Pros and cons of using a pen name writing a book chatebooks. Science fiction and mystery pen names are a bit more androgynous while satire writers pick quirkier pseudonyms that leave a lasting impression. Seven legal myths about pen names sidebar saturdays. Dec 11, 2018 if you publish two books a year and have two pen names, that means one book a year under each pen name. Why i write under a pen name the writing cooperative. Do not include the series number or the title of the book. I will register the with the office using my real name but will also write what my pen name is, but i dont want to put that on the book as i want that kept private. So how do you know if you should use a pen name or not. Jun 19, 2008 kasha, whether or not you use a pen name, you should always interact with publishing industry professionals like literary agents and editors using your real name. Sometimes if a person becomes famous perhaps they prefer to keep their everday life private and simply use the pen name when writing books and doing a book tour.
One client i represented, who asked my advice about using a pen name, was a former cia operative. Nowadays, authors dont really have to use a pen name like many authors throughout history had to. This is a list of pen names used by notable authors of written work. Now, if the authors real name is dudley swineburp and he wants to write historical romances, i can understand him using the pen name anthony romano. How and why to use themwhen my first book was being published, i toyed with the idea of using a pen name for about. How to use the pen on your windows 10 laptop dummies. Some female authors choose a genderneutral pen name because sexism can still impact sales, in any genre. Would not use the oneword pen name unless your name is prince. Or, if for any reason, youd like to use a completely fictional pen name, go forth.
I have always found using a pen name to be useless, simply because there is always a way to track you back. How to register and legally use a pen name with pictures. Established authors will do it to cross genres and keep from aggravating their fan bases. Your pen name will be with you forever, so be sure its meaningful and makes sense for your career. If you write a book under the pen name taylor swift or derek jeter, you may be accused of trying to pass. The series name field will show up after your book s title on your detail page. How to choose a pen name kindlepreneur book marketing for. Thank you for your time and consideration, janetreid writing as sharqueforbrains if you want to conceal your true name during the query process, you use this form. I can still market the books to everyone, but the algorithms used by major retailers will work to my advantage if i keep the pen names separate. Wouldnt you be a bit ticked off if you bought stephen kings next book expecting blood, guts and hairraising intensity, only to find out its a weepy romance novel.
But regardless of why one chooses to use a pseudonym, creating a pen name can play an important part in your books marketing. Using a pen name when writing a book is neither good nor bad. As was said in the other answers, the person getting paid being different from the name on the cover is business as usual. However, if the author with your ideal pen name exists but has not published many books recently or hasnt sold many books, you may want to just use that pen name anyway. For every pen name you create, you have to start from scratch. Using a pen name there are many famous instances of people using pen names, or fake names, when they publish a book. Using a pen name as a marketing tool is about putting a clue to your work into your name. Many writers choose to use a pen name for many reasons, including to protect their identity when writing a memoir or to write in different genres. Authors write under pseudonyms, or pen names, for a variety of reasons.
If an authors rate of return is 50% or higher after his third published novel, publishers will shy away from buying that authors future books. A pair of sunglasses is on top of books by famous authors on a beach table. I know that an author can use a pen name pseudonym instead of a true name when publishing the traditional way. No one will associate you with your pen name right away. Depending on your reasons for using a pen name whether you are concealing your identity altogether, or simply developing a few different writerly personas you may have to strike a few things off the promotion to do list, such as live events. Mar 29, 2019 how to register and legally use a pen name.
On the hardware and sound screen, look under the pen and touch category. Every time you publish a book, youre putting your name out into the world people will look for you on amazon and other bookselling sites, theyll look on social media sites, and theyll look for an author website being a wellknown writer and having your name instantly recognized might be the ideal for most selfpublished authors. Its how you choose to employ that name that matters. I also use variations of my name to distinguish genres. Mar 29, 2019 using a pen name can also complicate selling subsidiary and reprint rights to your work, your heirs inheritance of your rights and foremost, the processing of your advance and royalty payments. If a variation on your name would help you stand out from other creators, give it a chance. For example, dean koontz lists his various pen names on his website. If you find a name you love, feel free to make it your own. This is done by signing contracts with the publisheragent using the real name corresponding to the pen name. Use your surface pen in any app that supports inking. At book signings, they use their pen names, but at writers conferences they use their real names with a reference to their pen names. As paul gram mentions in the post above this one, another thing to consider is changing your pen name when you change niches. Nov 28, 20 trade publishers are notoriously wary of using the same author name across different genres, or of using a name that they feel is inappropriate for a particular book hence the morphing of joanne rowling into the more masculine j k rowling, even though she doesnt have a middle name.
