Anyways! Here we go. I'm going to change the way you think about everything. EVERYTHING!!! Here goes:
Good evening. My name is Andrew D. Cochran, and I use a pen name.
I'll let you have some time to absorb that. Take a deep breath. It's ok.
Ready? Alright. I'll begin.
So I know it's a shock for you guys to find out my Walt-given name is actually Andrew, but, now that you know this, please don't think I'm some weirdo who moonlights as some character named Jack Foster. Jack has a history behind it, and my choice to publish under Jack is one I thought about for a while. I think the initial intention for using a pen name - and I use pen name because I prefer its connotation to that of pseudonym (thanks to Leena) - may have been lost in translation somewhere in the history of the magazine.
We, the original four editors, decided to use pen names. I put this idea forward because we intended our contributors to be the English majors of Cal Poly, and I didn't want them to be apprehensive about sending their work to people they know; after all, sending work in for review is a scary, vulnerable prospect. So, we all made pen names. I think everyone had a different outlook on the actual reason why we used pen names, and that's ok; however, I have to say I've never used my pen name as a handle for a character or an avatar. Jack and Andrew are synonymous.
Before I delve more into that, I'll share with whoever is reading this how I got the name. It's simple, really. I haven't been actively writing prose and poetry for too long; in fact, it's only been about a year now. When I started writing, though, I randomly came across a typewriter that was under my stairs. It belonged to my great-grandfather, Jack Foster. Apparently, he used it all the time. I'm sure he didn't use it for poetry like his daughter, my grandmother, did, but I felt connected to him through the heirloom, and I decided to revive the man I never met.
Why does this matter? It doesn't really, but to an extent my pen name is not a character, but a homage of sorts. Jack Foster is Andrew Cochran. I don't change my voice, I don't use different language, and I certainly don't present something I'm not through my pen name. Jack Foster is the published version of Andrew Cochran; nothing more, nothing less (okay, maybe a bit more, but only on a sentimental level). Pen names are not characters, people.
Anyways, that's my rant about pen names. As I said, I believe pen name and pseudonym have different connotations, and I think the connotations have been a bit mixed up in the process of making this magazine. It's not a bad or good thing, but it is, I think, interesting to look at. Before this blog, I had never really given much thought as to what pen names signify. I do believe, however, I'm starting to gain some understanding about said question.
Until next time,
JF
P.S. For those of you who are thinking, "hey! This doesn't sound like Andrew Cochran or Jack Foster!"....
Fuck.
There it is. There always has to be one in my blog posts.
Good night and good luck.
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