Help:How to enter works published under a pseudonym

This page describes how to create an ISFDB record for any publication (novel, collection, or anthology) that is published using a pseudonym, which means any author credit that differs from the ISFDB's canonical name. It could be as minor a difference as "Iain Banks" instead of "Iain M. Banks", or as drastic as "Anson McDonald" instead of "Robert A. Heinlein."

This page assumes that you already know how to do basic entries. if not, see Help: Getting Started and Help: How to enter a new novel before continuing here.

First, make sure that the book was actually published with the variant name as the credited author. According to previously established ISFDB standards, the author's name as credited on the title page is the author of record, regardless of how the author is credited on the cover, spine, or copyright page.

Second, check to determine if the ISFDB already has a record of the book under either the pseudonym or the canonical name. A basic or advanced title search should give the answer.


 * If a title record exists under the canonical name DO NOT add this pseudonymous publication under that title record. Doing so will attribute the publication record to the wrong title record. Even though the pub record will be correctly attributed, the publication record will be "connected" to the wrong author.


 * If a title record under the pseudonym already exists:
 * Go to the pseudonymous author's summary page and under the "Editing Tools" menu click "Titles". This page will display all existing title records currently attributed to the pseudonym.  If the publication's title is on the list, click on that title.
 * When that title record page appears, click on "Add Publication to This Title", or if there is a previous publication for this title you can click it and then choose "Clone This Pub". (This is especially helpful when entering a collection or anthology, as all content records will be included in the new publication without having to enter them again, and subsequently having to merge them with the pre-existing title records.)
 * After completing as many fields as you have information for (or changing if you're cloning a pub), submit the edit.


 * If no title record under the pseudonym exists, simply create a new publication, making sure to use the pseudonymous name as the author.

Once the edit has been approved by a moderator, you may have to create a variant title record, this is particularly likely if there was no title record for the pseudonymous publication before your entry. Follow the instructions under Help: How to record a variant title in order to connect your newly created record to the canonical name. If this pseudonym does not exist in the database, see Help: How to record a pseudonym.

If you have questions about this process, ask at the Help desk.