Reasons Why Authors Use Pen Names: Disguising Author Identity
By its very nature, writing is a thoughtful activity. As exciting as a book writing process is, it allows humans to learn and grow. One of the most exciting things that an author can do, hoping it is also one of the most fun things is using a pen name or writing under a pseudonym or "nom de plume". It means disguising yourself by using a different made-up name. Authors all over the world, since the very beginning of writing books have been using pen names to publish their writings and there are several reasons why.
Reasons for using pen names:
Whether working with literary agents, publishers, or self-publishing platforms, authors choose to disguise their identities and use a pen name. Choosing a pen name is not actually easy as it is the name that the author must carry along. So, it is better to choose a name that reflects their personalities or who they are. But why do authors do that? Why choose a different name when they can be known by their personal, very real names? Well, while every author's decision of using a pen anime is not exactly the same, there are some common reasons behind opting for a pseudonym.
● The first common reason for choosing a pen name is to allow them to write for different genres. When an author has already established himself in one genre, breaking it into another different one might be challenging as it can also be very confusing for their existing readership. When an author uses a pen anime, it allows them to experiment with their writing in different genres without being stuck to one single genre. Writers are often creative, so it is only a guess before they start exploring different plots and different themes for their next publication, even a different genre.
● Another reason why authors opt for pen names is to secure and protect their reputations. Many authors might have experienced controversies or criticism. And hence, they choose to use a pseudonym so that they can easily stay away from any negative press. Using a pen name helps them protect their reputation while writing and publishing under a different identity.
● Some authors prefer staying away from the limelight and prefer to keep their personal lives apart from their profession so that they never receive unwanted attention. Using a different, fake name allows them to separate their personal lives from their professional ones and they can write freely without any repercussions.
● Another reason why authors choose to opt for a different identity is because they want to diversify and increase their reader base. Suppose, one author has developed a reader base after publishing fiction stories. Now when the author decides to get his hands on a nonfiction book, it might be difficult for him to be taken seriously. As his previous books have invented so much fiction, his reader base might be skeptical. So, they opt for a pen name, allowing themselves to be free of that conception. At the same time using a different identity helps authors diversify their reader base and increase their reach.
● In addition to reaching more readers and protecting their privacy, another reason behind authors choosing a pen name is to make themselves more marketable. If their real names are hard to pronounce or are not memorable enough, they use nom de plume, which is catchier and helps them stand out from the crowd.
● Pen names also help authors get their work published without any hassle. Sometimes it becomes easier for authors to maintain their publishing rights when they separate their legal identities from their publishing names.
Now that you know why authors opt for a pen name instead of their real identities, let’s get into the different kinds of pen names.
The kinds of pen names:
➔ Pseudonyms: This happens when an author uses a fake or different anime instead of their real ones while publishing a written work. These are often used by authors who want to protect their privacy and or avoid criticism.
➔ Heteronyms: This is a type of pseudonym where an author uses two different names and each name has its unique pronunciation and spelling.
➔ Nom de Plume: This means pen name but in French. This is often used by authors who want to write under a different name than the legal one.
➔ Anonyms: This is a type of pen anime that is completely false and authors use it intending to remain unknown to the public eye.
Whether you choose a pen name or publish under your real name, what matters the most is the content quality of your book and if that is right, with just a little help of marketing you can easily build up your reader base.
