A Note About Pen Names

Editing and Writing, Industry Advice, Marketing and Promotion, Production and Publishing

Promoting a book often falls onto the author’s shoulders. Imagine if that person’s name didn’t match the byline on their book. Not only would that be confusing, but it would also hinder their ability to self-promote. So why would anyone want to use a pen name in place of his or her real name? Here are a couple of reasons:

  1. To conceal your identity. An author may have any number of reasons to seek anonymity, either within their immediate social circle or with a wide readership. For example, if you write erotic novels you don’t want your mother to know about, a pen name would probably be a good choice. Or if you worry a potential employer might take issue with your book of scathing political commentary, a pen name can keep your politics out of the workplace.
  2. To conceal your gender. Maybe you want to write a romance novel, but you feel that your readership would expect such prose to come from a woman, which you aren’t. Gender bias still exists, unfortunately, and you may decide that your fanbase would approach your book differently if you were the opposite sex. You may also choose to assume a gender-neutral name to keep your readers guessing.
  3. To simplify. Maybe you worry that your name is too lengthy or difficult for readers to pronounce, and you feel that something shorter would suit you (or your writing) better.
  4. To write outside of your established genre. If you’ve made a name for yourself in a particular genre, but you feel called to write in another that’s markedly different, you might consider writing under a pen name. For example, if you’re known for writing elegant historical romance, publishing a chilling horror novel under the same name may put your established fan base off, as they might think you’re suddenly giving up writing the books that drew them to your work in the first place.
  5. To avoid being confused with another person. If Googling your name brings up nothing but photos of a famous actor or another writer, a pen name might be the way to go. Conversely, if your name is so common that even Google doesn’t know what to do with it, a pen name can help you establish a unique presence and make it easier for potential readers to find more information about your work and you as an author.

In all of these cases, you’ll want to be sure that using a pen name is your best option. Again, promoting your work is easier to do when potential readers can match up the name of the author with your face. Of course, you could also assume the identity of your pen name by establishing a social media presence, but that takes the anonymity out of the equation. In short, if you don’t fall into any of these categories, we recommend that you take the leap and put your real name on the cover.