Pen name

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.

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 Aspect 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	wrote as
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

See also

• Nom de plume
• Pen
• Publishing