Byline / name question

[Anonymous]

I am getting published and am wondering about using the diminutive of my first name. I would mostly be doing this to differentiate myself from someone else who has the same name but mostly because the shortened version of my first name is what people call me 99% of the time. Question: is it unprofessional not to use a full first name? If you have been published, or if your name is listed in a masthead, for example, do you use the name people more often call you? Think "Michael" vs. "Mike." Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am getting published and am wondering about using the diminutive of my first name. I would mostly be doing this to differentiate myself from someone else who has the same name but mostly because the shortened version of my first name is what people call me 99% of the time. Question: is it unprofessional not to use a full first name? If you have been published, or if your name is listed in a masthead, for example, do you use the name people more often call you? Think "Michael" vs. "Mike." Thanks!

OP here. Sorry, meant to say I would partly be doing this to differentiate myself, but mostly b/c it's what I'm called. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I am my diminutive exclusively, but it is a version that can be a full name - think Julie and Julia, or Sue and Suzannah. I'd use the name you want to be known as.

[Anonymous]

PS - the caveat is you must commit to using it on your CV, too, since employers will want to search for your pubs. You kind of have to make a choice and stick with it.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's unprofessional at all. Use what you want to be known as. If it differentiates you, great. Pen names are made up too and lots of authors use them.

[Anonymous]

I think it's okay as long as you stick to it. Think Katie Couric. Until now I never wondered if she was Katherine or Kathleen, etc.

[Anonymous]

PS there's someone I work with who used his full first name instead of what he is called by (a nickname of his middle name) and whenever we have temps answering phones they get confused by callers asking for the full name.

[Anonymous]

It's fine - I think for your personal brand it's good to be consistent and always use the same name.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks everyone! I published a few times using my full first name on smaller projects and it just seemed weirdly formal. So then I used the diminutive, which seemed more like me, but definitely less formal. I'm going to go with that shortened name moving forward, despite that twinge. It's just more me. Thanks again to everyone and for a poster for pointing out I need to make my CV consistent--good point!!!

[Anonymous]

My husband is a reporter at the Post and he uses his diminutive exclusively. (Think Josh/Joshua or Joe/Joseph.) Nothing wrong with it at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband is a reporter at the Post and he uses his diminutive exclusively. (Think Josh/Joshua or Joe/Joseph.) Nothing wrong with it at all.

OP here again--thank you for this!

[Anonymous]

I was searching the internet with a similar question. I've never published with my middle name but my resume looks naked without it, missing some gravitas or something. Do you always match your resume to the name you publish under?