Pseudonyms

From the old Board:


Title:Pseudonyms
Views: 324

Author

GhislaineEmrys


In one of the earlier incarnations of this message board, there was a thread where people could explain why/how they had selected their alias. I thought it was pretty interesting and would like to resurrect it since we have lots of new members now and I'm curious about their names.

I was thinking about that because I just finished reading an essay in the Sunday Book Review of The New York Times about writers who use pseudonyms. Here's the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/books/review/essay-the-rise-and-fall-of-pseudonyms.html?ref=todayspaper&pagewanted=all

I'll start! I've always liked the name Ghislaine because it's medieval French and means vow, hostage, pledge. That seemed appropriate when started reading and writing ASJ fanfic--I couldn't get enough of it and felt chained to my computer! Emrys I chose because it's the name of a character in what's probably my favorite book, The Crystal Cave, and is an alternate name for Merlin; I'm very interested in the Arthurian legend and have read a lot about Dark Age Britain.

That said, if I were to select an alias today, I'd choose something that has more of a Western flavor. Oh well, too late now!


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Date Posted: 06/26/2011 6:26 PM



#1
Remuda

That thread sounds familiar, Ghis. I knew of the origin of the surname of your alias but not of the first. Very interesting!

Not sure if I answered there or not, although I think most of you know I was familiar with the word, "remuda," and when I heard it again in "Tenstrike," decided to use it as an alias, as it seemed appropriate.


Date Posted:06/26/2011 6:32 PM


#2
Fortitudine

Fortitudine (pronounced "forty-TWO dee-nay, if anyone cares) was the motto of the US Marines in the early 19th century.



(c'mon you expected anything else?)


If all else fails - duck. As a defensive stratagem it's unreliable but incredibly re-assuring for a moment or two.

Date Posted:06/26/2011 6:46 PM



#3
RosieAnnie

RosieAnnie is what all the gay guys call me. Go figure.



"If it's worth doing, it's worth doing badly." "The failure in doing something is stopping too soon."

Date Posted:06/26/2011 6:49 PM




#4
skykomish

I wanted the name of a river I've run and like with significant white water. I rejected my favorite river, because I didn't want to be known as White Salmon. The Skykomish is a beautiful river which runs through very pretty country, and I like the way the word sounds.

Ghis - I love The Crystal Cave and the sequel novels. When I saw your name, those books were my first thought



Date Posted:06/26/2011 8:19 PM



#5
GiddyUp


I got my name from the archivment you get in World of Worldcraft when you get your first mount (50% speed). Thought it suited.

Ghislaine: I'm interested in the Athurian Legend too! I've tried to find a book about it as there seems to be so many variations, in film, TV and books.


I also got Tomb Raider Legend, which is about the Athurian Legend or more precisly, about Excalibur. Apperantly the Sword in the Stone (or was it lake?) and Excalibur are two differnt swords. Intresting.


I did see the Merlin TV-show but I don't like it. It doesn't fit what I have got from other sources. But what do I know.




"I like it when you worry Kid. I can trust you to look after me better." - Hannibal Heyes.

Date Posted:06/27/2011 3:07 AM




#6
Frisgogirl


My name isn't as interesting, especially since I typed it wrong and have been stuck with Frisgogirl ever since.



What I MEANT to write was Friscogirl. As in San Francisco, my hometown.




Sigh


Call it, Kid! Heads...or Tails?

Date Posted:06/27/2011 3:39 AM




#7
GhislaineEmrys


I like Frisgogirl! I understand it's supposed to be Friscogirl, and I can use that instead if you'd like, but your inadvertent error suggests a melding of Frisco and You Go Girl, which I think has a very nice connotation!

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Date Posted:06/27/2011 3:46 AM




#8
GiddyUp



Frisgogirl - I've always typed your name as Friscogirl without thinking much on it.



"I like it when you worry Kid. I can trust you to look after me better." - Hannibal Heyes.

Date Posted:06/27/2011 8:21 AM




#9
sistergrace


My pen name is Grace R. Williams.

