Pen names can complicate social gatherings, especially if you forget and introduce yourself to someone under your given name, or fail to respond when someone calls you by your pen name. Also, conferences and signings may become challenging if you’re juggling two names.

What is the point of a pen name?

A pen name, otherwise known as a pseudonym, is an assumed name that an author will publish under, rather than his or her real name. Some of the most well-known, famous authors have used a pen name to conceal their identities.

Can you use a pen name for non fiction?

If you’re writing a nonfiction book, you should not use a pen name. No matter how common, complicated, or controversial your real name is, you’d do best to stick with it.

Do publishers like pen names?

Like brand names, many authors try to make their pen names catchy, memorable and suited to the genre and their target audience. Traditional publishers widely accept pen names. In fact, some of the most well-known, famous authors have used a pen name to conceal their identities.

How do you work under a pen name?

You can register a manuscript under a pen name at the copyright office (www.copyright.gov). You’ll have to provide some information, including your real address. But if you really want to keep your true identity under wraps, set up a post office box and have information from the office sent there.

Can you publish a memoir under a pen name?

Using a Pen Name for your Memoir

And if you feel you’ve revealed too much or have been too honest, you could self-publish your memoir under a pen name. British indie author Denise Barnes shares the story behind her pen-name for her debut book.

How do you write under a pen name?

If you’d like to write or publish something under a different name, there are a few steps you can take:

1. Find a name and claim it. Pick a name that isn’t also the name of a famous person or public figure. …
2. Use the name on your selected works.
3. Inform your publisher.
4. Register the work.

Can you use real names in a book?

Using real people in your fiction—whether they are correctly named or not—can be legally hazardous. If an author includes enough details that a specific fictional character is identifiable as an actual person, that person could possibly pursue legal action.

What is an author’s writing name called?

A pen name, also called a nom de plume or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name.

Should I copyright my pen name?

No one else can legally claim your words as their own or use them without your permission. It doesn’t matter what name you attach to the work—your own name or your pen name. A more legally enforceable way to obtain copyright is to register with the United States Copyright Office.

Do artists use pen names?

It’s quite common for artists from all mediums to use pseudonyms. However, there can be legal repercussions. Before signing off with a pen name, you should carefully consider why you may use it, how to protect your real identity, and the risks involved.

Are pen names legal?

Are pen names legal? 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.

Can you use a pen name on social media?

If you use an email address associated with your real name, people may be able to search for it on social media and find your pen name. Privacy = gone. Gmail lets you easily set up a new email address, so I set up one for my pen name. You can use this to open up your new accounts.