Pen Names: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

One of the sweet perks of being an author is that you can make up a name and use it, just like that. 

Shazam! New person.

Stephen King used the name Richard Bachmann instead of his own, curiously because it was the 70's and he was hoping to attract Bachman-Turner Overdrive fans. Yeah, the dude should've stuck with his real name, right?

J.K. Rowling wrote under the name Robert Galbraith to "escape her fans." Sheesh. Most authors I know are trying like crazy to gather fans.

So why do authors use pen names? The prevailing wisdom is that if you're going to write in more than one genre that you should use a different name so as not to confuse your loyal readers . . . or annoy them. But how exactly does one go about choosing an alias? 

Things to Consider When Selecting a Pen Name

1. Don't go for horning in on a famous person's name.

Just because you spell the first name Steven instead of Stephen does not mean you should use King as a last name. Don't be leeching off a fellow human's fame and fortune.

2. Check to see if it's available.

When you think you've created the best name ever, Google it. You don't want to accidentally take on the moniker of an axe murderer. Then pop over to Amazon and try it there as well. If there are fifteen other authors with that name, you might want to rethink it.

3. Is the name compatible with the genre?

Susie Sunshineface would be a horrible name for a horror writer. If you're marketing to a younger crowd, initials work well. If older, then use a name from a bygone era.

4. Keep it simple.

Clever spelling or going for a name that ties the tongue into knots should be avoided.

5. Try it on for size before you go all public with it.

There's wisdom in the counsel of many. Ask your friends and family members for their input.

And if you need a little more help than that in coming up with an alter ego, check out the FAKE NAME GENERATOR. Even if you're not on the lookout for a pen name, it's a fun site to play on.