Adopting a Nom de Plume: The Do’s and Don’ts of Taking On a Pen Name

Every writer wants to make a name for him- or herself. For some writers it’s a question of what exactly that name is.Pseudonyms are a time-honored tradition used by authors who are either seeking a more marketable existence or a little anonymity. Many of literature’s most significant works were published under pen names, including best-selling authors Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), Anne Rice (Howard Allen O’Brien) and George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair). So, how do you know if using a pen name is right for you?

A pen name may be a good option if any of the following are true:

1. You have a misleading, obnoxious, or common name: Brittney Spears or Bob Smith may want to consider a pseudonym.
2. You write in distinctly separate genres: A bloody true crime novel and a children’s book may not sell well under the same name.
3. Your name doesn’t match the expected gender or nationality for the genre: There is no fault in a man writing a fluffy romance or a native Japanese person writing about America’s Deep South. Yet readers have certain expectations from a writer and may question the validity of the work in situations like these.
4. Your name is difficult to pronounce or spell: Simplicity is key. You want to be easily searchable, so tweak those challenging names by shortening or altogether changing.
5. You don’t want your real name revealed: if you have written something embarrassing, politically outspoken, or a bit racy, you might want to consider using a pen name.
6. You need to reboot your writing career: If you’ve run gone through trial and error with your previous writing, a good way to start fresh is to publish your next title under a new name.

A pen name may not, however, be such a good idea if any of the following are true:

1. Your intention is to deceive: Intentionally deceiving your audience or publisher is a recipe for disaster. The penalties can be harsh for evading the terms of a lawful contract, and on top of that you look unprofessional. Make sure you consider your intentions in using a pen name to avoid any type of legal conflict.
2. You end up choosing an unpleasant name: Selecting a bad pen name can severely hurt your writing career. Pompous or gimmicky names can scare publishers and readers away. Also, pseudonyms create identities that are inescapable. Don’t choose a pen name if you think it will take away from future credibility,
3. Your own name is reasonably marketable: If your name is already distinctive and marketable, you may want to rethink resorting to a pen name.
4. You have an established platform. This is especially important for nonfiction authors. If you have already built up credibility and a following on a particular subject, changing your name will erase all of the hard work you’ve done.

If you decide a pen name is the way to go, consider the following:

Simplicity

As mentioned above, you want to make sure your name is easy to remember. People are easily distracted by a complicated name—don’t get too fancy when making your selection. Think simple and short. Another good tip to bear in mind is to think about simple names that are associated with a physical item. For instance, selecting the name Pearl will equate you with the refined, elegant feeling of the physical object.

Suitability for your genre

Consider what your name will look like next to the other authors in your genre. A suitable name will get a better shelf location. If you have chosen the name Teddi Cherry and you’re writing a horror novel, you might want take a few steps back and select a more genre-appropriate pseudonym.

Availability

Make sure your name is available. You can check legal name registrations with the Library of Congress’s Copyright Office. Do an online search for availability using domain registration sites like Go Daddy and social media–monitoring sites like Social Mention. You can search at individual social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook.

Managing multiple personas

Effectively building a platform for one persona is time consuming enough; trying to manage personas for more than one pen name is nearly impossible. Choose one and stick with it.

Above all, don’t rush into adopting a pen name. Get feedback from colleagues and industry professionals and do the research to determine whether adopting a new name is not only a good idea, but also legally feasible, before you take the plunge. Remember, you’re the one who has to live with it.