Google Your Writing Name

 

A fellow writer mentioned googling his name on a Facebook post today, and it made me think of times I have done the same with some interesting results.

What about you? Have you ever googled your name? Your writing name? Many writers use a variation of their given name to use as the one they use on their writing. I added my maiden name because I discovered there was a mystery writer by the name of Nancy Kopp. I definitely do not write mysteries and would not want to be confused with her, nor would she like to be mixed-up with me, I'm sure.

Back to googling your writing name. This is a great exercise. It can do a few things for you.

A. It can boost your ego a bit when you see what of your published works pop up. Not everything will, of course, but a good many. Most likely, the things that pop up will be of recent times, not something you published ten years ago.

B. It will allow you to learn if any of your writing has been used by others without your permission. I've had that experience a few times. People like something you've written and want to put it on their website or blog, so they snatch it, along with your name as writer, but they neglect to contact you and ask permission. To me, that is akin to slipping in your bedroom window and whisking away something you've written in the dark of night. 

When I discovered my work on other websites or blogs, I've contacted the owner and expressed my dismay in a nice way, not threatening or mean. One man accused me of taking his earnings away and a great deal more. His thought was to turn the tables and make me the bad guy. 

If this happens to you, there are a couple ways to handle the situation. You can thank the person for using your work and attributing it to you but also suggest that the next time, they ask permission. Or, if they get nasty, ask them to take it down immediately. 

And certainly, if they use your work without giving your name as author, then you have every right to be angry and let them know. And ask to have it removed. Lawsuit? Probably not gonna be of much help in a single situation like this. 

 C. It's also very interesting to see where your work is being highlighted. I used Google in the title of this post, but try two or three different search engines to enter your writing name.

As your writing exercise for today, put your writing name in a few search engines and see what comes up. You might be surprised.