choosing a pseudonym
introduction
essentially, a pseudonym is the name you write under, like Mark Twain for example, whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens. pseudonyms are also known as pen names, nom de plumes, aliases, and literary doubles. i myself haven’t decided on my pseudonym, but i’ve come up with some options. there are a few things to consider when deciding what name you want to publish under, so i’ll go over those as well as provide some tips.
should i use a pen name?
that is completely up to you! authors write under pseudonyms for a lot of different reasons, whether it be fear of reprisal, a desire to remain anonymous, to separate their works of different genres, that their name is too close to another famous author, or just for fun! if you feel that writing under a pseudonym is the right choice for you, don’t let anything stop you!
things to consider
the pseudonym you choose for your writing can have a huge impact on your book and author platform. it will be smack dab on the cover of your book, can become the domain name of your author website if you decide to have one, and will determine whether your readers remember you as an author or simply remember the names of your books. pretty scary, huh? don’t worry, i’ll help you through these hoops.
the right age
the age of a writer plays a huge role in the psyche of potential readers. a name that sounds younger than your target audience is a fast way to kill your project before it even gets off the ground. i think the majority of writergram shouldn’t have a problem with this because most of us are young adults writing in the YA genre, but even so it’s okay to pick a pen name that is a few years older than your target readers.
fit the genre
names incite emotion. just the sound of a name might bring to mind any fantastical journey or steamy romance. when choosing your pen name, consider if it fits with your genre or not. if you aren’t sure, research some other books in your genre and ask yourself: are there patterns to names in this genre? do the authors often use initials or full names? do the names feel simplistic or whimsical?
easy to remember
try to pick a name that has a simple spelling, isn’t difficult to pronounce, and one that isn’t likely to be forgotten. readers have a better chance at remembering you if your name sticks out and is not hard to spell. be wary of alternate spellings and pronunciations, and consider using alliteration, initials, or making up a creative name (if it fits your genre) like Lemony Snicket!
conclusion
a pseudonym isn’t necessary. you can feel totally comfortable using your real name to write under and nothing is wrong with that! personally, i’m considering a play on my real name or publishing under queenie. i don’t think i’ll decide until i’m in the midst of the publishing process, so it’s okay to not know your pseudonym until later. get creative and have fun!
