A question of identity

[neadods]

Turns out, you can change your LJ name for $15, in such a manner that you don't automatically lose all your back posts or get dumped off anyone's f-list.

I am seriously considering this.

When I signed on, I was mostly chasing people who'd left chat lists I was on, so when I picked a screenname, I just plugged in what popped quickly into my mind. Now I'm in a situation where I'm meeting people through LJ and even doing a little bit of business through it, and an acronym for "fan girl writer" is simply not how I want people thinking of me. (Because let's face it - these days, screenname=real name for a lot of our relationships. Already there's a significant portion of the fan community who gets my last name wrong because I cut it short on my email address.)

The question is - what do I change to? My name? I already have a free LJ for one variant of it, although that's gathering dust. The commonly used short version of my name - ie, what most people call me to get my attention? Something "cool" that I wouldn't mind people calling out to get my attention - and that 1003 people haven't already grabbed?

Certainly something a little more suitable to introducing myself to the greater world. But not something so topical that I'll be shelling out another $15 in a few years to update it again. Something book or writing related would be high on the list. (Hmmm... Hypatia, book, & a couple variations of Constant Reader and bookworm are taken, but nushu is not.)

Comments

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I've been mildly curious what the "fg" stood for, but never got round to asking. Wouldn't have come up with "fan girl."

But I'll look forward to whatever you come up with anyway. :-)

[shawan-7.livejournal.com]

Personally, unless you tell someone it stands for "Fan Girl" no one is going to know. I'd save my money.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

I tend to agree; that was not the association I'd made either, and I've written fanfic. But it's your call; if the name makes you uncomfortable now, the $15 might be worth it in peace of mind alone.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

As I say below, it's not so much that people will know what it stands for, as it's not something in the long run I want people substituting any variant of FGWriter for my name. And since screen names are overtaking real names, that's something of an issue.

That it's something I can control when some other aspects of my life are spinning so out of control may be a factor too.

[karentoe.livejournal.com]

I've always read it as "fig" girl. Don't know why, but I do. :)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

That's part of the thought process - most of us think of each other as our screennames, even when we eventually learn the "real" name. FG, or Fig or definately "fan girl" is not what I'd want anyone calling me across a crowded room... and with the crowd I hang out with, *everyone* would turn around if "Writer!" was called.

It's not so much what it stands for as "is this what I want people calling me?" And the answer's pretty much "not really."

I've already semi-lost my last name to screennameitis; now that I have a second chance to rebrand myself, I'd like it to be something a little more... interesting.

[shawan-7.livejournal.com]

Everyone who knows you as FGWriter have to switch to a new handle, and all the branding and credibility that FGWriter has built up might not transfer.

If you're deadset on doing this, chose something as easy to remember. Not something cute or hard to pronounce.

I once took a SF writing course where the teacher made the intelligent comment that if you can't pronounce the name of the characters, you may have a hard time remembering them all the way through the story. That's certainly true with Chinese novels, and a lot of fantasy.