Many authors choose a pen name to protect their privacy, build a more memorable author identity, or separate different areas of their writing career. But there are many other practical reasons for adopting a different author name.
A pen name can be easier to spell, remember, and market than a real name. This can be especially useful for authors with a long surname or a name that may be difficult for readers to pronounce or recall.
Writers also often use pen names when they publish in different genres. For example, an author might use one name for romance novels and another for thrillers, allowing readers to know what type of book they can expect.
Another reason is to separate a writing career from a day job, family life, or public identity. For many writers, a pen name provides a useful boundary between their personal and professional worlds.
How to choose a pen name
If you decide to use a pen name for your writing, don’t rush the process.
You need to take many factors into account, including how a pseudonym works with your genre or how well it reads on a book cover.
Not all pen names are fictitious. An author might choose to use their birth name rather than a married name or a maternal grandmother’s maiden name.
It could also be a shortened version of a very long name, or simply a first and last name that sound good together.
A pen name generator can be useful for finding name ideas quickly and preparing a list of possibilities.
Because it will be in long-term use, you need to make sure you’re comfortable with your new writing name and also that it will age well.
Selecting a name that matches current trends and tastes might not work so well in the future.
Most pen names are two words: a first name and a surname, or initials with a surname. Rarely will you find an author using only one word.
While it’s possible, a one-word author name may lead to confusion with other authors or even products.
When choosing a new name, take your time and do your research. You need to be sure that it will work for you and help you attract readers.
Common pen name mistakes to avoid
The biggest mistake you can make with a new pen name is choosing one before checking whether it is available. A little research now can prevent problems later.
Here are some of the important issues you need to check for pen name availability.
1. Choosing a name already in use or similar
You don’t want to build your author identity on a name that is already used or associated with another author or writer, celebrity, or brand. A new romance author choosing a name like “Julia Quinnell” might not be a good idea if readers confuse it with an established author such as “Julia Quinn.”
Make sure your new name is unique. Search the name online, including bookstores, social media, and general search engines. You don’t want readers confusing you with another author.
2. Not checking domain names and social media
You’ll need to create your author platform, so check whether you can use the same or a similar name for a website domain name and profiles on social accounts.
3. Choosing a name that is difficult to remember
A unique name can be helpful, but if readers cannot spell it, pronounce it, or recall it, discovery will be much harder for you.
4. Not considering trademarks
This is especially important if you plan to build your pen name into a commercial brand, create products, or write in highly competitive genres.
5. Choosing a name that limits future writing
A very genre-specific name might work well today but become restrictive if you later decide to write something different.
The more time you spend checking your pen name now, the fewer problems you are likely to face later.
Can you change your pen name later?
It’s very easy to publish or self-publish using a pen name.
However, once a book is published, it is usually extremely difficult to change the author’s name unless you publish a new edition.
It is always possible to modify (or correct) a book title, add a subtitle, or change the book description.
However, the author’s name is one of the few fields, or metadata, that remains locked for any ebook, print book, or audiobook on most publishing platforms.
That’s why it’s so important for you to be 100% sure you’re happy with your new name.
Should bloggers use a pen name or their real name?
If you have concerns about your online privacy, blogging anonymously or under a pen name has a lot of advantages.
Similar to authors, you may want to keep your blogging a secret to avoid any possible conflict with your professional life.
If you are publishing regular articles or essays that might be topical or controversial, protecting your anonymity can help avoid potential conflicts. In cases like this, bloggers often disable comments.
However, it’s harder to build trust or relationships with readers without a real identity.
It will also give you limited opportunities to network or collaborate with other bloggers or experts on your topic, and promoting your blog on social media channels can be challenging.
Can you have more than one pen name?
Yes, it’s possible, but only in specific circumstances.
One reason could be that you publish books in two very different genres, such as children’s books and heavy science fiction or steampunk.
Using two different names may be advantageous in this situation.
For bloggers, it would be a rarity. However, for the same reasons, you might want to differentiate between a recipe site and a political commentary blog.
It’s up to you, but you would need a good reason to use two pen names.
Protecting your privacy with a pen name
While marketing and reader appeal are sometimes the reasons to choose a pen name, privacy is probably the most common reason.
But changing your name doesn’t grant you instant and guaranteed privacy. You need to actively protect your online digital footprints to maintain your anonymity.
These include using a fresh, new email address, choosing platforms that respect privacy, and ensuring that you don’t publish comments online that could give clues to your real name.
Publishing family photos on social media can also expose your identity, so be very careful how you use any social media platform.
The best approach is to create new accounts and profiles to match your new pen name.
Here’s a quick checklist you can use to help protect your privacy.
- Create a separate, dedicated email address.
- Keep pen name profiles entirely disconnected from personal social accounts.
- Enable domain registration privacy (WHOIS privacy) for your website.
- Avoid reusing personal profile photos or headshots.
- Omit highly specific biographical details from your author bio.
Summary
Choosing a pen name is a big decision, so you need a good reason for doing so.
Your reason is often more important than your choice of name. Think before you jump in and carefully consider the long-term consequences.
A new name will affect many aspects of your writing, especially how you promote it. In many ways, you’ll be starting from scratch.
Your pen name, author pseudonym, or nom de plume is likely to stay with you for years, so choose one you’ll still be happy using long after your first book or article is published.
Related Reading: 5-Minute Self-Publishing Checklist For New Authors
