Ah, to pen name or not to pen name? As an author, your name is your brand, so this question should hold some weight. Readers don’t see you, they see the name. So, your author name has to match the image that you’re building and the stories you’re writing. You’ve probably read a dozen books where authors are writing under a pen name, and never known it. That’s the whole point, and why choosing a pen name is one of the first biggest decisions you’ll make early on in your career. So, does your name fit the stories you want to tell?

Sit with us while we go over what a pen name is, why authors use them, how to choose one, and what the process looks like.

What is a Pen Name?

A pen name is a name you publish your work under. It’s not your legal name and is sometimes called a pseudonym or the fancy French term “nom de plume.”

Why Do Authors Use a Pen Name?

Authors use a pen name for privacy, branding, contracts, or a break from an old name. Pen names have been around forever. Historically, pen names were used as a way for women to publish their work. Using male pen names allowed publishers to actually want to publish their work. Their voice could now be perceived in a serious light without gender discrimination. Some men also used pen names to publish political satire without it being traced back to them. Lots of people still do this now. We live in a society with so many stereotypes and unconscious biases, so a pen name helps your book be shared with a neutral mindset. And, the level of privacy it provides is unbeatable. You have just created a medium for yourself where you can share and create anything without any judgment from the people in your life.

• What if your name doesn’t match your genre? A pen name is needed. Sounds odd right? But, if your name is Hope, and you’re writing horror books, that can feel like a mismatch. You’re building an image that needs to match your writing and help readers understand what your work is about.
• If you’re locked into a deal with a publisher who might own the rights to your name in a certain genre, or you’ve got a non-compete…. a pen name lets you keep writing somewhere else without technically breaking that agreement. Sometimes it’s not personal at all; it’s just contractual.
• If you’ve already published some work that didn’t do so hot, a pen name gives you a clean slate without your previous reviews flooding the opinions of readers who read your previous work. New readers don’t know about your other book that flopped.
• If you’ve written with somebody, you can share a pen name so there wouldn’t be two names on the cover. Some co-authors combine into one shared pen name, others just put both real names on the cover. If you are concerned about confusing some people, a shared pen name solves the problem.
• Finally, it could just be something random, like maybe there’s a famous author who has the same name as you. Crazy, right? But do you want to have the same name on the market as them?

Is it Legal to Use a Pen Name?

Using a pen name is completely legal. Every major publishing platform lets you publish under your real name or a pen name. It’s not questioned. However, there are a few things worth knowing to not get in trouble or cause issues down the line.

When it comes to any official business, like invoices or payments, it needs your real name. The pen name is only for public use. Behind the scenes, your legal name handles all the official paperwork. If you are taking payments under your pen name, like royalty checks, check your state requirements first. Some states require you to file a DBA or fictitious business name statement first. The requirements vary state by state and county, and the costs are usually under $100 if you plan to continuously publish under the pen name. Taxes work the same no matter what name you use, so you have to declare all of your writing income under the real legal name, even if you earned it under your pen name.

If you plan to use your pen name long term, you might want to trademark it. However, it can only be trademarked once it earns “secondary meaning”. Secondary meaning is when your name has become recognizable as your brand through your books and marketing.

If you’d like to copyright your pen name, you can register under your pen name or your real name. That part is your choice, but the term changes depending on which one you use. If you register under your real name, your work’s protected for life plus 70 years. If you register under your pen name and never reveal your identity, it’s protected for 95 years after publication, or 120 years from the date you created it, whichever is shorter. Either way you go about it, you’re covered. It’s just different timeframes.

One thing a pen name won’t do is protect you from a lawsuit if something in your book leads to a defamation claim or another legal issue. Your pen name doesn’t protect you from that, it just keeps it out of the public eye. If privacy is your main concern, most publishers will keep your identity confidential. Usually, only your editor and agent know your real name, but it’s up to you. Complete anonymity isn’t guaranteed forever, especially if your pen name becomes super successful or something legally forces disclosure.

How To Come Up With a Pen Name

You can come up with a pen name by testing out a few options out loud before you commit, matching it to your genre, seeing if it’s available, and dropping it on your book cover and seeing if it works. At the end of the day, just pick something that feels right. It’s not a baby name, where you’re committed to an eternity with it. You can use a pen name once and decide not to use it again.

Here’s what you need to consider:

1. Genre over everything. The name you should choose should fit the kind of stories you’re writing. If your work is light and fun, a playful name might work. I’m sure, what is a playful name? Maybe something like Susie McGee, or just something light and airy, like a Jessica or a Matt, something that feels light, like a name that you see everywhere. It might not be fun, but it’s light. There’s not much going on with it. If you’re writing suspense or, say, a thriller, something serious might fit better, like a James Gray or Annette Johnson. Now that one is a little bit long, but think about the way that people perceive names and what they might think is more professional versus not. Take a name like Joey, that wouldn’t necessarily be a name that everyone can agree is professional.
2. Take in account who you’re writing for. For YA novels, younger readers might pick up on something that’s a little bit more catchy whereas a nonfiction reader might want something that sounds credible and professional.
3. Keep it simple. Your pen name needs to be easy to spell and remember. No one wants to struggle to google you and you don’t want to miss out on any potential sales.
4. Search your name on best seller book lists on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble. Make sure the name isn’t already being used by another author.

