Writers have used pseudonyms or ‘pen names’ for decades. Even though the literary landscape has changed over the years, there is still a place for them today.
What is a pen name?
A pen name is a false name which a writer or author uses. It is associated with a published book, while the real identity of the author remains a secret.
Because many writers choose to self-publish through the internet, social media and eBooks, it could be argued that using a pen name when self-publishing is outdated. However, some authors believe it is a liberating way to do their work. Writers have more control of their own authorship than if they wrote under their known name and governed by publishers.
So is using a pen name when self publishing worth it? Here are some pros and cons to consider before you make a decision.
The Pros
Writers Can Develop on Amazon
Amazon is a powerhouse in the industry. For any budding writers who wish to stand out and try new material, using a pen name when self publishing is a good way to test the water.
Publishing with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) enables Amazon to give more leeway for writers. Using a pen name as a marketing tool gives you the opportunity to incorporate keywords into your name.
Writers can add their pen name as the author’s name in the contributors section when preparing the book for publication. This comes in handy when targeting a certain niche.
Amazon users love to find their next book via the Amazon search bar. A pen name can get your book discovered by your kind of shoppers if you use the right keywords, regardless if you have a reputation through your real name. For those with a specified demographic i.e fitness: if an Amazon author name is ‘John Fitness Fanatic’ versus ‘John Smith’, target audiences will order books based on the relevant keywords.
If you decide to use a pen name on Amazon, you’ll need to know the right keywords to use. Read a review of Publisher Rocket. People forget that Amazon is a hyper-intelligent search engine, and this tool will help you make the most out of this platform.
Protects the Author
You sacrifice privacy when you publish a book and your work is given to the public. Even with a chance to gain more exposure, not every author dreams of adulation. They may prefer their true identity to remain a secret.
Many writers face insecurity when publishing fiction. They worry about the perception of friends and family and their reactions to their work. When writers tackle serious issues, they may wish to keep their personal life and writing life separate.
Some authors conceal their identity to prevent judgement from their readers. In the all consuming world of social media and online reviews, criticism is handed out everywhere. Rather than tackling it alone, you can shield yourself with a pen name.
Sometimes, it can protect writers from falling into stereotyping traps like gender. If a male/female writer wants to gain credibility and switch their lead character’s gender, or in fact switch their entire style, they could choose to use initials as their pen name to take the gender issue off the table. J.K Rowling famously shifted to Robert Galbraith for her serialized work.
Building the Brand
Pen names allow authors to build identity and distinguish themselves in the publishing world. Some writers may have more commonly used names and wish to avoid clashing with other writers’ work.
Some authors know their genre and style right from the word go. Occasionally, writers may wish to try different genres before deciding on their strongest fit, or change on a whim.
When it comes to building a brand, pen names are a useful tool. They provide writers freedom in their tone and can present the image of mystery behind their work. Readers can associate a certain writer with a certain genre, which gives power to the writer.
The Cons
Publishers Losing Their Power
Self-publishing authors in the 20th century would use a pen name for a different genre or series. A pen name was needed because the author was writing too fast for their contracted publisher. A publisher may feel rushed to get the book published and hold back on production.
For this very reason, the pen name doesn’t carry as much gravitas today. Few authors are punished for their speed of writing in the digital age. Established authors can self-publish books between a big release.
When authors worked under traditional publishers, they had to change their name because their publisher had ‘ownership’ of their name. If their sales were below expectations, and the publisher was losing patience, writers could reinvent themselves under a new name and go at it alone.
With self-publishing, authors may wish to take advantage of their current fan base, rather than leave them all together. Most books are bought online, which means readers can single out their favorite authors who have decided to leave their publishers.
Social Media and Identity
Sadly, privacy is non-existent in the digital age. If you are trying to stay incognito, social media and the turnaround speed of the press will find ways of revealing your identity. Before social media, successful writers could work under a different name and not be met with scrutiny.
Using multiple pen names isn’t logical either in the social media age. A popular trend online is whistle-blowing authors by seeking to reveal their true identity.
If this happens through Facebook or Amazon reviews, authors may wish to stop writing under their pen name and have to change persona again. Instead of changing repeatedly, it may be easier for writers to stick with their own name.
Reaching a wider audience with a pen name is a tricky business if people don’t truly know who you identify as.
A Backwards Step in Personal Marketing
Writers can become a victim of their own success. Despite their privacy remaining intact, hiding an identity makes it much more difficult to spread the word about their book.
The magic behind developing a writing career is that you build readerships organically. With your first publications, you attract a small pool of dedicated readers that only gets bigger over time. If you don’t connect with those early fans through your known name, you might lose that connection.
Given the high volume of competition and content available to consumers, the publishing marketplace has become reliant on author personality and rapport-building. Therefore it’s harder to sell copies without proper marketing.
If writers decide to self-publish and go under a pen name, it’s difficult to promote with the modern channels such as speaking engagements, social media posting, blogging and podcasting.
Readers expect their writers to be a brand. This requires a face, voice, stories and truth behind the words. The media doesn’t allow the secrecy like it did in the 20th century — poor marketing under a pen name can leave writers unable to connect to new and existing audiences. Your work might never get read at all because readers might not ever realize you’re connected.
So, Is Writing with a Pen Name Worth the Trouble?
Because writers in the modern world have much more flexibility with their publishing powers, pen names may have had their day. The internet has driven book sales into another stratosphere with its customer reach and access.
Authors do not necessarily have to change their name in order to be successful. On the flip side, they might relish such privacy. Writers are less bound by their publishers and can work at the speed of their choosing.
Writers are faced with the dilemma of openness vs secrecy. For those going alone, they can interchange between their real name and pen name, but they must accept the risk of falling behind in the online race.
There are many roadblocks for using both a real and pen name in writing. Media and literary output will increase every year, so the writer needs to makes a decision based on what’s right for them and their readers.
