Pseudonym/pen name. This comes up a lot in writing-related articles. In fact I was just reading an article about it in the The Writer today. As with anything, there are pros and cons to using a pseudonym or pen name, but these are some of the reasons why people would use them:
1. Anonymity
Some writers prefer to be low-profile with regards to their identity, and this reminds me of Muslim writers with pen names like UmmNisa, which to be honest, in my opinion, is a rather noble idea.
2. Dabbling in many different genres
For a writer who writes more than one genre, using a pseudonym might be a good idea, especially if the genres are total opposites such as romance and children.
3. Publishers’s limitations
Some publishers limit an author’s published work to a certain number, so in this case, if the author wants to publish more than that number, he can write under a pseudonym.
These are only some of the reasons writers might use a pseudonym, but in reading articles pertaining to this issue, I was rather surprised to find other reasons for using a pseudonym:
1. Hiding behind a false name…
in order to slander someone he knows. This is so the slandered will not know who the slanderer is because he is hiding behind a pseudonym. (Good luck to the slanderer)
2. Bad name
Some writers face so many failures that their names are attributed to the reason for these failures that using a pseudonym is considered as a viable solution. This reminds me of a belief in some cultures that names given to babies might be too potent for them, resulting in the babies having colic, bad tantrums, illness, and the like. Accordingly, the babies are then given another name, albeit unofficial.
Here are some articles on the web regarding using pseudonyms:
Should You Use a Pseudonym? By Moira Allen
A Rose by Any Other Name: The Pros and Cons of Pseudonyms by Howard G. Zaharoff
Should a Writer Adopt a Pen Name? By Michael Pollick
Using a Pen Name: myths and realities by J. J. Andrews
Article Marketers Using Pen Names May Be Breaking the Law and Not Even Know It? by Lance Winslow
