A Writer's Identity: by Ladymermaid

2008-06-20T07:36:00.000-07:00

To a writer his identity is his work and his work is in turn his identity. His creations and his promise of future creativity are what portray his image to the world.

The better the reputation of a writer, than the more the likelihood that his work will be desired, purchased, and eventually net him increased monetary gains.

The mention of a writer's name brings images of his life's work to mind. So why would a writer choose not to use their given name to represent them?

Why would a writer choose to hide their true identity, their very history, and their reputation, behind a pen name?

I am one such writer and how I decided to identify myself in my articles, came as a deliberate choice created to represent who, and what I have become.

It is a very unique experience to have the opportunity to view your name in print. It is a testimonial to your hard work, set out for the rest of the world to see, and to ponder. The pride that comes along with your accomplishments is garnered largely in fact by seeing that lasting symbol of your heritage beaming proudly back at you, that traditional symbol of all that you are and all that you will ever be, your name.

So why would that name not be used by a writer? Why would a writer choose to hide their true identity and instead be known by a pen name or alias?

In my case I found that I could not connect myself emotionally to my legal last name. My last name is one that I acquired through a marriage that went astray. For some reason my former husbands last name remained attached to me.

Although the issue of my not returning to my given name was at first an oversight which occurred during my divorce, I later decided that I would not want my maiden name returned to me as it really is no longer who I am. I am a much different person than the little girl who grew up using that name to identify herself. So the question arose as to how I could come to display the woman that I have become to the rest of the world.

I thought of writing using only my first name to identify my work. It is a beautiful name and one which I am proud of, but somewhere amidst some small degree of confusion, my last name somehow managed to make an appearance again. There it was, shining glaringly out at me in printed form, reminding me of a person that I no longer am. I just did not like that image.

I could see no logical reason for identifying my accomplishments with a name that although mine at the current time, may not remain mine for any clearly determined point of time in the future. A name that I had no emotional attachment to.

I am no longer a part of my ex-husbands life and so no longer consider myself to be a part of the history or representation that is identified with his name. I could see clearly that carrying his last name around with me was a major problem in my ability to create an identity for my works and for myself.

I had already concluded that if I married again that I would probably once more take my man's last name as my own.

I would do this because I know that I would be proud to be a part of his life and all that he represents to the world. I would also be very honored that he would offer to share his name with me. However, within my own accomplishments I would still want to be recognized on my own behalf, recognized strictly for my own merits and not those of someone else.

I came to the conclusion that I needed my own name.

So I selected an alias that I felt symbolized not only my given name, but that also had the ability to reflect all of the many facets of the new person, that I have grown to be. I wanted to show the world how powerful I am, how strong and determined I am, how content I am.

There was only one moment in time that encompassed all of these feelings, and it was what I saw as most representing myself, so I used those emotions to determine my pen name. That is why a mermaid now represents all that I am, and all that I wish to express within my identity, and my life's work.

When I am swimming, I am alone, and I hear only the water as it swooshes around me. I feel the power within my body as I push the water past me, I feel the strength within my strokes, and I know the tremendous force that I have over that mightiest of all elements. It makes me feel strong, graceful, and beautiful all at once.

I am totally alone in that world and in my thoughts, in my very quest, swallowed up by the water around me. It is at this time that I imagine I know how a mermaid feels as she swims through the ocean, only the sound of the water and her heart beating as her companions, her strength as her justification to continue on with her life. She is totally alone and yet totally content with this. She exists entirely within her physical and emotional strength.

My true name is Lorelei, which is the name of a Siren (often referred to as a mermaid) of German Legend, adding to the symbolic selection of my pen name.

Pen names are chosen for a variety of reasons. Mine because it appropriately represents me. I am Ladymermaid and I am proud to sign that name to my written works.

I write on the internet because I love to. It is my passion, my play, my hobby and my work.

You will find my internet writings under two pen names: Ladymermaid and A-Redneck. My country upbringing reflected itself in many of my articles and so these I categorized under the pen name A-Redneck.

Ladymermaid

If you are interested in becoming an Internet blogger there are a number of sites where you can create free web pages. All you need is an idea, a little creativity, and a few basic writing skills. Then let the world know whatever it is that you would like to share.

Blogs can be informative, or how-to pages, showing others how to craft or do repairs. Or your writings can be used to create an awareness for your favorite charity or cause. Let your imagination go wild. Get out there and enjoy all the opportunities that blogging now affords writers.

Hey! You might even make a little money while you are at it!

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Don't Forget To Take Time To Play
It's Important.

When you participate in pleasurable activities like smiling, laughing, exercising or playing, your brain does an amazing thing and releases a little chemical message known as an endorphin.

These endorphins are feel good messages that have the power to actually remove physical and emotional pain. They travel down the spine, and then throughout your body, sending a feeling of well being as they go. These endorphins not only have the ability to relieve pain but they also have the power to make you feel happy.

So remember to take time to play
It really is important.

Stimulate Your Mind!

Best of wishes.

A Writer's Identity - Pen Name - Alias:

A Writer's Identity: by Ladymermaid