On my book marketing blog, I recently covered the topic of pen names – whether they can help or harm marketing efforts and marketing considerations in choosing a pen name.
I’d like to know how many readers here have used pen names beyond authoring books.
If you use pen names in your freelancing, when do you do it, and why?
For example, do you only use pen names in article marketing? If so, how would that help you sell services under your own name? Do you only use pseudonyms when writing “for yourself” as to not influence the image you’ve built with your client base?
Tell me how you use pen names, how you feel they can be useful to freelance writers, or why you prefer not to use them.
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Cathy Miller
Amandah
Andrew Kardon
Lori
Amelia Ramstead
Most of my freelance writing gigs are for full rights articles so I don’t worry about using a pen name or not. I do sell my “overstock” prewritten articles on Constant-Content under a pen name.
My reasons? First; I have a personal blog that I use my real first name with. I talk about personal issues and share opinions that could be seen as controversial. I don’t want anyone that reads or buys my professional writing to be exposed to my personal writing in case they find it offensive.
I am also working on a new blog/store that I’ll be using with my real name and my name will be tied very closely to that “brand”. If by some miracle the blog gets popular enough that I have a recognizable name I’d prefer that the search results of my name be limited to my store and my personal blog and not a few hundred random articles.
The branding issue was one I brought up on the other blog, so I’m glad to see someone bring it up here as well (it’s why I’ve decided I won’t pursue fiction without a pen name – I don’t want my service marketing hindered because of book marketing, or vice versa).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Amy! :)
I think that’s an interesting case actually Daniel. We (or at least I) tend to think of pseudonyms being mostly for writers or celebrities, but I hadn’t really thought about it from the perspective of working in multiple industries. You have a good point.
Thanks for sharing!
I don’t write much, but I have used pen names often. Mainly because I don’t want my freelance work connected to much. If people get the feeling I’m spreading myself to thin they get to concerned, so as a result I use one pen name for coding and another for writing.
Hi, I use pseudonyms all the time, as my real name is the same as an actress, and I don’t want to be mistaken for her. I use my real name for writing in fields where there isn’t any likelihood of being mistaken for her, but pseudonyms if there’s any doubt.
Thanks
I don’t use a pseudonym…at least, I haven’t yet.
I do write under a shortened version of my real name for one blog…I’m Jenn L at gogetyourjacket.com, but if you go to the About page, you’ll see my full name. So it’s not exactly the same as being anonymous. Would I ever use a pen name? Hmmm. I think it would have to depend on the circumstances…and how well I was being paid. :)
Thanks for sharing Jenn and Kate. :)
Kate, it’s actually interesting that you mention it. While I plan to use a pen name for fictional projects for other reasons, I also share a name that could get a bit odd with promotion. There’s a Jennifer Mattern a bit north in Mass. She’s a playwright and freelance writer as well, and originally from the Philly area (I live in the Philly suburbs). Weird, right?
Anyway, she also runs an excellent blog if anyone’s interested.
I don’t use a pen name, yet – although I am considering doing so for some future projects. If I do start using one, I’d probably use one name for some of the less acceptable subjects I write about (online gambling, for example), and one for more neutral topics. I’ve had some clients express unhappiness at my choice to write for gambling sites, even though the only articles with my name on are things such as professional poker biographies – not gambling advertisements…
I use a pen name for personal reasons. Someone I shall not name has made threats against me in the past (my partner’s ex) and also has made macabre references to some of the articles I have written online. Because online harassment is a real issue, and writers’ marketability depends on their Internet searchability and body of work from a client’s point of view, I made the decision to stop using my real name for that reason. Life happens, and sometimes you find yourself a target for no other reason than jealousy as in my case. However, I have to be smart about it if I wish for my career not to suffer, because of the unfortunate fact that any unstable individual can go on the web and make false and potentially damaging statements and ruin a career and reputation.