The only other downside of using a pen name is that it limits the marketing you can do with that title. For years i wrestled with how to credit myself as a blog author. At this stage you are linking the pen name to the book. If theres another author with that pen name already, you may want to find a new pen name.
This kindlebook that is pen name how to create yours by jennifer blanchard lists some of the multiple reasons why a person might want to use a pen name in some of their writngs, ideas for creating a pen name, looking out for signs on what pen name to go with, and more. Boy do i have a story to tell and fortunately, the solution that finally worked to get my facebook access back after they locked my access to both my profile and page due to my not using my real name. Surface book 2 screen flashes black when inking in uwp. For each pen name you create, you need to build a new audience. To confirm that your tablet pc can use a digital pen, open the control panel. For drama writers, more germanic names dominate the genre. In fact, some readers are outright suspicious about pseudonyms. For example, you cannot do the today show to pitch your book that was written by a pen name. A pen name is a name an author uses in place of their real name when publishing. This can work very well for nonfiction writers, in particular, but also genre fiction writers. You can actually publish a kindle book under whatever name you want. Recently post 1903 update, my surface book 2 screen started flashing black every time i touch my surface pen to the screen to ink something.
How to use them effectively and avoid problems pea, bruce on. When you enter a series name, enter only the name of the series. Rest your hand on the screen, like you would on a piece of paper, then start writing. I dont see where there would be a problem in using pen names. Actors and artists often use fictitious names, and writers sometimes choose to create under a different persona as well. Can you use a pen name instead of your real name on your. And if you query under a pen name you use this form. A work is pseudonymous if the author is identified on copies or phonorecords of the work by a fictitious name. Why i use a pen name and how i created one the writing. I know several people who use pen names and i met them thinking it was their real name.
What are the pros and cons of writing under a pen name. Using a pen name can also complicate selling subsidiary and reprint rights to your work, your heirs inheritance of your rights and foremost, the processing of your advance and royalty payments. Before deciding to use a pen name, consult a lawyer for assistance in avoiding these issues. Michael, what are your dos and donts when it comes to using a pen name. And there are very few of us who use aliases in our everyday livesat least, very few of us who are not violating parole.
My first adult book was a bit racy so we needed to keep the genres separate. Xgens with hyphenated surnames opt for something short. Id just written a childrens story called lucy the diamond fairy under another. The other issue is that you must choose your pen name carefully. How much more work does each pen name create for you. I also have a few neutral reasons that are a bit sticky, like obscuring your gender.
That means less exposure for both of those pen names in amazon searches. Many writers use pen names but theres a right way and a wrong way to publish your book, stories, poems, or essays under a pseudonym. Jan 02, 20 very few people actually operate professionally and successfully under a pen name. Yes, i dont disagree that there are reasons why someone might want to use a pen name. May 28, 2015 using author pen names on facebook and getting locked out. It could be for marketing purposes or it could just be for their own comfort. Example, lets say my real name is jane smith and my pen name is denise smithers.
If youre not sure which pen you have, go to identify your surface pen and features. Most authors choose to be open about their pen names. But regardless of why one chooses to use a pseudonym, creating a pen name can play an important part in your book s marketing in this article, you will learn. Shoshanna evers has been my pen name since 2009, which makes it legally my real name in 46 states just by the fact that i use it everywhere and i have an idahostate dba doing business as. If youve decided on using a pen name for selfpublishing your book, reasons why you shouldnt use a pen name. Trademark your pen name if you want to identify a body of work such as a book series or screenplays. Operating under a pen name requires full commitment and even then can get confusing at times. Xlibris knows who i really am, and any royalties earned arewere paid by check to me using my real name. Sep 20, 2012 using a pen name as a marketing tool on amazon is about putting a clue to your work into your name. Your surface is designed to ignore your hand and other inputs while you write. Pseudonyms, and also professional ghostwriters hired to help a celebrity push out a book, are such common things that publishers and agents have contracts and legal departments to accommodate them. If you are looking for the popularity that comes with writing bestselling books, pen names may strip you of this opportunity in the early stages. Readers often want to know a little something about the authors of the books they like, certainly i do, and using a pen name i feel comes between them.
