How to Select the Perfect Pen Name for Your Books

For most authors, using the name you were born with (or your married name) will do just fine. There’s no reason to overthink it, or to engage in the duplication of effort that goes with having a different name on your books than you have on your tax returns.

That said, sometimes a pen name is a good thing, even a necessary thing. If you’re in one of those situations, you should not undertake this project lightly or hastily. Instead, follow each of the three steps below carefully. You’ll come out the other side with a pen name that works, and will continue to work for you throughout your writing career.

Step One: Find Out if You Need a Pen Name

Generally speaking, don’t get a pen name if you just want a pen name. It takes up time and energy you could use writing and promoting your book. However, here are some reasons you might want to take on a pseudonym:

• Your material is too risque to attach to your given name
• You are worried about (or already have problems with) stalkers
• You’re switching genres and don’t want to “cross the streams”
• Books under your own name have been published, and bombed.
• Your real name is similar or identical to that of an established author
• Your real name is similar to or identical to a celebrity, or popular fictional character
• Your real name is not distinctive, or is difficult to remember or spell

Some genres have a degree of gender bias. Romance and erotica does better when written by women, while technothrillers and science fiction are more friendly to men. You could choose an entirely different name, or play the “initials game” like JD Robb and PD James did.

Finally, a few very popular writers have taken on pen names to see if they’ve “still got it” (lookin’ at you Robert Galbraith and Richard Bachman). Of course, if you have that problem you probably don’t need the advice in this article…but do reach out, we’d love to interview you for our members!

Step Two: Find the Right Pen Name

Once you’ve decided that you need a pen name (or that you don’t need one, but really, really, really want one), it’s time to figure out what name you want to use. There’s no magic formula here, but a few guidelines apply.

The first are implied by some reasons for getting a pen name in the first place. If your real name is problematic, you can simply choose a name that solves the problem:

• A writer with the given name similar to a known name could rearrange their real name slightly. A person named Tom Michael Clancy could write as Tom Michael, Thomas Michael, Michael Clancy, or T.C. Michael.
• A writer with a too-common name could spice it up. John Anthony Smith might change it up to Smith Anthony, or add some syllables to become the more memorable Jonathan Smither. J.S. Anthony is another strong contender.
• Although cultural diversity is important it’s hard to sell books to people if your name is difficult for the western market to remember or pronounce. Rajyavardhan Malleswari is a not uncommon Indian name, and Nǃxau  ǂToma is a famous actor, but imagine asking for either at a Barnes & Noble in Orange County or Topeka. Most authors with such names “Anglicize”, perhaps writing as Ray Malari or Nick Toma.

On the flip side of the coin, if you want to take on a pen name to avoid being recognized, doing something far from your birth name gives you the best chances. Nobody’s going to be fooled by Sarah Lynn Harper writing as Harper Lynn or S.L. Harper for long.

In this case, you want to choose your name much the same way you choose the names for your characters. Go for something distinctive without being difficult, memorable without being bizarre. Here’s a list of some best-selling pen names.

• Agatha Christie
• C.S. Lewis
• John le Carre
• Elena Ferrante
• Eckhart Tolle
• J.D. Robb
• Paul French
• Alex Marshall
• George Orwell

You’ll see a rhythm and trend to them. They use memorable names with an almost musical cadence. Most have four or five syllables. Beyond that, it has to be something you’ll enjoy signing on the title page over and over again.

Once you have a list of four or five pen names, do some quick research on Google and at Amazon.com. Make sure there isn’t already somebody famous, or somebody already writing, using that name. While you’re at it, find out of anybody is using the domain, or has taken that page on Facebook.

If the answer to any of those questions is “yes,” cross that name off the list. Repeat the process until you have a name you like, that fulfills the requirements, and isn’t already in use.

NOTE: It’s naive to think that, in this age of mass information and zero privacy, people won’t be able to figure out who you really are. A pen name just protects you from that happening accidentally.

Step Three: Protect Your Pen Name

You cannot legally prevent somebody from using your pen name for their own writing, too. It’s just not a copyrightable or trademarkable thing. That said, you can take steps to protect the virtual properties associated with the name you chose.

• Buy the website domain for that name, and for any variations of that name you want. Definitely grab .com and .net, and consider some of the subdomains if your budget permits.
• Sign up with that name on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, YouTube, Amazon, and any other social media platforms you normally use.
• File a Fictitious Business Name Statement in your local jurisdiction. This lets you cash checks made out to that name, and creates a paper trail in case some legal action requires you to prove when you started using the name.
• Use your pen name in communications about the books you’re writing. The earlier you start, the more recognition the name will get.

Always remember: fans of your pen name will want to interact with your pen name. They’ll look for news about that name, not your name. They’ll engage on social media about that name, and leave reviews about books by that name. Make sure there’s plenty out there for them to interact with.

Final Thoughts and Warnings

Keep in mind that, in some cases, pretending to have a name other than your own is a crime. Pen names are not usually one of those cases: it’s an established practice with a long history. However, a few situations might require special consideration:

• Using a fake name doesn’t give you the right to claim false experiences, qualifications, or other credentials.
• A pen name won’t protect you from legal concerns like the restrictions of a publishing contract, defamation, libel, or slander.
• If you are writing nonfiction in your professional field, using a pen name may void your license. Check the rules for your licensing organization.
• If your “day job” is a in public service or politics, some people might look at using a pseudonym as deceitful. This only matters if you plan to eventually run for a hotly contested office some day, but is worth considering.

If you'd like more information about writing under a pen name, be sure to watch Training #373 on Pen Names and Pseudonyms.