Many aspiring authors and bloggers put off starting their projects while contemplating one big issue: using their real name on their work. The debate whether or not to use a pseudonym or a pen name.
To me, this issue comes down to fear. Sometimes the fear has sound basis. Sometimes not. These are things to consider.
Here is a simple fact: Eventually, the author of your book and your blog will be revealed (or need to be revealed) if you are successful. Or someone will figure it out. So, one way or another, you won’t remain anonymous forever. With that in mind, I usually say, “Use your own name.” I have other reasons as well.
First thought, let’s look at the reasons why you might want to use a pen name. During a blog-to-book coaching session, a client of mine told me about the idea he had for her book, but said she wanted to publish the book under a pen name. When I asked himwhy, she had some good reasons:
- The topic was on a totally different topic.
- He was worried what his friends and family might think.
- He didn’t know how the book might affect his day job.
I asked him if he wanted to do anything in conjunction with the book, such as speaking or coaching. Basically, I wanted to know if he wanted to build a business around his book. As it turned out, the topic of this book represented his true passion and purpose. He really wanted to make a difference in people’s lives by writing this book–and several more after it–and speaking to people and working with them as a consultant and a coach.
It would be impossible for him to do that if he wrote under a pen name. I told him as much.
I suppose you could make up a name and tell everyone that is who you are–live a false life under a false identity. As I told her, it’s likely that eventually someone will find out who she really is.
Isn’t it better to be authentic? To just be who you are and to own it?
I highly recommend to all nonfiction writers that they use their real names. Allow yourself to take full credit for your idea and your work. Then bask in the attention you get, good and bad. (Remember, there’s no such thing as bad publicity.) Go out and speak. Seek media gigs. Be who you are. Pursue your passion and your purpose. Live an inspired life as an author, speaker, consultant, coach, healer…Inspire others.
And that brings up my second reason for NOT using a pen name: You will have no way to promote your book to the media or go out and speak. Why? Because you will not be able to show your face. This is a huge hindrance when it comes to being a blogger and an author. You want to be able to promote your book and your blog in every possibly manner.
Don’t hide behind a fake name like wearing a mask. Put your name on your book and be proud. Show your face to the world and own your ideas. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
And if you really think you will, maybe you need to rethink your book–or write a novel.
Here’s another post on this same topic written by my colleague and friend Carolyn Howard-Johnson.
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I use dadblunders currently on my blog. I have given my first name of Aaron in several different places on it too. Before I was a stay-at-home dad I was a child abuse investigator (social worker) The rational, for myself, is my son. I have a three-year-old son that I write about all the time.
I have seen far to much in my lifetime not to have a little fear for my son. He is my main concern about using my full name. I don’t try to hide it but some fear stops me from using it currently. I want to be authentic and I love writing about my son and my life experiences and hope isn’t held against me right now…. sigh
Obviously, you don’t write stories that are as twisted as mine. Even though all of my stories are about consensual adults who do not suffer permanent injuries, the characters’ psychology is… let’s just say it’s non-standard. I write exclusively about masochistic women. There’s no way that I’m ever going to admit that I capable even of thinking such bizarre thoughts. So the issue of speaking in public about my stories is simply not on the table, even if it could increase my readership by a couple of orders of magnitude. I get a kick out of earning a bit of royalties but I’m fortunate in that I don’t have to try to live off them.
Ashely,
It also sounds like you are writing fiction. So, you don’t have to go out there and be the expert on … well … masochistic women! LOL. So, you can probably hide behind the veil of ebooks or POD books and not come out unless you want to. For those who want to be author experts or authority bloggers, that isn’t an option. :~)
Thanks for your post! I have an entirely different problem with regard to names – and I’m going to be very honest about it. I write fiction under my real name, which is Chinese. It’s not that I’m not proud of my name – not at all – but I suspect that readers prefer to read fiction written under Western names. It may be prejudice, or it may not be – it’s just a suspicion. Do publishers prefer that too? Is a pen name advisable here?
S.M. Yuen, I prefer to think that the US, if not the world, has moved beyond discriminating against (or for) names of a specific ethnicity. The US is made up entirely of emmigrants. It is believed that even native Americans migrated across what used to be a connecting piece of land between Asia and Alaska.
Still we all know that discrimination still exists. It’s getting better, but we still see bookstore buyers, etc. discriminateing against self- or POD-published books. Let’s say, your problem may be more of a branding consideration. Does your name fit with the genres you’re writing in. Are there any Asian settings as an example?
And before you make any decision, do consider again the problem of marketing. You ARE Chinese. So if you come up with a pen name like Daniel McAlister, where does that put you when you get a sought-after interview on the Today show! People will see you are Chinese.
Another thing about marketing and pen names. It is known branding (real studies!) that one markets the author and only markets the book secondarily as it is released. First, people are intrigued as much (or more!) by the author than they are about the book. They forget books. They often even identify books not by title but by the author’s name. Quick! If you’re a John Grisham fan, name all of his titles!
Second, authenticity. It shows in branding. And it is hard to be authentic when posing under a different name.
By the way, there is lots more on branding, book marketing, ethics, book deiscrimination and more in the new edition of The Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) . I think it will give you a better understanding of what is needed to send your book soaring to bestseller status. (-:
I hope this helps you with your decision.
Carolyn
Thanks, Carolyn, for having taken the trouble to address my query. You are most kind; your advice is both helpful and illuminating! While I’m naturally wary of discrimination within the context in which we’re speaking (simply because it’s such a natural human failing afflicting many), I don’t have a problem with it at all, as I celebrate diversity of all kinds.
By the way, ‘Daniel McAlister’ seems a most interesting pen name – I might be tempted to put my Chinese surname behind it, to use that as one, although people are likely to question where the ‘McAlister’ comes from!