G.R.A.C.E is an acronym - God's Riches At Christ's Expense. The middle initial and last name are a tribute to someone who has had a significant impact on my life.

Sister Grace is my 'good girl' side, like Sister Grace in Six Strangers at Apache Springs. She's quiet, shy, and her motives are upright, even if they don't always beget fairy-tale endings. Sister Grace also has enough horse sense, worldliness, or passion in her otherwise-sisterly soul to appreciate an exceptional man when Kid Curry happens to cross her path!

And if I have a 'good ' side, then it stands to reason there must also be other, darker facets to my psyche. These alter-egos could, in theory, be enticed to howl, if the moon is full and the mood is right.

The "real" me is a unique, if not odd, blend of all these personalities, causing my husband no end of entertainment, exasperation and confusion. Bless him for sticking around! As I said before, Sister Grace has enough sense to appreciate an exceptional man!

As a child and teenager I found reading a drudgery and writing, excruciating! It wasn't until I matured that I discovered an affinity with books, yet I still never believed I would ever write anything! No one was more surprised than I was, the day a story birthed itself from somewhere deep inside. Ever since, I've been enjoying this little hobby. Okay, so by now, it's become a full-blown addiction/obsession/compulsion.

When someone enjoys something I've written and says so, it fuels the flame, intensifying the fire.

Looking forward to much continued reading and writing with all of you!



I'm not much of a philosopher...I just kinda take things as they come. KC

Date Posted:06/27/2011 9:41 AM




#10
Frisgogirl

Ghis- "you go girl" ! hmm, never thought my name could be interpreted that way. Maybe my mistake in typing it was "intentional"!!!!!




Call it, Kid! Heads...or Tails?

Date Posted:06/27/2011 10:14 AM



#11
FrankieASJ



It takes some doing remembering everyone's pseudonyms - some I still haven't connected with names on a board.

My pen name is Lana Coombe, which is a form of Lannacombe which is my favourite beach here in south Devon. Many an inspiring thought has come to me while watching the waves roll in, or listening to the crackle of pebbles, inhaling the salty scent of seaweed, oozing sand between the toes, paddling in the shallows, riding a wave on a board ... you get the picture!

On another note - the new girl at work is called Ghislaine. I got a bit confused when I got an email and her name was listed - thought my email was mixing up contacts for a moment!

The Merlin show bears no resemblance to the legend does it?! Hubby went for a job on it but they wanted so much CGI he turned it down!!! There's a new gritty series called Camelot just started on the BBC (I think?!) which some friends have mentioned as being quite interesting. Might be worth a look.



The only thing I learned from love was how to shoot somebody who out drew ya' - Leonard Cohen/ Hallelujah.

Date Posted:06/27/2011 1:42 PM



#12
silverkelpie



An interesting topic! When I was a little girl my grandfather used to tell me the story of the Kelpie with the silver bridle and the mean old laird who tempted it out of the water to make it a slave until it got revenge. I used to love it! A Kelpie was a Celtic mythological creature who lived in the water and took the shape of a beautiful horse. When I needed something related to me and something western, a horse was an obvious choice and the story came to mind.

He was a great storyteller, my grandfather. He could really bring them to life. He also used to tell me that he used to fight the Romans and he looked so old to me that I used to think it was absolutely true! Nowadays, I'm not so sure.......

Speaking of Arthurian Legend, have any of you read the Mists of Avalon? It's wonderful!


Sarah Whyment

Date Posted:06/27/2011 2:03 PM




#13
EleanorW


I probably replied in the original thread, but my alias is nowhere near as interesting as some of the ones you all have. Mine is just an anagram of the letters in my real name.

Re Arthurian legend, well, yes, there are so many theories about it, it's very confusing. But I guess thats why its a legend No documented proof, just misty rumours from the depths of time. Depending on which version you read, King Arthur is alleged to have been buried pretty much everywhere around the UK.


