Should you write with a pen name or your real name?

Let’s study real life examples to help you decide

Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash

Have you ever heard of Eric Arthur Blair, Daniel Handler, Samuel Clemens or Stanley Martin Lieber? No? If you don’t recognize these names, don’t worry — it’s not your fault, as you probably know them for their pen names instead of their real names. In fact, chances are very high that you have read at least one work by the above-mentioned authors.

So what inspired these writers to go for a pen name, instead of their real name? If you are a writer, especially if you are just starting out, this question has most likely crossed your mind, even if just for a second:

Should I use a pen name or my real name for my writing?

For some, the answer to this question is a no-brainer, as they decide for one or the other. But what if you are unsure? After all, each option brings its own set of pros and cons.

Let us unveil the identity of the above-mentioned writers and learn from their own personal reasonings:

Why writers choose to write with a pen name

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Eric Arthur Blair aka George Orwell

Probably one of the most famous writers of the 20th century, Eric Arthur Blair decided to go for a pen name when he was ready to publish his first book, Down and Out in Paris and London. This memoir touches on the theme of poverty in the two cities, including life on the road from a tramp’s perspective (a tramp is a long-term homeless person, who travels from place to place as a vagrant.) Orwell was worried that his family may feel embarrassed over their experience in poverty, and he, thus, chose to go with a pen name.

Learning for us:

You may opt to go for a pen name if:

• you are concerned that people in your immediate circle like family and friends may feel uncomfortable about what you are writing, especially if you are also writing about them

Daniel Handler aka Lemony Snicket

Daniel Handler is most famous for writing A Series of Unfortunate Events, one of the most successful children’s story series of all time. However, Handler also wrote books on darker and more satirical themes, including his book, The Basic Eight, which was published in 1998. While doing research for said book, Handler wanted to receive material from organizations that he deemed “offensive” and didn’t want his real identity to be revealed. He then coined the name Lemony Snicket and proceeded to publish some of his works under his real name, while others under his pen name.

Learning for us:

You may opt to go for a pen name if:

• you are writing on controversial topics, since a pen name allows you and your family some form of anonymity
• if you are writing various books/works in completely different genres

Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain

Mark Twain was a master of pen names; in fact, he also wrote under the names of Sergeant Fathom, Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass and W. Epaminondas Adrastus Blab.

Clemens decided to go for a pen name mainly because he desired literary freedom. Similar to Orwell, he wanted to protect his family and immediate circle from any form of backlash that may arise due to the topics as well as the characters and their opinions in his works.

Learning for us:

You may opt to go for a pen name if:

• literary freedom is very important to you. This may be relevant for writers who publish works that criticize their government or policy and wish to grant themselves some form of security blanket, if not for themselves then at least for their family. This is especially applicable for individuals who live in oppressive environments.

Stanley Martin Lieber aka Stan Lee

The mastermind behind some of the most iconic comic books ever written, Lieber first decided to go for a pen name because he thought that writing comics was just a phase, and that he would eventually proceed to writing more serious literary works for which he would use his real name. As we all know, writing comics was his true calling, and he legally changed his name to Stan Lee in 1941.

Learning for us:

You may opt to go for a pen name if:

• you wish to publish different types of literary works, specifically in both literary fiction and commercial fiction. Literary fiction is focused on artistry, and its story is usually driven by its characters and their philosophies, motivations and thoughts. Commercial fiction on the other hand is more plot-driven, which is mainly read for entertainment purposes than for its artistry.

Other reasons for going with a pen name in the 21st century

Aside from the above-mentioned, there are several other reasons you may opt for a pen name, especially in the midst of this digital era:

• General sense of anonymity — if you want to write about personal experiences, for instance about your family or your work place, you may not feel so comfortable about the fact that your employer or your parents could theoretically read what you write. In general, you may feel safer to write under a pen name, and you have the freedom to write about basically anything you want.
• Protection against trolls — if you post something online, regardless if it is writing, a photo or your opinion, you make yourself vulnerable. The more popular you become, it is inevitable that you will attract haters and trolls. They are simply part of the deal. Writing under a pen name grants you the protection that your personal information, including your real name, is unknown to the public and grants you some form of protection and separation.
• Separation of online persona and private persona — writing under a pen name allows you to separate your online persona from your private self. If someone googles your real name, they will not find anything about your writing. In an age where everybody googles everybody, this may be practical if you are also employed, looking for new jobs, and other opportunities. If you decide to ditch your writing, you are not losing your “entire self” as the persona you created online for your writing is just one of your facets.
• Problems with the name itself — if you have a name that is extremely difficult to spell or to remember, or if your name is Stephen King or Oscar Wilde, using a pen name may be a logical option.

Why you should not use a pen name

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There are always two sides of the coin, and the glory of using a pen name also has its downsides.

Here are the cons of using a pen name:

• Reinventing yourself to your existing followers — if you already have a following, it will prove to be awkward and difficult to introduce yourself with your new name. Another option would be to create separate social profiles for your writing, which is incredibly time consuming.
• Difficulty in getting recognition for your work — let us say your writing takes off (which is what we all aim for, after all, and there is nothing about that to be ashamed of). If you write under a pen name, your success will not automatically be associated with you as a person.
• Complexity of juggling two names — social gatherings, book signings and conferences can be difficult if you are juggling two identities. Let’s say you are at a conference or a book fair with a friend who knows you by your real name, will you introduce yourself to new contacts with your real name or your pen name? Will you remember who knows you by which name all the time? Are you sure you will respond to both names if being called?
• Legalities and official documents — even if you write with a pen name, your official documents will continue to bear your legal name. If you are a freelance writer and accept work under your pen name but issue your invoice with your real name, this causes confusion and will expose your real name either way, unless you have a company.
• Transition — this I think is the hardest of them all. Assuming you have received critical acclaim and recognition for your work and wish to now work with your real name, the transition will be incredibly hard. If for any reason you would now want to use your real name, it will be a challenge to do so.

So what should you do?

Ultimately, it is up to you, as there is no right or wrong answer. It all depends on what your priorities, goals, intentions and motivations are. What matters is that it works for you. Period.

Personally, I have decided to write under my real name, even though the allure of a pen name was strong at one point.

But what really tipped me over to team-real-name was something that New York Times Bestselling author and entrepreneur Neil Patel once said in a seminar (although this was in relation to doing business online):

“Build something you can be proud of. It’s longevity. You’ll be happy if you built something you can put your face on… Don’t build a product if you can’t tell people it’s your company.”

And I know this is not exactly related to writing, but it left an incredible and permanent impression on me. In a sense, as a writer, the product you offer is your writing and your company is you, yourself. And writing under my real name is my way of holding myself accountable to my craft and what I wish to share with through my writing.

So whichever you choose or have already chosen, what matters most is that you are comfortable with it and that it fulfils your personal objectives.

In any case, happy writing!