15 Comments
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Gary Gruber's avatar

Me as I am, my name attached to where I've been, what I've done and it's a little late in the game to think about another one. I prefer the authentic me WYSIWYG. (always like saying wizzywig out loud).

Identities plural? One is more than enough, thank you. Regardless, it's fun to think what a pen name might be IF I were to consider one.

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Ahhh, yes! What you see is what you get! We have that in common, Gary!

… and we’re pretty good, aren’t we? 💕❤️

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Gary Gruber's avatar

Is that a rhetorical question? 🤣. Yes, we're more than good, we're better! I think I have an old post about Better.

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Dust it off and re-post it. I’d love to read it. 🙏🙏

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Elizabeth Grace Martinez's avatar

Interesting facts. I have a nom de plume that I love but I decided to publish this Substack under my real name because I feel it’s a powerful name. I’ll save my alias for down the line I guess.

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C.J. Heck's avatar

I don’t have one and I don’t plan on having one. I still feel the same. I want my own name on my books. I’m probably being very childish, but that’s who I am.

I think it comes directly from a narcissistic ex who used to rudely call me an “H.S.G.” as in … “You wouldn’t know how to do that” or “You wouldn’t understand” because you’re just an H.S.G. … high school graduate.

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Elizabeth Grace Martinez's avatar

ew. i was just thinking how my ex used to call me “small.” like “oh you’re so small, you’re so cute.” he acted like it was endearing but it was infantilizing.

also you’re not childish, you’re proud of yourself. as you should be.

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Thank you, Elizabeth. I agree with you, “small” isn’t a compliment and you have a right to feel annoyed.

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Marilyn Graham Werden's avatar

I have some explicit initials for a guy like that.

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Hahahaha, thank you Marilyn!

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Trudi Nicola's avatar

Interesting reasons - and valid - for using a pen name.

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C.J. Heck's avatar

I guess so. I’ll never be famous enough to need one, even if I change genres. 😁🤣

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Trudi Nicola's avatar

Same 😂 though I considered it should I publish my thesis, but then I blurred the lines of reality within the text instead …

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C.J. Heck's avatar

💕❤️💕

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