J.Ok Rowling. Dr. Seuss. Mark Twain. Nora Roberts.
These authors aren’t who you assume they’re.
Effectively, on paper a minimum of. These authors, and plenty of extra, select to put in writing beneath a pseudonym, additionally referred to as a pen identify, that means the names printed on their books should not the names they had been born with.
Some folks would possibly assume it’s unusual to place a unique identify on their books, however there’s a wealthy literary historical past of writers publishing beneath a reputation pseudonym. Whereas motivations might have modified all through historical past, there are a lot of causes an writer at present would possibly select to publish their work beneath a pen identify even after they’ve change into well-established within the business beneath a completely different identify.
Let’s check out among the causes a author would possibly select to put in writing beneath a pen identify so you’ll be able to determine if it’s best for you.
Causes Why You Might Select to Use a Pseydonym
1. Use a Pseudonym to Discover Totally different Genres
Branching out and exploring different genres is a superb purpose to put in writing beneath a pseudonym.
Authors who begin out or make it massive in a single style would possibly wish to experiment in one other. However the advertising and marketing strategies and audiences are sometimes completely different from one style to a different.
Romance readers could be drawn to shiny, cheerful shade palettes, whereas horror readers know to search for darkish shades and sinister taglines. To maintain issues easy and separate, a author who started in romance would possibly select to make use of a pen identify in the event that they wish to strive writing horror.
When J.Ok Rowling wished to interrupt away from the world of Harry Potter and Hogwarts and discover a brand new style, she wrote beneath the identify Robert Galbraith.
J.D. Robb is a bestselling crime and thriller author…who additionally occurs to be bestselling writer Nora Roberts. Although Nora Roberts was already a pen identify, she started writing beneath J.D. Robb to interrupt into the suspense style and went on to put in writing dozens of books in a futuristic police procedural sequence.
Past advertising and marketing, a author who’s well-established in a single style might need a tough time convincing their followers they’ll be capable of create compelling tales in a brand new style…so, they may wish to create a pen identify to interrupt away from the repute they’ve already established.
2. Use a Pseudonym for Gender Neutrality
Authors might use pseudonyms to put in writing beneath a gender-neutral or reverse gender identify to keep away from bias or discrimination based mostly on their actual gender…as a result of sadly, it nonetheless exists (notably in sure genres). A pseudonym might help boundary pushing authors attain a wider viewers or problem gender stereotypes.
That is the rationale Joanne Kathleen Rowling selected to publish as J.Ok. Rowling, which is technically a pen identify. Her writer recommended she use her initials to keep away from any bias which will have been proven towards her as a girl writing within the primarily male-driven fantasy style.
This method goes each methods and Wade Rouse, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and internationally bestselling writer of 13 books, writes his books beneath the identify Viola Shipman. He makes use of the identify and his tales to honor the ladies, and the voices, that raised him.
Within the 2010s, 97% of bestsellers within the Spy/Politics style had been males. When you’re a girl who needs to interrupt into this style and anxious you may not be taken critically in such a male-dominated style, you would possibly think about using a pen identify.
When you don’t need your readers to know your gender, establish beneath a unique gender than your beginning identify, or simply don’t wish to be a stereotype inside a style attributable to your gender, you can think about using a pen identify.
3. Use a Pseudonym for Privateness and Anonymity
Utilizing a pseudonym permits authors to keep up their privateness and defend their private id. This may be particularly essential for people who wish to separate their writing profession from their private life, change careers, or who want to talk about delicate or controversial matters with out worry of non-public repercussions.
When you’ve established your self in a single profession, particularly one which practices one other sort of writing or is pretty public, a pen identify might help you retain each careers separate and obtain a degree of professionalism in each. For example, in case you’re a reporter with a well-established profession and also you wish to break into fiction writing, you would possibly think about using a pseudonym on your fiction work.
If you wish to write a memoir and also you’re anxious about revealing info or details about your loved ones, you would possibly want to defend their identities and your personal by writing beneath a pen identify.
4 Extra Causes to Use a Pseudonym
You may also select to put in writing beneath a pen identify of pseudonym if:
- Your identify is frequent or already utilized by one other writer
- Your identify is just too just like an already well-known writer
- Your identify is troublesome to pronounce or spell
- Your identify doesn’t suit your style (Sarah Loveless could be an amazing romance author identify however most likely not an amazing match for a horror author. On this case, Sarah would possibly select to put in writing beneath a pen identify)
How one can Select a Pseudonym/Pen Identify
There isn’t a proper or flawed means to decide on a pen identify but it surely’s a good suggestion to decide on one which means one thing to you, that you just like, and also you received’t thoughts seeing and being referred to as in case you’re profitable!
Within the case of Wade Rouse, A.Ok.A. Viola Shipman, he selected his grandmother’s identify as his pen identify as a result of her heirlooms and household tales encourage his fiction.
Whereas the suitable identify ought to really feel proper to you, listed below are some ideas to remember when selecting your pseudonym.
- Test for availability (web sites, social channels, and so forth)
- Select one that matches your style (take a look at different writer names)
- Be sure it’s simple to spell and say
- Be sure it received’t be confused with one other identify
- Think about how outdated (or younger!) the identify makes you sound
- Use a pen identify generator (you will discover these on-line simply by Googling)
Ought to You Use a Pseudonym?
Whereas these are all the explanation why you would possibly select to make use of a pen identify, the true query is; must you? Within the early 1900s, it was pretty simple to disguise your id by writing beneath a pseudonym…at present, it’s loads more durable. Even when writers select to put in writing beneath a pen identify, it’s pretty simple to seek out their true id.
So, in case you’re selecting to make use of a pen identify, it is best to take into account how strict you’re going to be about maintaining your actual id a secret.
When you’re selecting a pen identify attributable to branding and advertising and marketing, then it’s not a giant deal in case your double life is revealed. When you’re attempting to remain nameless, you’re going to must be much more cautious.
Selecting to put in writing beneath your actual identify or use a pseudonym is a giant resolution and shouldn’t be taken flippantly. The selection will observe you on your total profession and is a tough option to undo when you begin publishing. Think about your causes, your viewers, and the kind of profession you’d wish to have after which…get writing!