What do you think about having a PEN NAME?

Question

This is for all the writers and aspiring writers/poets out there - what do you think about other writers having pen names? Would you ever have a pen name? I've been thinking about putting a pen name on my work but I'm not sure how I feel about it.

Answer 1

I have a friend who has had more than 1,200 non-fiction magazine articles published under a variety of pen names. She says that magazines don't want it to look like one person wrote everything, so pen names come in handy. It has also been of value for magazines that prefer to publish articles by men. The publisher knows the true identity of the author, but the readers do not.

Answer 2

Sometimes I think about using pen names, but I really like seeing my own name on a piece of writing.

I do like what Stephen King did, though. When he was already super famous he started publishing under the name Richard Bachman. He only published a few books as Bachman before he was found out, but at the time he was even considering a pen name for his pen name!

I think that is pretty clever, and if I were to use a pseudonym, that is what I would do.

Also, I've heard of some writer who use different names for different genres.

Answer 3

As a writer myself, I write under a pen name when (a) I want a shorter name than my real one, (b) it would be advantageous to the market to think I'm a woman writer rather than the man I am, or (c) I'm making an attempt to write in a very different style. Research why Stephen King wrote some of his books under a pen name after he was famous for more insight.

Answer 4

Well, these days, society (unfortunately) is still sexist and view the writings by men more important than the women. They still hold the notion that men write more serious stuff than women who they beleive write about only romance-oriented matters. Of course, this is not triue, and may be only my notion, but I think it's true. That's why I hear that the publisher urged Joan Rowling to have the book published under the name of "J.K.Rowling" which sounded more masculine. And also why the author of "Middlemarch" wrote her name under the pen name of "George Elliot" to have her work considered more seriously. So, I think if a writer wants her work to be considered seriously, they go under the pen name of a man's name.

Also, I'm planning to have a pen name because I feel that "JUNE HUR" on the book covers would be rather too short and dull. I'm planning to go under the pen name of a longer and more attractive name.

Answer 5

It could depend on which genre in which you intend to write. For instance, romance writers may want to write under a pen name so they will still have exclusive rights to their own name should they ever decide to write in a different genre. Some publishers may include the use of your name exclusively in your contract especially if it appears you have a best seller. Using a pen name at the beginning can protect your right to identity. Another arguement in favor of pen names is name appeal. Your given and surname may not have the right "flow" for what you have written.

Answer 6

heavily, I in user-friendly terms %. up a e book if curiously perfect. i will not additionally be responsive to the author's call till some years later while i'm staring blankly on the disguise, attempting to endure in innovations what the e book substitute into approximately. i assume there are people who pay greater interest than me(LOL) so i for my area locate L.G Smith a good call. For all they be responsive to, "L" can stand for Lucy or Lucas. :) If it have been me looking up a pen call(which I ought to do quickly adequate), i could seem into some thing unisex and catchy. i've got heard of a pen call like "Levon Lovelock" (L-eh-von). nevertheless to this present day, I have not any concept if this author is a guy or female. :P good good fortune.

Answer 7

I'm going to have a pen name for practical reasons. I'm planning on being a psycologist at the moment, and I don't want to scare people off because they don't want me writing about them. I have thought about using the stories, but lumping multiple together, and fictionalizing all the non-important stuff, like place, looks, ect. Currently, I'm just planning on using my middle name instead of my last name.

Answer 8

I started using a pen name years ago, because I got tired of being told that I, as a woman, could not -possibly- write science fiction. Amazing, how that guy who writes so much like me is considered a talented writer... I'M not going to tell anyone that he's my alter ego. :)

Answer 9

I write under a pen name... I have for a while now. It's shorter than, my real name. I highly recommend one!

Answer 10

I have a pen name for yahoo answers.
Best of luck
from Robert Corbet.