I mentioned that I started out with a pseudonym (or pen name) and how that worked out for me. I also mentioned that other authors do so too and for a variety of reasons.
This isn’t anything new—it’s been happening for centuries. The Brontë sisters, for example, used pen names. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne wrote as Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell respectively. This was quite common back then, especially as women authors weren’t taken seriously, and it also meant that they could preserve their privacy. Other writers who used male pen names include Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot) and Louisa May Alcott (A.M. Barnard), just to name two of many.
Another reason, related to gender, has to do with prejudices about genre and the gender that is (or was) most accepted (or less frowned upon for each). When it comes to romance or psychological thrillers that feature female characters, female writers are usually better selling, so male authors may feel inclined to use female (or neutral) pen names. A few examples include Tom Huff publishing as Jennifer Wilde and Todd Ritter as Riley Sager.
Another reason for opting for a pseudonym is if an author’s name is too similar to another (established) one. The same goes for Hollywood where actors may change their name before they start with auditions due to similar or identical names already being registered at the Screen Actors Guild (ask Emma Stone).
Anonymity is also a recurring reason; Elena Ferrante’s is perhaps one of the most famous cases of the last decade (especially because the author couldn’t be left alone—I entirely disagree with the journalist’s venture).
In a somewhat similar line, authors who are already renowned may want to publish new works under a pen name so that these aren’t associated with them (this can be for a variety of reasons). When authors venture into new genres, for example, they may opt for a different name as readers may be hesitant. Nora Roberts and J. D. Robb are one and the same, and Dean Koontz has published novels under the pen names Deanna Dwyer and Leigh Nichols, while Stephen King has also written as Richard Bachman, John Swithen, and Beryl Evans.
Lemony Snicket is a famous kind of pseudonym because the author is signing the texts as one of the characters involved in the story, adding a whole level of meta to the works.
And when more than one author is involved, either co-authorship may be stated or a collective pen name that represents both writers is used. Examples include Tania Carver (Martyn and Linda Waites) and Christina Lauren (Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings).
Moving one step further, collective pen names can be used for series of texts that are written by a variety of writers (sometimes ghostwriters), usually following certain guidelines. While Leslie Charteris was the original writer in the texts on his series The Saint, after 1963 ghostwriters became involved in the projects while he continued working on the plots as well as working as editor. Similarly, Francine Pascal worked with ghostwriters on the various Sweet Valley books.
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why authors may choose (or chose) to be published under a pen name. Is this the case for your favorite writer?
