Hi, my name is Matthew Turner
or should I say…
Hi, my name is Turndog Millionaire
Hmmmmm, I know what you’re thinking…who the hell is this guy? Well, call me crazy, but there’s method in my madness. You may not see it just yet, but hopefully at the end of this process you will. Not only that, but you might find it’s the perfect remedy for you too. then again, maybe not
Creative Strategic
I talk about this alter ego of mine in How To Build An Author House, so if you would like to know more, download it for FREE here. If you have already read it, or indeed been reading other posts on this site, you may notice my love affair for the Creative Strategic.
What the hell is that?
Ok you got me, I just made up a term. However, moving forward it’s one I will use quite often. All it means is the careful balance of Creativity & Strategy. This fine line will be different from person to person, but finding this balance is the key to 21st Century Success. Not just Marketing, but for Authors too.
So, Why Two Names?
I live in a town of around 100,000 people. This isn’t big at all. I’ve been working for around ten years too, which again, isn’t a huge amount.
So why then, have I already worked with two other Matthew Turner’s?
The reason for this is Matthew Turner is common name. It doesn’t stand out, and unfortunately, it’s easy to forget. In a world of a million Authors, this isn’t good. So I do what I can do to stand out. I don’t want to get rid of Matthew Turner completely (because I’m proud of who I am), merely complement it the best I can.
Hence, Turndog Millionaire is born
What Is A Turndog?
Turndog is a genuine nickname of mine. It’s what my Rugby Teammates called me for five years, and some people still know me as this. Don’t ask me how it came about, I can’t remember.
It means a great deal to me, despite it being rather strange. It’s as much apart as me as Matthew is, so when it came to creating an alter ego, it was an obvious choice.
Ultimately, my plan to create an alter ego came down to 3 things:
- To Stand Out: Like I say, Matthew Turner is easy to forget, but Turndog Millionaire (a play on the movie Slumdog Millionaire) tends to stick in your head.
- Because I’m Awkward: I’m not entirely comfortable with spilling my entire life online. I’ve already become more comfortable with it, but having an Online Alias (Turndog Millionaire) allows me to distance myself. I can choose to be Matthew or Turndog. As a general rule, Turndog is my creative flair, the person who can speak out…be a little ‘out there’
- It Gives Me Options: The truth is, I don’t know what the future holds. If things go according to plan I’ll be an author of Fiction, and author of Non-Fiction, a Professional Speaker, a renowned Marketing Consultant, and who knows what else. Having an alter ego gives me options in the future, much like Danny Iny uses his Freddie Kruger of Blogging alias.
So you see, there’s method in my madness. It’s all about the Creative Strategic.
Is It Right For You?
For most people, no. Most people are more than happy to go through life and write under their own name. I personally don’t mind writing under Matthew Turner, but communicating as him sometimes puts me on edge. Other people are the opposite to this.
Most people are neither
People like me are the minority, but what about you? Ask yourself:
- Do you feel on edge using your own name?
- Does your own name stand out?
- Does your own name fit the stereotype?
I’m not one for conforming, but sometimes it’s needed. For example, do you know what JK Rowling’s first name is?
She uses JK because her publishers were worried teenage boys wouldn’t want to buy a book written by a girl. They were of course wrong, but stereotypes tend to exist for a reason.
When it comes to marketing, perceptions is everything.
A hot shot Indie Author has gone down the same path. Joanna Penn writes under JF Penn now. Why? Because her writing is perceived by many to be manly. She thinks this will help her sell more copies. It’s annoying, and not right, but stereotypes are just another barrier we face.
It’s All About The Creative Strategic
Don’t get me wrong, staying organised isn’t easy. It will take time for my two personalities to become a staple part of the world, but by being Creative Strategic I believe I can manage this.
What about you? Do you use your own name?
Do you use a pen name or online alias?
Share your story in the comments below…
Turndog Millionaire – @turndog_million
