I’m back to one of the topics that I mentioned at the very beginning of my blog: the pen name.  Sometimes I wonder if the blandness of my name gets in the way of my success.  Sure, a story should sell itself.  But who is going to read my story and remember my name to look for more of my stuff?  Scott W. Baker?  It even sounds a little like George W. Bush.  Not cool.

 

Online I’m Oso.  Many of you might only know me as Oso or have to make the connection between my real name and my handle.  Would it be so bad to be Oso Baker?  I think I need to decide soon, before I start making career-launching sales (like placing in WotF or something).  

 

There are problems with the plan.  I do have some previously published work, but most of it is obscure and hard to find (if not impossible).  But there’s at least one other Scott Baker out there writing speculative fiction (vampire stuff, I think).  I don’t want to be mistaken for him (hence the W).  

Anyone out there use a pen name?  Abandon an old pen name?  Have an opinion about pen names? 

For more about my pen name dilemma, see my very first post.