Just about every writer at different points in their careers consider whether they should use a pen name. Since you’re here, you’re probably asking this question yourself. There are many reasons authors choose to publish using a name other than their legal one – and yes, it is legal to do so. So why do authors use pen names, how do they use them, and what are the pros and cons? Let’s start with what a pen name even is.
What Is a Pen Name?
A pen name is an alternative name used for publication of written works that is not the writer’s legal name. It may also be called a pseudonym or, to be fancy, nom de plume in French. It can be considered similar to an actor’s stage name or even a company or business owner’s “doing business as” (DBA) name. When working with the public, all of these entities have reasons for not using their original or legal name, so they adopt a pseudonym as their public persona.
Some famous pen names include:
- Stephen King wrote several books under the name Richard Bachman
- Nora Roberts, one of the most prolific authors of modern time, also writes under the name J.D. Robb
- J.K. Rowling (a pen name) also writes as Robert Galbraith
- Samuel Langhorne Clemons wrote under several pseudonyms, most famously as Mark Twain
- Howard Allen Frances O’Brien, names after her father, wrote as Anne Rice
- Eric Blair is better known as George Orwell
- Mary Ann Evans wrote as George Eliot
- Alice O’Connor wrote and published as Ayn Rand
- Dean Koontz also wrote under the names David Acton, Deanna Dwyer, Aaron Wolfe, Anthony North, Owen West, and several others
Each of these writers had their own reasons for using a pen name, and your decision may be for similar reasons, or for one completely your own.
Why Use a Pen Name?
Authors may choose to use a pen name for various personal reasons, but there are some common situations for going this route. They include:
- Privacy protection: An author may choose to publish under a pseudonym because they don’t want their legal name out there in the world in such a public way. They may simply not want the attention and possible notoriety to affect their personal life, or they may want to protect the safety of themselves and their family, especially if they have young children.
- Protection of their career or reputation: Some writers want or need to separate their writing from their job or career, which is not always because of the genre they write in, but very well could be. For example, a teacher likely doesn’t want her students, their parents, or the school staff to know she writes steamy romance or dark horror. On the other hand, a prominent criminal attorney may want to separate his writing from his professional career to protect his reputation on both counts.
- Separation of genres or previous publications: Some authors write in multiple genres and want to keep their brands discrete. This may be a marketing decision or obvious common sense, especially in these days of digital marketing and AI recommendations. For example, an author who writes biology textbooks may not want her cozy mystery novels recommended to her academia readers or vice versa – it’s confusing to the readers as much as it is to the algorithms, which could turn off readers from buying any of her books. Another, blatant example is the erotica writer who also pens children’s books. Additionally, if a previously published book bombed in sales, garnered a low star rating with a large number of scathing reviews, or at the extreme, generated major public hostility, the writer would want to distance themselves by using a new name.
- Their legal name isn’t a (great) option: Sometimes a writer’s legal name simply isn’t usable. Again, this could be a marketing decision – perhaps the legal name is difficult to spell, pronounce, or remember, and an easier pen name may be more marketable. Or the writer’s name is the same as or similar to an unsavory person, real or fiction. Or maybe another author already publishes with the same or too similar name, and confusion among readers would ensue.
- Discrimination: Sometimes, writers choose to publish under a different name because of discrimination. While this was more of a problem in centuries past, a writer’s gender or nationality can still work against them even in today’s age, particularly in certain genres. As examples, sci-fi remains a more difficult genre for women to break into while romance is more difficult for male writers to gain reader support. A writer’s last name may cause readers to assume they couldn’t possibly write about a certain topic. Sadly, discrimination is still a thing in our world, including in the book world. For this reason, writers may choose to use their initials or a completely different nom de plume.
Other situations may include the writer changing their legal name but choosing to continue to write under their previous name for continuity’s sake (and vice versa); two or more authors co-writing a book and using a nom de plume to represent both or all of them; and many other reasons. Your situation may be different than all of these and still be a good reason to choose to use a pen name – or it may be similar but writing under your legal name or a single pseudonym name still makes the most sense.
How to Use a Pen Name?
Publishing under a pen name is not much different than publishing under your legal name. Use the pen name on book covers and in the copyright notice, and if you self-publish, enter it as the author when loading your books with retailers. As you would for your legal name or any other pseudonyms, create a brand for the name, including a website, logo, social media accounts, and an email list. There are some additional steps to take:
- Choose your pen name carefully and intentionally: Research the name to ensure it’s not already in use by another writer or isn’t a famous person (real or fictional), especially one you don’t want to be associated with. You can do an internet search first, and then also look it up on the U.S. Trademark site. Also, be sure to check that the domain name and social media handles are available and can’t be confused with similar sites or accounts.
- Register that you’re “doing business as”: Depending on your state and if you want to be paid royalties to the pen name rather than your legal name, you may need to file that you’re “doing business as” the pseudonym, also known as a Fictitious Business Name. Check your state laws as well as with vendors to determine whether you need to do this and how.
- Protect the copyright: You can register your book with the copyright office under your pen name, legal name, or both. For the most copyright protection, be sure your work is registered to you.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Using a Pen Name?
If you’re still on the fence of whether to use a pen name or stick with your legal name, here are some pros and cons.
Pros:
- Privacy and anonymity – nobody has to know you wrote the book.
- Freedom to write what you want, regardless of your current audience’s expectations or familial or community standards.
- Branding consistency that makes it easier for your audience to find the right books for them while minimizing confusion if you write across multiple genres.
- You can be yourself at public events without having to remember your pen name or feeling like you have to take on a different persona.
Cons:
- Book Marketing can be more challenging in the beginning because you’re starting from scratch, especially if you don’t want anyone to know your pen name. You can’t cross-promote to an existing audience or to your personal network.
- A pen name means increased expenses and time if you’re managing more than one author brand.
- Taking on the persona of another name, especially if you attend public events, such as conventions and signings or do interviews. You have to remember to respond to your pen name and to stay in character – while also walking a thin line of not presenting yourself fraudulently. If readers discover their favorite author isn’t at all who they thought you were, the backlash can be career-ending.
- Copyright protection can be more difficult if the work is only registered in the pen name, however if your legal name is on the copyright documents, your identity can be revealed.
- There’s no guarantee your pen name will remain anonymous, especially in the modern digital age. If protecting your identity is important, be sure to have a plan in place in case it’s publicly revealed.
Should you use a pen name when publishing your writing? As you can see, there are many situations that call for it, as well as pros and cons. This is a business decision, so weigh it carefully and consult with others who may be affected or have more insight into the industry as well as your personal situation. Good luck and may the right name for you win!
