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Help[Opinions] Pen name
Hello! I am working on my first novel and really need help with a pen name. I was keen on using an anglicized version of my name so Clara Marie but it feels too plain. I don't want to use my surname since I don't like it and it would also be hard to pronounce for people who don't know my first language (writing the book in English which is not my first). What do you think of this pen name? Do you have any interesting, maybe catchy suggestions? If it helps in any way the genre is a mystery novel.
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Plenty of authors have plain-sounding names (Stephen King, Anne Rice) or hard to pronounce names (Michael Ondaatje, anyone?) so I really think this is a non-issue. I think you should just concentrate on writing your book the best you can rite it, and worry about a possible pen name when/if you are ready to publish.
Just wanna add one possibility I came up with - C. M. Landshut. Using just initials of my name and then German version of my mom's maiden name. This is my only other idea. So would like opinions on this or advice on improvement. Thanks!
Using initials instead of Clara Marie would be one way of eliminating any bias that people may have about female writers (publishers or readers). I think I like C.M. - it gives you a little mystery like your genre. Good luck!