Pen name

From Conservapedia - Reading time: 2 min

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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[edit]

• 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[edit]

• 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[edit]

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

See also[edit]

• Nom de plume
• Pen
• Publishing