is a lot simpler to say and type! My real name is kind of unusual and I don’t particularly like it because I could never get stickers/pens etc with my name on them as a kid!
Sam is (hopefully) an extension of my quirkier points, I also think that some people in my atmosphere would be very critical of blogging. This way they have less ammunition!
Even my parents call me Sam Still Reading on occasions!
Haha I like that your parents call you Sam Still Reading! That’s so cute!
Hi Paris… A really interesting post. Never thought of using a pseudonym for my blog though I always wanted to have a unique name (as Neha is more common in India, where I am originally from) but now settled in Singapore, it is not so easily heard off so did not bother to think anything of it…
Yes, I would definitely prefer that a name is associated with a blog to give it a more personal and emotional touch… 🙂
Hi Neha, I think some names lend themselves easily to a blogging identity, like yours 🙂 Some chinese names are harder to associate especially if you have 2 names so having a 1 word blogging name always makes things easier. Neha is a pretty name and you’re right. It’s not a name we hear a lot in this region 🙂
A variation of my nickname, but I don’t disclose the rest of my name nor blog about others in my life. Just about my thoughts and experiences on stuff. Yet if someone were to disclose specifics in my comments or elsewhere, I would have it deleted or ask the service provider to delete the page or even the user.
As I am starting a new blog now, I did not want to use my real name. Actually I have never used my full name online. I always used a nickname. But when I have my previous blog I always felt like my private life would mix with the blog (mainly strangers).
So for the new blog I decided to use a name that is very close to my actual name. To protect my privacy from people who don’t have good intention, you know. But I am glad it’s not uncommon, so I am a bit relieved.