What's In a Name?

momowilly the author, but at work I
served notices as Monique A. Williams '05

"They say I changed my name.

I say, it's always been the same

Unmoved by the silly game

Brought on by the Willy name..."

Every artist enters the uber-annoying Name Change Stage. Some do it more than a few times.  They offer all these reasons about their personal metamorphosis, their evolution, their alter ego taking over, blah, blah, blah.  And they make everyone call them by this name with so much excitement and hysteria.  Obviously, I think it's corny.

I was momowilly, then MoMo Willy, for a few years.  Truth be told, I've been MoMo Willy since I was a wee one, the name given to me by my older brother when we were quite young.  I used this name professionally and it was a lot of fun.  People always snickered when they heard it, it's a name that arouses curiosity.  It was a name people remembered easily.  And, yes, I love it when the boys call me Willy.

The insane MoMo Willy, '07

Unfortunately, what it did not inspire was respect for my craft, appreciation for my work.  Maybe you can relate. Those who say they abandon their slave names feel liberated in not being recognized by the name of their oppressor.  They break the shackles they understand to bind them to a life they no longer lead, a submission from which they have risen above.  I, too, feel that MoMo Willy oppressed me, but never maliciously.

A cartoon character? '08

 I'm not a carnival act, and while I'm a humorist, I'm not a comedian. And if I were a comedian, I'm not a smash-stuff-on-stage-and-eat-weird-stuff comedian.  I'm an intellect, a thoughtful and sensitive soul with ideas bigger than my hair, concepts I'm eager to develop with the fervor of rabbits in Springtime.  These projects are hilarious in an embarrassing "Wow, that's the truth," kinda way.  And, yes, I want to make some bread with these vehicles.  Sadly, MoMo Willy has been getting crumbs in this rat race.  Just being honest...as usual.  

The pensive intellect...with the clown name. '10

I've spent the past few years being distracted by what OTHERS have thought I was best suited for, pushing back the projects that matter most to me, tabling ideas that need to be at the front door.  When you're multi-talented, people love to exploit those facets they deem the most profitable.  Well, all of them muggs was wrong.  So, Monique A. Williams is going back to doing what she loves most: writing.  And damn it if I don't need the practice.  I couldn't tell you WTF I've been doing, but it hasn't been anything that truly represents the whole of me, always factions and fractions.  I have projects sitting on my laptop, in the WIP folder, that mean much more to me than a TV show, more than a radio show, more than a lifestyle blog, more than an album.  And they need my attention.  I don't regret ANYTHING I've done professionally, just the manner in which it was done.  And the humble bee that I am has been misunderstood under the cloak of this maniac known as MoMo Willy.  Maybe you see it differently, of course I'm on the inside looking out...

Monique A. Williams enjoys life '11

So, the purported egomaniac known as MoMo Willy is in a coma.  She's not dead, she's a part of me that I love and enjoy, but she's not my entire being. And I'm not separating myself from that with any ill feelings.  You can call me MoMo, Mo, Ms. Willy all you like, just know that I'll be introducing myself as Monique A. Williams.   I'm happy to work with good people, delighted with the role of ingenue, pleased with the marvels of the universe, eager to learn and share without all the answers. And that's what it is.