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. But with the pen name, i know exactly what im getting before i buy a book. Why do some writers choose to write under a pen name. You wouldnt introduce yourself at a job interview using a fake name, and since a cover or query letter acts as an introduction, the same rules apply. The only thing that can help with that is good writing. Working with amazon author pen names publishing with kindle. The authors real name is likely known to the publisher but not to the public. Apr 21, 2020 interact with your surface in new ways using surface pen. He was concerned about the impact a pen name would have on promoting his book. Also, i make darn sure that my chosen pen names look like real names. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries. How would this work if the author plans to publish him or herself.
Using a pen name on a blog or site affiliate marketer. When a pen name is being used, am i being deceived into buying a book, which, if i knew the authors real name, i wouldnt purchase. Go to the website for the united states patent and trademark office and use the trademark electronic search system tess to check that the words or name you want to trademark are available. Because titles are the most often used search attribute, your series name must adhere to the book title guidelines above. Kickstart your writing career with this pen name generator that boasts over 1 million fake names. If so, rush out to the battery store right now to buy a spare battery or two.
By using a pen name, she protected her joyce carol oates brand from the stigma of low book sales, the inevitable result of an novel that is experimental. Rowling, who have written under male pseudonyms, and discussed their. If you are publishing with kindle direct publishing kdp, using a pen name on amazon is very easy. I do not care to register my book with a, because then you have to list your real name. What are the legal aspects of writing under a pen name. To overcome this sales stigma, an author might bury his name or pen name and give birth to a new pseudonym, hoping for a second chance with publishers and readers. Pen name generator choose from over a million pen names. To see which apps to start with, go to the section try these apps with your pen. For instance, john sandford created his pen name, because he already had a novel from another series published under his real name. The answer is yes, you can publish a kindle book under a pen name. How to change your author name to a pen name when selfpublishing. Rest your hand on the screen, like you would on a piece of paper.
Writing under pseudonyms or pen names is a fine and honored tradition. This is a common question that i get, with a fairly simple answer. He wondered whether radio and tv interviewers would be willing to use the pen name during an interview or would insist on using his birth name. If the books took off, i could connect the pen name to me real name, and if they tanked, i could just dump the pen name without it affecting my other books. You should have a solid reason for using a pen name to selfpublish your book. Below we have profiled 12 women authors, from louisa may alcott to j. I was conflicted as to whether i should use my real name or a pseudonym. My personal view however is that in most cases its not necessary, and it may be counter productive. All you need to do is add your new name as the authors name in the contributors section when you are preparing the book for publication. Trade publishers are notoriously wary of using the same author name across different genres, or of using a name that they feel is inappropriate for a particular book hence the morphing of joanne rowling into the more masculine j k rowling, even though she doesnt have a middle name. Why do romance authors write under multiple pseudonyms. Authors too numerous to count write under multiple names across various genres for people. A pen name is whats listed as the authors name on a published book, and readers often do not know the real name or identity of the author.
Ive written two books using a pen name and selfpublished them with xlibris. When uploading your book to kdp or listing it for sale on amazon, enter your pen name as the author name. An author of a ed work can use a pseudonym or pen name. Note that this is done from within your kdp account you are the publisher and will receive the royalties for sales of your book regardless of the author name. Oct 25, 2017 longterm loyalty is very difficult to establish with a pen name. Writers reasons for using pen names range from rules of their jobs, to wanting to protect their. How and when should writers use a pen name or pseudonym.
By using a pen name when writing a book, you are choosing to surrender any credit you might have normally enjoyed for your literary successes. You can use your trademark on all of your work legally. Like brand names, they are designed to be catchy, memorable and suited to the genre. Robb mysteries and read every single one, but remain picky about nora robertsauthored books. A pen name may be used to make the authors name more. Why do authors use pseudonyms surprising authors behind famous pen names key criteria to come up with the. Look through a book of baby names or do an online search to find one you fancy. Having a pen name does hurt or help in terms of getting a publisher to take you seriously. There are lots of reasons for using a pen name, but in todays world it seems to boil down to three main categories. Jun 08, 2010 pen name is a nice way of saying fake name. Because you have to hide your identity to maintain your pen name, readers cannot relate to you. Besides a pen name can be used by more than one person to sustain the longevity of a book. Youve written something terrific, but what should you call yourself.
It works just fine if im using the pen as a cursor ie movingclosing windows, etc all work just fine and if im using the pen to ink in. Many writers use pen namesbut theres a right way and a wrong way to publish your book, stories, poems, or essays under a pseudonym. So there is no need to let using a pen name stop you from marketing your books. If you see an item titled change tablet pen settings, your laptop can use a digital pen. To separate the authors books into different types. Always be sure to do your research before selecting a pseudonym. Using a pseudonym will allow you to create a new identity for yourself and play around with any name you like.