Why Do Some Writers Use Pen Names?

Throughout history many writers have used pen names to hide their true identities in their writing. Many different authors have had many different reasons for using a pen name. Whether it’s fear of no one reading the book if they knew the authors true identity, or just wanting to publish more books a year, all these authors have a reasoning for hiding themselves from the readers of their books.

Most teens and young adults would recognize the names of these famous artists; Rihanna, Beyonce, Eminem, and Katy Perry. However, they may be surprised to know that none of these names are their birth given names. Whether people wish to maintain a professional name, evade crime, or remain anonymous… changing their name will accomplish their needs.

Pseudonymity is the practice of creating new works in the name of a famous deceased author that was widespread in both Hellenistic Judaism and early Christianity. It is the production of unknown Christians who adopted the Jewish literary convention of writing under an assumed identity. Some of these works have been accepted into the cannon. Someone using the pseudonym of another to write a letter was a common practice in Hellenistic Judaism and early Christianity. Today it would be considered intellectual theft for claiming to be someone they are not. In the 1st century, this practice was a way of writing from the position of authority. By using the name of Paul the writer of the letter gets the audience's attention and hopes to communicate

The alias created for Bod in The Graveyard Book serves a wonderful multitude of purposes. Some may believe Mr. Gaiman abnormally concealed the crucial element of the main character’s very own name. However, choosing not to reveal Bod’s name creates an anonymous and mysterious identity for him. There are more specific reasons in the book regarding the name selected for Bod. However, the author himself initially obscured the boy’s genuine identity. Readers immediately develop intrigue in the first chapter from the main character’s undisclosed name. In this chapter, the graveyard folk proposed various names for the boy. They also stated the reasons they proposed these names. These reasons suggested provide the audience with mystery.“It will help

Approximately sixty-one percent of all people posting comments online use a pseudonym or “pen name.” In the book The Gospel According to Larry, Josh Swensen unhesitantly decided to start an online blog where he wrote about controversial topics and used the name Larry to stay anonymous. Looking at literature other than online, Samuel Clemens used pen names in most of the books he wrote; his most famous pen name being Mark Twain. Josh Swensen and Samuel Clemens were alike and divergent in many ways considering that they both used a pen name and avoided having their work be directly associated with themselves, but Clemens did not feel as anxious about showing his true identity as Swensen.

Why do you think people change their names? I’ve never thought about changing my name but people like George Orwell and C. S. Lewis have changed their names. There are many different reasons why writers would change their names to get published. People want to publish more and more books each year so they have to change their names to be able to write more books. J. K. Rowling and S. E. Hinton is a couple of good examples to show why authors changed their names.

Why would anyone change their own name? Authors change their names for many reasons. Authors change their names if they are a woman like the Brontë sisters (Charlotte, Emily, and Anne), if they can’t publish more books, and if they feel like something will happen to them or their family.

The article was a simple discussion regarding the significance of gender when concerning writer’s abilities to construct a good story. The author wrote, historically women have always chose to use male pen names. However, the author did not discuss the reasoning for the male name changes. Crum eluded to the reason possibly being that the women writers would have more response and make more money using a man’s name instead of their own. The article stated a website, Grammarly

In the world of literature, pen names can be one of the most important things an author can use. Whether they use a fake name for a new beginning in a different genre or not wanting the pressure of fame to be in the way of their writing, they could just want to keep their identity and gender from influencing their work. Pen names could determine the publishing and the success of their books and or poems.

Many authors throughout history have used pen names, a fiction name used to write literature under, for several reasons personal to themselves. Whether it be to overcome discrimination, or to simply gain freedom, authors around the world, from all times, use pseudonyms in their careers.

A name is a label given to distinct every person. The authors have purposely given nicknames so that it describes each individual’s character. The character of Big Brother in 1984, The Heroine in Rebecca, and the bear in Doctor Johnson’s classroom are all in contrast. Big Brother’s real name should be Joseph, Joe for short, The Heroine’s name should be Lisa, and the bear in Doctor Johnson’s classroom should be Albert.

Names play a big role if you’re a writer. Many female writers in the past used pen names. A pen name is a fake name you use to show your work without people knowing it’s you. So, why did Joanne Rowling, Susan Eloise Hinton, and all of the other famous writers use pen names when they could’ve just used their own name?

Many people have change their names over time rather it was because they didn’t like or to publish a book. Eric Blair changed his name so he wouldn’t be embarrassed, and Charlotte Bronte changed her name because she wouldn’t be able to publish it as a woman. So many people still want to change their name just because. People changed their names to publish books because it was easier than being their selves.

In literature, many authors use pen names they are like their secret identity. Authors can use pen names to be able to publish more work. They use pen names so they can speak freely without being criticized or someone they know looking at them differently. Also, Women writers use pen names so they won't be discriminated and people will take them seriously.

From Enheduanna to Jane Austen to Charlotte Bronte to J.K. Rowling. Woman have proved over and over again that the role of author and/or writer can suit females just as much as any man. Mansfield encouraged women to write and used herself as an example with her own writing to try to attract more female authors. Often, women are pictures as just people who birth babies, cook, clean, shopped and stayed around as house wives. Sometimes, they did not have a wide span of education. Even in the early 1900’s women didn’t often go to college, it wasn’t until the 1980’s that women began to attend college in equal numbers to men. Poet laureate Robert Southey said “Literature cannot be the business of a women’s life.” One of the key assumptions that Mansfield and other women modernists faced was the habit of presenting narrative fiction through male eyes and according to male values. Mansfield herself strived for everyone (not limited to just women) to do whatever they wanted. She encouraged people to break rules and branch out.