is my maiden name considered a pseudonym?

[crypticish]

I'm entering a short story competition, but one of the rules is that pseudonyms will be disqualified. I write using my maiden name, if I enter the competition using my writing name, will I then be disqualified?

[woofgang]

ask the competition organisers their decision will be final, we might get it wrong

[Voulez-vous]

I think they only mean if people use a pseudonym to disguise themselves as someone else! Your maiden name is the name you use when you write, so I see no problem there! Nor will they.

[FredPuli43]

Your maiden name is your nom de plume, not used for any other purpose than writing. but it has been your legal name. I suspect the reason the organisers want a pseudonym is to prevent the risk of any judge recognising you. Therefore you should not use a name which has been a name by which you were known to the world at any time. You should invent a name which is entirely new and not associated with you before and use that . A pseudonym, after all, is literally a 'false name' and that's what you've been asked for.

[bednobs]

errr no it isn't fred!

[FredPuli43]

What 'is not' bednobs ? The maiden name not the nom de plume? I think it falls within nom de plume, as being the name assumed for writing now, though it has been the writer's real name in the past and is not invented, as such.

[factor-fiction]

I think, fred, that bednobs means you have misread the original post: the poster isn't being asked to use a pseudonym - the rules mean that pseudonyms must not be used

[factor-fiction]

cryptish: "one of the rules is that pseudonyms will be disqualified"

Fred: "A pseudonym...that's what you've been asked for."

Bednobs: "... no it isn't fred"

[douglas9401]

Fred, the organisers specifically do NOT want pseudonyms used.

[FredPuli43]

Oh ,yeah !LOL

But the rule makes no sense. Why would the organizers want to know who wrote the story ? There's a risk that a known,professional writer, or a friend of one of the judges, would not be treated by the judges in the same way as an unknown amateur and the contest would not be equal for all.

[woofgang]

if you want clarification, ask the competition organisers. We will have our own views on here but our views wont matter. The organisers will decide what they meant and will judge your choice of name accordingly and their decision will be final. If you say "oh on answerbank they said different", it will cut no ice whatsoever!

[Maydup]

Just this once, I'd write using your married name - them's the rules!

[bushbaby_de]

Your maiden name isn't a pseudonym, it is one of your two legal names, the second being your married name. In law you are able to use either interchangeably. However that isn't to say that the organisers haven't made up their own rules, so as others have said you should call them and ask.

[crypticish]

peeps, I cannot ask the organisers of the competition, as it states in the rules:-
"Do not email any director of **** Publishing, doing so will disqualify your entry."
I'm going with my maiden name.

[mike11111]

A maiden name is not a pseudonym, full stop. It is the name by which you were known until entering upon Holy Wedlock, whereby you assumed your husband's name. On termination of the marriage, whether through death or divorce, a lady may continue to use her husband's name or revert to her maiden name. This is an age-old tradition, so should cause you no problems. I cannot recall Mrs Blair having any problem in practising law under her maiden name.

[mike11111]

Just as an aside, the correct term for a name adopted by a writer, different to his or her own real name is: Nom de plume, not pseudonym.