What to do if you have the same name as another author?

Yes – two authors can have the same name. But your solution is a very good idea – include your middle initial or middle name – so you stand out from the other author. Who knows – maybe your book will be a hit – and your full name will then be famous!

Can you have the same pen name as another author?

Yes, an author can legally use a pen name or pseudonym to publish their intellectual property. Pen names are legal, as long as you have purchased the rights to your pen name, and have copyrighted your name. An author of a copyrighted work is allowed to use a pseudonym or a pen name.

Are authors names copyrighted?

Under U.S. law you can’t copyright a name, real or fictitious. Copyrights protect authorship, such as short stories, poems, or novels. If a writer identifies herself to the copyright office and registers her pen name, the copyright term for the work is the author’s life plus 70 years.

How do I find out if a pen name is taken?

To choose a pen name:

1. Identify the right age for your pseudonym.
2. Choose options that fit your literary genre.
3. Check the availability of your pen name’s URL and social media handles.
4. Choose a name that’s easy to spell, pronounce, and remember.
5. Make sure your pen name isn’t similar or identical to another author’s.

Can you reuse a book title?

Titles cannot be copyrighted in the United States. Therefore, two or more books can have the same title. However, if you use a title that is the same or very similar to another book, it makes it hard for your title to stand out. Having an original book title helps your book stand out.

Can you have the same first and last name?

Same personal name and family name Among families with patronymic surnames, partial reduplication often occurs with people (usually males) who have the same forename from which the surname or last name derives. Examples include Sven Svensson, Ioannis Ioannou and Isahak Isahakyan.

Why do some authors use pen names?

They can’t publish under their real name. Today, many writers may use pen names to disguise their true identity for their day jobs, not wanting their bosses or colleagues to know that they write a particular genre and be subject to scrutiny or embarrassment.

Can a book have the same title as another?

Do I have to use my real name for copyright?

Copyright does not protect individual names, titles or phrases. Copyright laws are actually very restrictive, and to apply these laws to items that may be duplicated coincidentally, or that may be legitimately used in unrelated instances, (such as a name, title or phrase), makes no sense.

Should you use a pen name to publish?

Nowadays, authors don’t really have to use a pen name like many authors throughout history had to. It’s more of a preference now, which is why it’s important that you have at least one solid reason for wanting to use a nom de plume to publish your book.

What is a pseudonym (pen name)?

A pseudonym, also known as a pen name or nom de plume, is a fictitious name that a writer or author uses instead of his or her real name. A pen name is listed as the author’s name on a published book, and readers often do not know the real name or identity of the author. “A pen name is an assumed name used by a writer instead of their real name.”

Is the author’s real name known to the publisher?

The author’s real name is likely known to the publisher but not to the public. Many authors have used pen names over the years. Some authors use a pen name in order to keep their real identity secret, such as a former spy writing a novel. Other authors use a pen name so they have a shorter name that is easier to say for branding purposes.

How do I choose a pen name for my book?

Try an online search of your prospective name to see what comes up. You don’t want your readers to confuse you with the famous foot fungus specialist of the same name. Literary agents and editors will expect a certain protocol for writers using pen names, especially if submitting a query using a pen name .