Do you use your real name?

I rarely use my real name on the internet. It's a private thing and I don't want everybody to know my real name. It might be easier if you have an "everyday name" but I don't.

Hey there, Sillychick. Well, if the websites seem reputable and focus on writing and perfecting writing skills, I see that as a fairly safe place to reveal my real name. I mean, if I'm in the business to write, how can I build a portfolio or become known for my writing skill if I don't use my real name??? If the website is a social networking website, I am more likely to use a pen name as I might be revealing more personal info there. PearlGrace

I use both . It may be my pen name at some places and my real name at some. But safety isn't why I do this. I would rather some places not know my real name Just like I don't want others to know what my profession was before I retired. Then again you get laughed at when you use Smith, Jones or Brown as a last name. Most writers use a pseudonym when they get their first novel/book published, much like Stephen King did. Before women writers became acceptable women used names that were unisex or only their initials so no one would know it was a woman. Now I am finding that men have used pen names that were female names to publish romance novels.

I don't use my real name there, I don't think it would affect your career as many of the previous famous writers in the rest of the world use their pen names instead of real names. I think it's the stuff you write about that contributes to your career, I don't really think the name matter. I don't plan to use my real name anywhere when I write.

I think it is a lot safer to keep your real name private. I rarely use my real name online. I don't think it would really affect your career if you established a pen name and used that to publish articles and such. That way you could establish a place in the writing community without revealing your true identity and risking identity theft or stalkers or something else along those lines.

Hmmm...I use both my real name and my screen name. Most of the sites I write for I write under Aiden of the Tower or aidenofthetower. It isn't something anyone would publish, but it has meaning to me. On the other hand, I fell for the list your real name and make more money bit on Helium. I didn't come up with a pen name and am really Danelle Karth there. Plain and simple. I don't think it is dangerous to use your real name, but it isn't dangerous to use a pen name either. Only issue now is that both are all over then net and can't be separated if you know how to run a good search! LOL. My brand is me...it comes with more then one name and title attached to it...shrug.

I use my real name. The internet isn't any more dangerous or transparent than real life, and people know me in real life. I don't use my real name here, though, and few other places like this. Don't really know why...

I always use my real name in articles I write as well as on my website, my Squidoo lenses, forums, anywhere else, etc. I feel that this helps in marketing myself and in "branding" myself. I feel it is more beneficial to share your real name than to not share it. Let people get to know you, the real you, and you will build greater credibility - there are a lot more real, honest people out there than criminals or psychopaths.

I don't think it is safe to use a real name on such places, although others believe that it lends credibility and increases earnings. To me that is not worth the risk.

I started out my writing career (years ago in the print market) using a pen name--Morgan Drake Eckstein. Which I still use as you can tell--I saw no reason not to bring it into the internet world with me (after all, I did have a small audience already using it). Your pen name is like a brand. So many internet writers use names that no legitimate publisher would ever consider listing as a byline. So if you are going to use a penname, make it sound like it could be someone's real name. That is my opinion.

I use my pen name, VampAmber, everywhere online. Not for safety issues, though. I use it because I hate my last name. So whenever submitting something, instead of having the author be Amber MyLastNameHere, it's always VampAmber. When I get published, I even plan on my pseudonym being V. Amber.