- Identify the right age for your pseudonym.
- Choose options that fit your literary genre.
- Check the availability of your pen name’s URL and social media handles.
- Choose a name that’s easy to spell, pronounce, and remember.
- Make sure your pen name isn’t similar or identical to another author’s.
What are examples of pen names?
- J.K. Rowling.
- Dr. Seuss.
- Stan Lee.
- Richard Bachman.
- Lee Child.
- Mark Twain.
- The Brontë sisters.
- George Orwell.
Yes, an author can legally use a pen name or pseudonym to publish their intellectual property. Pen names are legal, as long as you have purchased the rights to your pen name, and have copyrighted your name. An author of a copyrighted work is allowed to use a pseudonym or a pen name.
What is a pen name in writing?
What Is a Pseudonym? The definition of a pseudonym (or nom de plume in French) is a fake name used by a writer when writing and publishing their work in order to protect themselves or increase the chance of success.
Why do writers have pen names?
Today, many writers may use pen names to disguise their true identity for their day jobs , not wanting their bosses or colleagues to know that they write a particular genre and be subject to scrutiny or embarrassment.
Is Stephen King a pen name?
King therefore wanted to write under another name in order to increase his publication without over-saturating the market for the King “brand”. He convinced his publisher, Signet Books, to print these novels under a pseudonym.
Can you publish a book under a fake name?
Yes, authors can self-publish using their pen name or nom de plume . If you’re self-publishing a book, you can definitely use a pseudonym when writing and publishing your book. In fact, many indie authors use a pseudonym or nom de plume when they publish books in several different genres.
Should I use a pen name?
To use or not use a pen name or pseudonym is a personal choice . There’s not really a right or wrong answer on this—unless you do share a name with a well-known author and/or celebrity. Just remember: If you do use one, be ready to take on that new persona (even if it’s very similar to your actual identity).
Can I use real names in my book?
If what you write about a person is positive or even neutral, then you don’t have defamation or privacy issues. For instance, you may thank someone by name in your acknowledgements without their permission. If you are writing a non-fiction book, you may mention real people and real events .
Do writers use pen names?
A pen name, otherwise known as a pseudonym, is an assumed name
Do journalists use pen names?
On one hand it’s very easy to defend the use of pen names and aliases; they’re widely used in many forms within journalism & elsewhere . ... Likewise, journalists may need to adopt pen names and aliases in order to protect sources, their contacts, or other inside sources of information.
When was the first pen name used?
Where does pen name come from? The first records of the term pen name come from the 1800s . It’s essentially a translation of nom de plume, which uses French words but was actually coined in English. The French word nom means “name” and plume refers to a quill—a feather used as a pen.
What is Stephen King’s real name?
Stephen King, in full Stephen Edwin King , (born September 21, 1947, Portland, Maine, U.S.), American novelist and short-story writer whose books were credited with reviving the genre of horror fiction in the late 20th century.
What is Stephen King’s most popular book?
Stephen King’s top-selling novel is The Shining . The novel was first published in 1977, or 44 years ago (as of 2021). When you multiply 44 by the yearly book sales (15,732), you get 692,208 copies sold.
Did Stephen King write under an alias?
Stephen King is undoubtedly the most successful horror writer of the modern age, but his sheer prolificacy led him to create the Richard Bachman pseudonym in order to produce even more output. The Bachman pen name remained an enduring part of King’s celebrated career, demonstrating the author’s impressive ambition.
