Article written by Rory Hawkins.
Pseudonym – taken from the Greek phrase for ‘Tumblr Fanfic OC’ – is a fictitious name, in this case used by an artist. Whether for anonymity or the grandiose of a stage name, using pseudonyms has been popularised throughout history. Writers are no exception – we have ‘pen names’.
Anything a writer produces can be released under an established pen name… or even another. Yes, you could even have the professional equivalent of multiple personality disorder, cultivating a persona for each and every approach to your craft.
Historically, using pen names helped level the playing field for female writers, becoming particularly popular in the 19th century. The Bronte sisters are well known for having their work first published under male pseudonyms. Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte went as Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell, respectively. This allowed their books to sell with relative ease, free of social stigma.
Now, prejudice against female professionals is outed and publicly spurned – in the arts, that attitude’s more than a given. So why persist with fake names? Well in this day and age, there’s still a few more benefits to your work than just having a cool-sounding handle.
The simplest answer? A distinction between personal and professional life. Many writers enjoy the *slight* distance their real name gives them from their fan-bases. It’s nothing a quick internet search can’t dismantle for major successes, but if you’re starting out by releasing work on the internet, a pseudonym is an extra defense against harassment and doxing.
In reality, publishing under a pen name comes down to marketing. Your name could be the same as another writer or even celebrities, e.g. Will Smith (both relatively common names). Using a pseudonym eliminates copyright infringement as well as it being mistaken for or attached to someone else.
A different name might just sound catchier and better suit a genre. Passing yourself off as the opposite sex could also help push the book towards the intended audience. Would a YA novel about teenage girls falling in love seem as genuine under a male name?
A recent and famous example: author Joanne Murray, otherwise known as the impossibly successful ‘J K Rowling’. Rowling’s publishers thought Harry Potter would have a wider readership if released under her initials, otherwise being benchmarked as a young girl’s series. We’ll never know if that would’ve held true – Harry Potter became a worldwide success. Touring the States, it was only practical that Rowling reveal who she was.
If you’ve written for more than one genre, it makes sense to market them under different names, as to not confuse readership. Breaking association with previous work offers the public a blank slate. Equally, you might be working with competing publishing houses: a pseudonym helps distinguish between the two.
Rowling returns as another example: ‘Robert Galbraith’. After Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ release, Rowling said in interview that she liked the idea of writing a crime novel but because of her notoriety would consider releasing it under a pseudonym. Galbraith’s debut novel, Cuckoo’s Calling, was accepted well enough but after press rumours and investigation, Rowling was uncovered as the author.
Similarly, between 1977 and 1982, Steven King released four books as ‘Richard Bachman’. We all know King churns out novels at an almost inhuman rate – even his publicist wanted him to slow down. Writing as Bachman was a way to still publish without oversaturating the King “brand”. King himself justified it as an attempt to make sense of his career, to see whether his success was down to real talent or dumb luck.
Again, there wasn’t enough time to find out; a bookstore clerk noted the similarities and dedications and contacted King’s publishers. Impressed with the clerk, King gave him the scoop on the “real” Richard Bachman. Bachman’s work has since been remarketed as King’s The Bachman Books.
But pseudonyms don’t need to lose all their magic in the face of financials; there are still a few authors that use pen names in creative ways. Daniel Handler – better known as ‘Lemony Snicket’ – is one such person.
By using a pen name for his A Series of Unfortunate Events and indirect-prequel series All the Wrong Questions, Handler is able to use much more character in his narrative voice. The persona and question of “Who is Lemony Snicket?” in the story's world only adds to the mystery behind the circumstances of his telling and involvement.
But are there reasons to not try a pen name? Any kind of pseudonym needs to be justified in its use. People, even publishers, appreciate authenticity. If your work holds a controversial opinion or subject matter, hiding behind a false name dampens that. If you’re embarrassed or ashamed of your work, then it’s probably best to continue working on it. Equally, using a pseudonym won’t protect you from legal repercussions when writing about other people.
As mysterious as pseudonyms may sound, there’s a lot of practicality behind them. If you value the piece over your name on the cover, a pseudonym could contribute to a more cohesive and accepted message.
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