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Tag: writing under a pen name

  • 7 Reasons Why You Would Use a Pseudonym For Writing

    7 Reasons Why You Would Use a Pseudonym For Writing

    J.K Rowling.  Dr. Seuss. Mark Twain. Nora Roberts. 

    These authors aren’t who you think they are.

    Well, on paper at least. These authors, and many more, choose to write under a pseudonym, also called a pen name, meaning the names printed on their books are not the names they were born with. 

    Some people might think it’s strange to put a different name on their books, but there is a rich literary history of writers publishing under a name pseudonym. While motivations may have changed throughout history, there are many reasons an author today might choose to publish their work under a pen name even after they’ve become well-established in the industry under a different name. 

    Let’s take a look at some of the reasons a writer might choose to write under a pen name so you can decide if it’s right for you. 

    1. Use a Pseudonym to Explore Different Genres

    Branching out and exploring other genres is a great reason to write under a pseudonym. 

    Authors who start out or make it big in one genre might want to experiment in another. But the marketing techniques and audiences are often different from one genre to another. 

    Romance readers might be drawn to bright, cheerful color palettes, while horror readers know to look for dark shades and sinister taglines. To keep things simple and separate, a writer who began in romance might choose to use a pen name if they want to try writing horror. 

    When J.K Rowling wanted to break away from the world of Harry Potter and Hogwarts and explore a new genre, she wrote under the name Robert Galbraith. 

    J.D. Robb is a bestselling crime and thriller writer…who also happens to be bestselling author Nora Roberts. Though Nora Roberts was already a pen name, she began writing under J.D. Robb to break into the suspense genre and went on to write dozens of books in a futuristic police procedural series. 

    Beyond marketing, a writer who is well-established in one genre might have a hard time convincing their fans they will be able to create compelling stories in a new genre…so, they might want to create a pen name to break away from the reputation they’ve already established. 

    2. Use a Pseudonym for Gender Neutrality

    Authors may use pseudonyms to write under a gender-neutral or opposite gender name to avoid bias or discrimination based on their real gender…because sadly, it still exists (particularly in certain genres). A pseudonym can help boundary pushing authors reach a wider audience or challenge gender stereotypes.

    This is the reason Joanne Kathleen Rowling chose to publish as J.K. Rowling, which is technically a pen name. Her publisher suggested she use her initials to avoid any bias that may have been shown toward her as a woman writing in the primarily male-driven fantasy genre. 

    This technique goes both ways and Wade Rouse, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and internationally bestselling author of 13 books, writes his books under the name Viola Shipman. He uses the name and his stories to honor the women, and the voices, that raised him. 

    In the 2010s, 97% of bestsellers in the Spy/Politics genre were men. If you’re a woman who wants to break into this genre and worried you might not be taken seriously in such a male-dominated genre, you might consider using a pen name. 

    If you don’t want your readers to know your gender, identify under a different gender than your birth name, or just don’t want to be a stereotype within a genre due to your gender, you could consider using a pen name. 

    3. Use a Pseudonym for Privacy and Anonymity 

    Using a pseudonym allows authors to maintain their privacy and protect their personal identity. This can be especially important for individuals who want to separate their writing career from their personal life, change careers, or who wish to discuss sensitive or controversial topics without fear of personal repercussions.

    If you’ve established yourself in one career, especially one that practices another type of writing or is fairly public, a pen name can help you keep both careers separate and achieve a level of professionalism in both. For instance, if you’re a reporter with a well-established career and you want to break into fiction writing, you might consider using a pseudonym for your fiction work. 

    If you want to write a memoir and you’re worried about revealing facts or information about your family, you might wish to protect their identities and your own by writing under a pen name. 

    4 More Reasons to Use a Pseudonym 

    You might also choose to write under a pen name of pseudonym if:

    • Your name is common or already used by another author
    • Your name is too similar to an already famous author 
    • Your name is difficult to pronounce or spell 
    • Your name doesn’t fit your genre (Sarah Loveless might be a great romance writer name but probably not a great fit for a horror writer. In this case, Sarah might choose to write under a pen name) 

    How to Choose a Pseudonym/Pen Name 

    There is no right or wrong way to choose a pen name but it’s a good idea to choose one that means something to you, that you like, and you won’t mind seeing and being called if you’re successful! 

    In the case of Wade Rouse, A.K.A. Viola Shipman, he chose his grandmother’s name as his pen name because her heirlooms and family stories inspire his fiction. 

    While the right name should feel right to you, here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing your pseudonym. 

    • Check for availability (websites, social channels, etc)
    • Choose one that fits your genre (look at other author names)
    • Make sure it’s easy to spell and say 
    • Make sure it won’t be confused with another name 
    • Consider how old (or young!) the name makes you sound 
    • Use a pen name generator (you can find these online just by Googling) 

    Should You Use a Pseudonym?

    While these are all reasons why you might choose to use a pen name, the real question is; should you? In the early 1900s, it was fairly easy to disguise your identity by writing under a pseudonym…today, it’s a lot harder. Even when writers choose to write under a pen name, it’s fairly easy to find their true identity. 

    So, if you’re choosing to use a pen name, you should consider how strict you’re going to be about keeping your real identity a secret. 