"Death is not the end of all, yet just the close of a glorious fall..." PD

Date Posted:06/27/2011 2:06 PM





#14
Remuda


As well re Arthurian legend, count me as another interested party. I have visited the alleged gravesite of Arthur and Guinevere on the grounds of what remains of Glastonbury Abbey. Whether or not it's "actual" or not, it's fun to think it is.

It's also been a long time since I've sat down with Malory or "Mists of Avalon" or any other Arthurian-inspired book, so this has me thinking it's time again...

Date Posted:06/27/2011 3:15 PM



#15
nm131



Frisgogirl - Without going back and looking at my posts for your stories, I'm pretty sure I've been typing Friscogirl all along, oops.

My alias is boring. I was a lurker on another board (ASJ Collection) for a long time. I had just rediscovered ASJ and had never been involved in a message board or fanfiction previously. For awhile one could access it as a guest and eventually I had to register. I needed something I could remember so I picked my initials and my house number. The same login crossed over into everything ASJ. I never in a million years thought I could or would write a post (I would read anything but always hated to write). I read all the challenges until one month a complete challenge story hopped or rather pushed it's way into my head and demanded to be written. That challenge grew into a real story and I now needed a name and a better one than nm131.

The intials corresponded to my Irish Grandmother's name - Nell (actually her name was Helen but no one ever called her that) McKeon.

Regarding the Authurain legends. I read Crystal Cave and the Hollow Hills many many years ago (probably around 6th grade) and multiple times since then. I never lost interest and have read stacks of books both fiction and nonfiction on the topic. My interest in Tolkien ties into that as well, since Professor Tolkien used the legends (as well as the Norse sagas and mythology. Christian beliefs) as part of the source material for his works.


Gentlemen, gentlemen, you were wonderful! - The Pilot

Date Posted:06/27/2011 5:31 PM



#16
skykomish



Those of you who have read the Mary Stewart books, The Crystal Cave and the subsequent novels, have you read the fourth book, The Wicked Day? I'm curious because I haven't met many people who have read that book.



Date Posted:06/27/2011 7:49 PM




#17
GhislaineEmrys







Sheesh! I had no idea my mention of Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy would elicit so many comments!

Yes, I've read all four books, numerous times; have the first three but not the last. While interesting to see how the story progresses, I'm not especially fond of the final one.



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Date Posted:06/27/2011 8:07 PM




#18
PenskiASJ


Like nm131, I was a lurker and never thought of writing. Creative writing was one of my worse subjects in school. Read all the challenges and when I read the topic "No Love Lost", a story came to my head and demanded to be written. Well, not really a story, but a few paragraphs. Took a lot of nerve to post that first one and realized I needed a name. Penski was one of my mom's nicknames for me and I always think of her when I type it or someone calls me that name.

Have thought of changing it to one with a first and last name or more Western sounding, but... Nah!


Date Posted:06/27/2011 8:29 PM




#19
GiddyUp



Somehow I doubth those stories are translated to Swedish, or even able to buying.
I got the Lords of the Ring triology. I haven't read all of them 'tho. Midgard is the only thing Norse I thought was in the books.


"I like it when you worry Kid. I can trust you to look after me better." - Hannibal Heyes.

Date Posted:06/28/2011 8:20 AM






#20
EleanorW


Reply to Remuda (06/27/2011 11:15 PM)


As well re Arthurian legend, count me as another interested party. I have visited the alleged gravesite of Arthur and Guinevere on the grounds of what remains of Glastonbury Abbey. Whether or not it's "actual" or not, it's fun to think it is.




Glastonbury is one of the places alleged to have been Arthur's burial ground, although it has since been believed that the claim was an elaborate hoax thought up by the monks at the monastery, which at that time was in financial straits. Being in possession of a 'sacred relic' would ensure them money. This article gives more information.
http://www.damninteresting.com/king-arthurs-grave/

Cool you went to Glastonbury, Remuda. It's a pretty village in a picturesque part of the UK.

