Pen name
From Conservapedia
A pen name or nom de plume is a name made up by an author if their name is incompatible with the book's title or may be confused with another author's name.
Contents
The good aspects of a pen name
- The author's real name may not fit with the book's title.
Example: 'Blood of My People' Anita Riana rather than, 'Blood of My People' by Shurlee Kennan.
The influence and author's name has on the title of the book is very important.
- If the author wishes to remain anonymous, a pen name is a good way to do that.
- By using a pen name, an author can continue a normal life without having the hindrance of being famous.
The bad aspects of a pen name
- For an author, their choice of a pen name can hurt their acceptance for publishing. A beginning author already has little leverage with publishers and should not use a pretentious or gimmicky pen name.
- If the author's book, which they are publishing with a pen name, becomes popular, they will have to continue writing under that name. Their real names are often rejected when sent to publishing companies.
- Many authors use pen names so that if one book is not liked, then they will simply switch to a different pen name so that they are not rejected based on their name. The author may be brought to court for this.
Authors who have used pen names
| Real name | Pseudonym |
|---|---|
| Samuel Langhorne Clemens | Mark Twain |
| Eric Arthur Blair | George Orwell |
| Esther Pauline Friedman | Ann Landers |
| Charles Lutwidge Dodgson | Lewis Carroll |
| Mary Ann Evans | George Eliot |