    If you’re choosing a pen name due to branding and marketing, then it’s not a big deal if your double life is revealed. If you’re trying to stay anonymous, you’re going to have to be a lot more careful. 

    Choosing to write under your real name or use a pseudonym is a big decision and should not be taken lightly. The choice will follow you for your entire career and is a hard choice to undo once you start publishing. Consider your reasons, your audience, and the type of career you’d like to have and then…get writing!

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  • Can You Be a Successful Freelance Writer With a Pen Name?

    Can You Be a Successful Freelance Writer With a Pen Name?

    So you want to be a freelancer… but you don’t want to write under your own name.

    Maybe you want to be able to write political essays without your employer recognizing you, or submit personal essays without your family recognizing you (Hi, Mom!). Maybe you’re a woman who wants to write about a topic like game development, but worries about harassment.

    There are plenty of legitimate reasons to want to start your freelance career under a pen name.

    The question is: should you?

    Is it possible to be a successful, pseudonymous freelancer?

    Pen names and personal brands

    I bet you can name at least 10 writers with nom de plumes without having to do any research. George Eliot (real name: Mary Ann Evans). Currer Bell (real name: Charlotte Brontë).

    The literary world is full of Mira Grants and J.D. Robbs and Robert Galbraiths, pseudonyms all.

    But those are authors, not freelance writers. They might have agents and editors ready to help them develop their pseudonym as part of their brand — a brand which often includes connecting the pen name to the real person behind it, the way Robert Galbraith quickly revealed herself to be J.K. Rowling.

    A freelancer writing under a pseudonym has a different challenge.

    Are you going to develop the pseudonym and brand — complete with writing website and active social media profiles — before you start pitching?

    Or are you going to try and sell an editor on the idea that your as-yet-created pen name will be a better choice than your existing name and reputation?

    Like it or not, today’s editors often look for freelancers who are able to both write well and share articles to Twitter followers, respond to comments or otherwise interact with the publication’s online community.

    They’re looking for writers who bring their own personal brand and reputation to the publication.

    All this is hard to do if you’re starting from scratch with a pen name. Not impossible, of course. Just harder.

    “Real names” vs. writer names

    Now that I’ve clarified the difficulty of writing under a pen name, I should also clarify that you are in no way required to write under the name on your birth certificate.

    Plenty of freelancers have developed their own professional identities.

    If you want to use your initials and your last name — like J.K. Rowling — or if you want to use your first and middle names, or even if you want to create a new writer name that feels right to you, that’s fine.

    Part of freelancing is getting to craft your own career, and that includes the name you want to put out into the world.

    The difference between this kind of name and a pen name is that you are creating an identity, not obfuscating one. You’re not trying to avoid being recognized; you’re giving your personal brand a name that you can stand behind.

    Occasional anonymity is different

    Let’s say you’ve already started to build your brand under your own name and you want to write an anonymous piece — or an anonymous column, a la Dear Sugar.

    Or let’s say you’ve never written anything before but you want to pitch and write an anonymous first-person essay about a personal experience.

    That’s fine. The anonymous article or column is a standard part of the writing genre.

    An anonymous piece differs from a pen name piece in that the anonymous work states to the reader that the author does not wish to be publicly recognized.

    A pen name, on the other hand, deliberately misleads the reader into thinking that a person with that name exists.

    Some editors will be happy to run anonymous work and others may take a bit more convincing. If you want to run an article or essay anonymously, be up front about your reasons and be ready to pitch that article to a different outlet if an editor is unwilling to consider anonymity.

    So. Back to our original question.

    Can you become a successful freelance writer with a pen name?

    Here are my thoughts, from both the writing and editing perspective:

    It is possible to build a freelance career under a professional identity that is different from your legal name.

    There are many reasons why you might want to make this choice, whether you’re choosing a name that fits your gender identity or avoiding a name that has already been “taken” by another writer.

    It’s a lot harder to build a freelance career under a pseudonym.

    Today’s freelancers can’t live passively behind their bylines; they need to actively share, discuss and promote their work while connecting with readers, writers and editors.

    We’re at a point in time when sharing your writing means sharing who you are, at least to some extent. If readers don’t have some idea of the person behind the name, they become less interested in what you have to say.

    If you’re considering using a pen name because your employer has rules against moonlighting, be careful.

    Don’t jeopardize your day job for a $50 blog post.

    If you’re worried about harassment, talk to your network.

    If you’re considering using a pen name because you are worried about harassment, reach out to other writers working in that beat and ask them about their experiences and how they both deal with harassment and also protect their privacy.

    Be ready to defend your choice.

    If you want to use a pen name because you don’t want anyone in your personal life to know your true opinions on politics or social issues, expect a good editor to push back.

    As an editor, I understand there are some situations in which anonymity is necessary — and there are other situations in which I need to work with a writer to develop their ideas to the point where they feel comfortable sharing them under their own name.

    If you’re thinking about pitching a piece of writing that makes you uncomfortable, it might mean that there’s something about the pitch that isn’t quite right yet. Even an anonymous — or pseudonymous — piece should be something you’re ready and willing to send out into the world.

    Have you ever asked an editor to run a piece under a pen name? Was your request granted? What advice do you have for writers considering pen names?