The concept of writing under a pen name has been hotly debated for a long time. There are plenty of things to consider, some more important than others, but the truth of the matter is that plenty of authors are writing with pen names (and we might not even be aware of it)!
I chose to write with a pen name for multiple reasons. The first of which was because I tried without one, but then I went through some personal issues and I needed to rebrand. I then wanted separation from my real name to avoid certain aspects of my personal life spilling over into the name I was trying to establish. For me, it was an easy choice.
But if you're on the fence, here are some things to consider:
Getting Paid
I've never had this issue, but I also set up a business with my pen name prior to publishing. I have heard some horror stories, however, of authors who have received cheques in their pen name with no way to prove the name belonged to them.
If you're self-publishing, this likely won't be an issue as many self-pub platforms allow you to add a pen name in a separate area. They also pay royalties through direct deposit. So they will have the records.
My main suggestion here is that if you use a pen name, make sure there is some legal trace that the name belongs to you. That way if issues do arise, you'll be able to get the money owed to you.
Discrimination
It's a sad reality, but to this day, there is still a stigma around female authors. This is more so in some genres than others (romance, for example, swings the other direction - male-written romance typically doesn't fly off the shelves).
In the fantasy genre, a name that is usually attributed to females tends to get less attention on the shelf. As a fantasy author myself, this was one of the main reasons I chose to use a pen name. I wanted something that couldn't be directly tied one way or another.
It would also work to chose a name that could be unisex (names like Max, Alex, etc.).
Privacy
Pen names have the major added benefit of a level of privacy. I recently heard of an author being stalked through flights because she wrote with her real name. Granted, this author is a New York Times bestseller. However, it's important to consider the possible trajectory of our author careers to know if this may be a future concern.
Writing in Multiple Genres or Categories
Sometimes, but not always, it can be helpful to have various pen names if we're writing in various genres. For example, if we start out in romance and later decide to write in sci-fi as well. Or if we write as a middle grade author and we want to branch into adult (this one is especially helpful so we don't end up with young readers assuming all those books are appropriate for their age group).
Memorability
How many books have we read where we know the book title but not the author's name? How about for bestsellers?
Having a memorable author name can increase your visibility. If your real name is long or hard to pronounce or spell in your target market, this may be worth the consideration. It all depends on who you're writing for.
I thought my real last name would get misspelled frequently and ultimately lead to missed search opportunities.
Separation of Business and Personal
My brain enjoys categories. It is much easier for me to have a healthy work-life balance when I can categorize time and communication into what is business and what isn't. If I had emails coming to my personal mailbox or to my real name, I would have a harder time immediately recognizing when something work-related needed my attention.
The Name is Already Taken
Sometimes, our names will already exist in the publishing world. Can you copyright an author name? No. But it can lead to misunderstandings. It's better to have a unique name that is instantly recognizable to your brand.
This is especially true if the name is attached to a world-famous author, like Stephen King or Neil Gaiman.
Simplicity
All that being said, it's a whole lot easier to publish with a real name. It's already established. Starting out, it probably doesn't require a business registration either.
An Established Presence
If you already have an established following under a name (real or otherwise), it's probably a good idea to stick with it as your brand. It can be confusing to change an author name mid-career, but it's absolutely not impossible. The downside to changing a name is loosing those connections. Not everyone is going to realize the change, no matter how hard we market it.
Writing Non-Fiction
Using a pen name is much easier in fiction than non-fiction. In non-fiction, the draw of the book is often in the author, their experiences or advice. Using a pen name here can actually lessen the impact of the work because it's no longer attached to our lives.
Pen names can be a useful tool in an author's arsenal. There are many reasons to use them, but also many reasons not to.
Those are just a few areas of consideration, but they were major factors in my own determination to write with a pen name. But what do you think? What category do you fall into?
Happy writing,
Erin
تعليقات