Romantic Torment

What is in a name? Does it have a meaning? Does it even need one? Why do I go by the pen name, “Romantic Torment?” Well, there is a lot of implications, and a variety of meanings when you combined these two words. It took a great deal of deep thinking, and more then a few glasses of wine, before I even thought it up. The challenge for me was that I wanted a pen name that complimented various aspects of my character, not just one or two. After all, I’m a romantic, a poet, a writer, a dominant male (research BDSM), an aspiring photographer, and more. Also, there were other aspects I had to consider.

My new persona needed to be catchy, creative, and unique. It had to be something that would captivate, intrigue, and sympathize with others. I wanted my pen name to convey this personal sense of affinity for it, so the name itself could relate to the individual personally. All this without stereotyping me, or others, into a specific group (with names like,”Romantic Goth”, or, “Tormented Poet”).

Finally, one night I just really thought deep about who I am, what I’m about, and what words really defined that for me. I also took into consideration that it needed to be flexible, dynamic, and be enduring for me over time. The first part of my pen name,”romantic,” was chosen because I’m romantic with just about everything I do, love, and think about. It’s an important element that keeps me so passionate about life. And, if romance were my heart, then emotion would be my life blood. When I considered how to summarize my emotions, the word, “torment,” came to mind. It stuck, and suddenly I had my new pen name and persona: “Romantic Torment.”

The name fit together so perfectly it was almost uncanny. Here was a name that hinted to so many facets of my personality, and I could hardly believe how simplistic it was by design. And, just as importantly, the name was vague enough to draw a connection, a personal relationship, with others. Just like a Yin-Yang symbol, romantic torment became my duality, my balance, and hopefully it will inspire you in a similar fashion.

Eternally,
Romantic Torment
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