Let’s start by getting to know each other a bit more with a discussion post about pen names. A pen name can be used in all sorts of industries and the publishing industry is one of them. So what is a pen name and why use one? Let me explain so we can discuss.
What is a pen name?
A pen name is a name that a person uses that is different from their own legal name. This person uses this name for any creative project that they wish to be under that name.
Why use a pen name?
There are many reasons that people use a pen name. Here is a list of some reasons:
- They don’t like their legal name.
- Their legal name doesn’t fit with the genre they’re writing
- Writing in multiple genres
- To keep anonymity from family
- Gender norms (Moreso in the 18th century)
Authors that use pen names
Mark Twain
Dr. Seuss
George Orwell
Lemony Snicket
Stan Lee
Annie Woods
Jennae Cecelia
Why I use a one…
I write under the name Jennifer Leigh for my young adult fiction work. Why’s that? Because when I choose my author name I was 15 years old and didn’t like my last name on the cover of my book. I know I could change it, but now it feels like that name is meant to be.
There are so many reasons why someone would choose a name other than their own. By knowing your options, you’ll be able to decide what works best for your situation. It is a tough decision to make but one that can benefit you in the long run depending on a lot of factors.
Now that you know more about pen names, what do you think? Are they useful? Does one of your favorite authors use a pen name? Let’s have a discussion in the comments down below!
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