"Death is not the end of all, yet just the close of a glorious fall..." PD

Date Posted:06/28/2011 4:11 PM



#21
Remuda



Interesting article, Eleanor! Thanks for the link. Whether or not it's a hoax, no one will ever truly know, so I'll just go on thinking that perhaps I did visit the real gravesite! All in good fun, of course!

And yes, it is indeed a lovely setting!


Date Posted:06/28/2011 6:12 PM



#22
HutchyNStarsk



I'm very late replying to this. :)

I picked my name because it's the one I just on Livejournal. I picked it when I wanted to join the Starsky and Hutch fandom.

When I joined this fandom, I wanted to use my name, Allie, but Aimoo said it was taken. I couldn't think of anything else really good, so I went with my LJ name, to keep things simple. :)

Date Posted:07/23/2011 9:25 PM




#23
CarolineMcK



My name is Carol, so... since I prefer the softer (more victorian ?) version, I chose Caroline.
Only recently have I found several Carolines in my family tree and have decided that the name was supposed to be mine all along. I drove teachers crazy when I would turn in papers with it.

As for the McK (McKay) well, that is a special nod to a friend who told me that writing was a gift and that I should be grateful for this gift. It also helps that my initial is K.

Caroline is the part of me that can be graceful and poetic, the part of me that I guard very carefully so she won't get hurt. But she is the stronger part of me, because she is who shares the stories and works until it flows. Carol is the part that got hurt too many times and can't forget the pain. She is the part of me that most of the world sees- very few get to see Caroline.

I am on the ASJ Collection board as CarolineMcK, too.


Date Posted:07/23/2011 11:56 PM





#24
HutchyNStarsk



Caroline is the part of me that can be graceful and poetic, the part of me that I guard very carefully so she won't get hurt. But she is the stronger part of me, because she is who shares the stories and works until it flows. Carol is the part that got hurt too many times and can't forget the pain. She is the part of me that most of the world sees- very few get to see Caroline.


Thank you for sharing about yourself and your name, Caorline. :) I'm so glad you feel like you can be yourself in ASJ fandom and writing about the boys!


Date Posted:07/25/2011 1:39 PM





#25
sistergrace



I'm giving this thread a bump in case some of our newer members might like to share how they chose their pseudonyms.


I'm not much of a philosopher...I just kinda take things as they come. KC

Date Posted:03/12/2012 2:53 PM






#26
Hunkeydorey


Hi,

Thanks for your kind comments Sister Grace and everyone else.

I'm going to jump right in and say I chose this alias because I'm generally a happy person and think I'm very lucky with the hand life dealt me. When I read that the saying originated in the USA it seemed sort of suitable.

Now... I never realised how much it rhymed with story. I regret it already! Never mind, Heyes and Curry were never very happy with the aliases chosen for them, so overall all seems kind of appropriate.



Date Posted:03/12/2012 3:36 PM



#27
InsideOutlaw




Hi. Mine just kind of popped into my head whole, but I've always had a thing for outlaws (One HH in particular). Must've been a member of the gang in the last life. :)

Date Posted:03/12/2012 4:05 PM







#28
Riders57


Thanks SisterGrace -- this was the other topic that came up in Chat to follow-up on wasn't it? Mine was totally random. I'd been lurking for a while before I joined and when I decided to bite the bullet and join I'd been spending a fair amount of time on my daughter's riding (she competes in equitation and hunter seat horse shows) hence the "Riders" 57 is the year I was born -- which if you look at my profile is already identified, so why not here? -- For those who have wondered about my Wetpaint pseudonym -- I've always liked the name Nora and it was Winter when I chose it. Really deep thoughts in both instances, huh?


Date Posted:03/12/2012 5:14 PM




#29
Mustang_Jan

Hi, Mine is probably one of the least sophisticated! When I was searching around for something vaguely western, I thought of the Song 'Mustang Sally,' which my friends and I murder in spectacular fashion down the pub on Karaoke night. My name's not Sally, so I had to alter it. Truly. The performance has to be seen to be believed!!!


