Author Name Conflict

[sstaubin]

I am attempting to break into the industry as a screenplay writer using the name Brian R. Smith. I included the R. to add uniqueness.

Of course I have found another author using the same name. http://brianrsmith.net/

I sent a note to Mr. Smith but he has not responded.

Is there a conflict here?

[Emerger]

Not if it's your name. To get some individuality, you may want to try B.R. Smith, or one of those trendy B. Richard Smith, or something like that.

[Fortean]

You know who's to blame!

If you don't feel that your name can be distinguished from others, (and that's important to you), change it to something unique. Don't expect others to give up using their own names. If it's the same as another author or well-known personality, it'd be a good idea to consider using a pen-name, (just remember that your real name will be used for copyright purposes).

[TDWoj]

And in my case, I've been told to change my name to something more pronouncable as it is one of those long, Polish names the unwary and unknowing mispronounce, if they even bother to attempt it.

:rolleyes:

Delight in a simple name, but if someone else got there first, you'll have to change yours. (I think that happened with actor R.H. Thomson - somebody else had already snagged his name, and he had to abbreviate to R.H. to distinguish himself).

[wcmartell]

Some comedian had an impossible to pronounce last name, and part of his act was that his last name was pronouced "Jones" (or something) and he went through his name letter-by-letter and proved it ("X as in Xylophone", etc.).

Your name isn't going to matter until you sell something and credits are involved. When that happens, you'll be so danged excited you'll come up with something.

- Bill

[Jake Schuster]

Hell, I have (apart from my DD name) the most common name in the English language and I prefix it with my two first initials. It's completely anonymous. But it's never ever worked against me as a professional writer. Stick with your own (unless your last name is Hitler).