I need input. LOTS of input. Please?

[krait]

I recently discovered that there is, in HP fandom, another person using the same author name (Fer de Lance). She writes HP/SS, too, which is pretty much the "top" pairing I follow and write and rec.

Her journal (it's bothropsatrox, should you desire confirmation) was created in October of 2004; mine was created in July of 2004, so I do predate her by three months. (When I created this journal, I went through and tested all the variants I could think of, to make sure no one else was going by the same name.)

The thing is, I'm not sure what to do about this, now that I've discovered it.

Part of me says that I should just suck it up; that I can't make her do anything, even if I used the name first, and isn't it a bit wanky to be whinging about how OMZGshestolemyname!!1! when it's not as though I have any sort of "reputation" or magnum opus people identify me by, or that she would be taking credit for. This part of me is sending a mental image of a couple of hyena pups scrapping fiercely over a decrepit bone, while the lions feasting far off in the distance don't even notice.

A second part of me says, nevertheless it's my name, and I have written short things in the past under it, and may one day finish a longer story; why put it off till then, instead of trying to solve the problem now? I like this name; I've based my (as yet non-started, but nonetheless planned) pro-fiction journal off of it; I've signed it to postcards and holiday_wishes gifts, and, yes, put it on every piece of fandom writing I've done. I'm attached to it, both fictionally and emotionally. "Fer-de-Lance" is me. This part wishes that she would respond rationally to my comment and switch names-- even going by "Bothrops Atrox" would be fine, nothing radical.

And a tiny part of me just sort of growls and whines like an upset puppy, and says, "but it's my name, I thought of it first! And I don't want to lose another name -- this one is special." I'm trying to ignore that part, though, because it doesn't help anything, it just gets me worked up and anxious and unable to enjoy my tea.

I did leave one comment on her journal, essentially saying, "my, isn't this awkward?" But she hasn't replied, and since it's screened I can't even see it.

SO. DEAR FANDOM FRIENDS, WHAT DO I DO? PLEASE help me out here, I'm floundering!

Comments

[gmth.livejournal.com]

Gah. What can you do, really? I don't blame you for not wanting to change your name, but as you said, you can't really ask her to do it, either.

This is totally unhelpful, I know, but just wanted to lend you a little support. *hugs*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I think you've done all that you can do. Although if she doesn't reply to your comment you could follow up with an email.

I'm not the only Icarus in fandom (there was one on Adultfanfiction.net), but fortunately I'd already written a lot more than the other one.

I suppose you could always produce a staggering amount of work with a very characteristic style... sort of flood her out. Piss your territory as it were.

Icarus

[allzugern.livejournal.com]

Well, you have the LJ name, so even if she is writing on archives as Fer-de-Lance, there shouldn t be any confusion on LJ about who is who. She(?) will be the one with two handles for her person, and that does get old, most people this happens to end-up changing their name so it is consistent over-all.

I understand, though, how you feel. I would go ape-shit if someone started using my name. I think I have gotten to most archives first though with my username :-)

I guess the best advice is just to ignore her. If you want to post at archives though, I would suggest you find those you want to use and then open an account in the Fer-de-lance name before she does(piss on your territory as Icarus said). Oh, and if she is at ff.net? Don t worry about it. No one over thirteen reads there anyway :-P

[fer-de-lance.livejournal.com]

Heh. :D I don't think she's at the Pit; at least I didn't see a link to it anywhere in her journal or info. I don't think she's archived anywhere, actually; a brief skim of her journal revealed ficlets and drabbles, but I don't think she's done anything big, or archived things.

Must... resist... urge... to mark... territory... ((mental image of me with a spray bottle, running everywhere))

[allzugern.livejournal.com]

Must... resist... urge... to mark... territory...

Nah, go ahead, you know you want to :-)

Anyway, maybe just open an account at Adultfanfiction and on maybe one other archive. You'll be sorry later if you want to postyour stuff, but cant under your name :-/

[skuf.livejournal.com]

Is August 8th, 2005 the first time she used that pen-name? In that case, by fannish decency, she ought to change it. But if she's been thinking of herself as Fer de Lance since July 2004, she probably feels it's as much her name as you feel it's yours.

At any rate, if she is not going to respond, not much you can do about it. As allzugern says, though, at least you're the one with the fer_de_lance username :o)

[luthien.livejournal.com]

Well, there are other people out there using my pseud, or variations on it, but of course that's my own fault for using a character name from such a well-known source. In my defence, when I decided to use Luthien it was only meant to be an in-joke between a small group of RL friends.

But, well, occasionally I do run into other fannish types using 'Luthien' online, and while it does niggle a bit, the only thing I can really do is make the name mine in the circles I hang out in. Posting stuff and building your profile a bit might help if she's not going to acknowledge you. As other people have said, you have the advantage of having the LJ name, so if she's wanting to post stuff on LJ you have the big advantage there.

Hmmn, that wasn't really very useful advice, was it? *g* Anyway, my sympathies. It's an annoying situation to be in.

[fer-de-lance.livejournal.com]

the only thing I can really do is make the name mine in the circles I hang out in

See, that's why it's really bothering me. If she were, oh, a Harry/Ginny fanatic, or something, we'd probably never meet... but we both, apparently, prefer and write the same pairing (bizarrely; there are how many subsets of this fandom?), so we're both in the same basic circle. Sigh.

That was, nonetheless, useful advice, and thank you. :D Even the sympathy helps!