Date Posted:03/13/2012 3:20 PM




#30
StormR

Wow - I was checking out the new posts and looked back and I never posted (at least here) how I picked my alias. Richards is for my dad and brother and storm is the was I felt my life was when I started righting - right in the middle of a storm. Rather boring but considering I have trouble coming up with character names, I'm impressed I came up with anything.


Date Posted:03/14/2012 1:46



#31
CarolineMcK


After reading all of the inventive and clever ways that the names came to be I feel kind of like mine has a very boring background. Thank you all for sharing your backgrounds. I think it helps when I am trying to keep the names and personalities matched.


I know that last sentence sounded off, but I remember a few from other boards and have read stories on various boards and have come to appreciate the different styles and personalities that go into each and every story. Without realizing it, each of us has their own special sparkle that we add to our stories that usually identify them as ours.


Date Posted:04/22/2012 6:23 AM

Mine is simple. My full name is Rosann but my family and close friends all my life have called me Rosie. I lived all my childhood on a farm in the country so countryrosie is how I picked my name.

I'm glad you resurrected this, because afterwards, I felt that my first response was too flippant and maybe even a tad disrespectful.

I picked an old nickname because I realized that worrying over the "right" pseudonym was a delaying tactic. Putting myself "out there" by actually contributing a story was very scary. It was much easier to lurk as a guest and never commit to anything by hiding out as an unnamed guest. So, I just took a deep breath - all right, several deep breaths - and dived in with something that's not western-y at all.

Afterwards, I wished I had come up with something clever and meaningful, like so many others have done. But, had, I spent time agonizing over that, I might not have jumped in at all. Better to play with so many lovely folks here, even if my pseudonym is the result of a mere moment's thought.

This was a facinating read. Thank y'all for sharing.

Myself, my pseudonym is also my gunfighting name. I have been known as Wichita Red since 2000.

So, when I needed an HK author name this seemed like the best one to choose.

Now where Wichita Red came from.

I am 6'1 and I have Red Hair. With this double whammy, very rarely does, anyone forget me visually but my name they often do so they will call me Red. Which isn't my fav. So when the gunfighters started calling me Red rather then the gunfighter name I had chosen "Cassie Ahrendt" I knew I had to do something and fast.

I was living in Oklahoma and consequently shooting down there but born and raised in Wichita KS. So I started announcing/introducing myself as Wichita Red and they all liked it. I still get called Wichita regularly. I like it for a pseudonym, Wichita is cool to have hollered across a field of gunfire or lot of parked trucks.

So, to each of you "HOWDY! from an original western, horse riding, gun shooting girl born and raised in Kansas." psssst it might be another reason ASJ grabbed my fancy so quickly...oh my goodness Hannibal Heyes is from KS...so much better then Don Johnson any day of the week.

I'm a Queenfan (duh!) and so for my online alias, I picked a Queensong that was instantly recognizable.

As for my old ASJ-alias, Dusty Boots...

I was inspired by a friend of mine in the Robin of Sherwood fandom. Her alias is Rusty Armour.
I wanted something cowboy/Westernish. Hence, Dusty Boots.

I like dusty boots... simple and too the point.

WichitaRed wrote:

So I started announcing/introducing myself as Wichita Red and they all liked it. I still get called Wichita regularly. I like it for a pseudonym, Wichita is cool to have hollered across a field of gunfire or lot of parked trucks.

Are you familiar with a movie called The Sundowners? One of the main characters is a man named Wichita. Here's a review: http://asjmoviewesternsetc.blogspot.com/2012/04/sundowners.html

It's my pen name on fanfic.net. Cornelia comes from the name of an Alaskan crab boat by the name of Cornelia Marie, and it was my latin name in my second semester of the class. I originally wanted to use Cornelia Marie, but it was already taken so I went through a list of names that I thought would go well with Cornelia, and May worked the best.

Ghislaine Emrys -- read the link and I have to say I have not seen this film. But interesting it was also thought of by another. Like I sai, Wichita just has a nice ring to it as an alias. There is an old western by this name. I have been searching for a movie sheet to buy of it for my tv room