Not every pen name has to be from scratch. Don’t over think it. If you’re still struggling, here are some places to find inspiration:

• Swap your last name or use your initials and last name, or vice versa. Initials make it more gender-neutral and genre-flexible.
• Recycle from people you know in your life. Your great grandmothers middle or name or nieces name
• ProWritingAid has a generator just for pen names. It has optional fields for gender, initials, genre, name length, ethnicity, and time period.
• Baby name generators.
• Steal your favorite singer, artist, painter, actor, comedian, and/or influencers first, middle or last name

How to Go From a Pen Name to a Real Name

If you want to start off using a pen name and then change your mind later on and want to switch, don’t stress. This is all part of the journey. After testing the waters, you can absolutely switch from your pen name to your real name, or vice versa. Here’s what to know about the switch:

1. Let your readers know. A simple, genuine message can just let them know that the change is happening, something like, “I’ve been writing as Pending, but from now on I’ll be publishing as Blank. Still the same books, just with a different name.” Just keep the connection strong without feeling too formal. It is going to be different for them, but they love you and your work.
2. Update your branding. You’ll have to update your website, profiles, and book covers as well. You can debate whether or not you want to leave references to both your pen name and real name during the transition, so readers can still find your earlier work.

How to Go From a Real Name to a Pen Name?

This is almost like getting a creative reset! Embrace your new identity! A pen name can open up so many new possibilities. It’s like giving yourself permission to explore different genres or writing styles without feeling tied to your previous work and personal life. Maybe the horror genre you love so much but seems intimidating is finally something you’ll be willing to try under this new name.

What Successful Authors use a Pen Name?

Some of the most iconic names in literature are actually pen names, and you would have never known it because the pen name did it’s job. Here are some of the most famous authors who use pen names and their reasoning behind it:

Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens): Samuel Clemens used the pen name Mark Twain because it fit his writing perfectly. He worked as a riverboat pilot, where “mark twain” was a phrase used to measure water depth. This name gave him a identity that really captured the essence of the American frontier and the stories he wanted to tell.

Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler): Daniel Handler used Lemony Snicket for his A Series of Unfortunate Events books. The pen name screams mystery and intrigue. The pen name became a part of the story itself and created an entire persona that matched the dark, offbeat humor of the series. It allowed Handler to keep some distance from his work and lean into the playful, yet gloomy, tone the books are known for.

Stan Lee (Stanley Lieber): When Stan Lee started his career, comic books weren’t seen as serious writing. So, he created his pen name to keep his comic book work separate from his dream of becoming a serious novelist. Little did he know, the name Stan Lee would become legendary, tied to the creation of iconic superheroes and the Marvel Universe. He eventually legally changed his name to Stan Lee.

Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson): Charles Dodgson chose the pen name Lewis Carroll to protect his privacy. As a mathematician and lecturer at Oxford, he didn’t want his creative stories like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to clash with his academic reputation. The pen name allowed him to enjoy success in both worlds, his scholarly career and his literary life.

FAQ

What is it called when an author uses a different name?
It’s called a pen name, pseudonym, or nom de plume. All three terms mean the same thing: a name an author publishes under instead of their real, legal name.

Why do authors use a pen name?
Authors use pen names for privacy, to separate their writing from their day job, to build a brand that fits their genre, or historically, to get around gender bias in publishing. There’s no one right reason.

What does pen name mean?
A pen name is the name an author chooses to publish under. It can be close to their real name, like a middle name or initials, or something built entirely from scratch.

Can an author have more than one pen name?
Yes. Many authors use a different pen name for each genre they write in, so readers know what to expect from each book. It does mean managing more than one author platform, though.

How do you introduce yourself in person if you use a pen name?
Most authors introduce themselves using their pen name at signings, interviews, and conferences, treat it as your actual public name. You don’t owe anyone your real name unless you choose to share it.

Do you have to tell your publisher or agent your real name?
Yes. Publishers and agents need your legal name for contracts, payments, and tax purposes, even if your pen name is what appears on the book. Your legal name stays behind the scenes and doesn’t have to be public.

Does using a pen name mean I have to stay completely anonymous?
No. A pen name just means your legal name isn’t attached to your books. You can still build a real presence, a following, and a public persona under your pen name, it’s just a different name doing the work instead of your own.

Ready to Print Your Book?

Pen names help maintain privacy and explore different genres. But, if you feel more comfortable using your real name, that works too! It’s all about finding what fits best with your writing and long-term goals. If you have figured put your path, the next step is bringing your work into the world. Your book deserves to look as professional as it reads, and that’s where PrintingCenterUSA can help.

We work with thousands of self-published authors to print high-quality printed books that showcase their hard work and creativity. Create an instant book quote and take the next step in your publishing journey with confidence!

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