What’s in a (Pen) Name?: A Little Bit About Authors’ Pseudonyms

When I first decided to start a blog and to seriously commit to working on my book, I had one huge reservation. I was very nervous about the idea of sharing my work, and especially of sharing it under the name I used in daily life. The reason for this was mainly because as someone with fairly severe anxiety, I found it hard and nearly overwhelming to share anything at all, even with close family. The idea of using my name and writing publicly was enough to leave me unable to consider the idea of proceeding with any type of writing. It all felt crushing and disappointing to be so stuck. I wanted to be able to be open with my writing, and not afraid to share or to feel self-conscious. After some consideration it made sense to choose another name under which to write. Using a pen name helped me a lot in taking this big step. How did I choose? It took a while, but after a lot of brainstorming I finally came up with a name that made me feel happy and authentic with my writing.

Betancourt is a family name, the maiden name of my grandmother and a very important last name for my family. The name Winter is a name that is very special to me for many reasons. One reason that I love this name is because to me it represents an ethereal season, one in which the world is suspended in a fantasy of ice and frozen loveliness. Many people think of the winter and think of cold and emptiness, but I think of something else. It has always reminded me of a fairytale, and I love stories and fanciful tales. So I chose this as my pen name, and it has become in some ways just as meaningful and familiar to me as my name used in daily life.

Pen names, also known as pseudonyms or noms de plume, have been employed by writers for various reasons throughout history. Even though every author has their own reasons, in the past, there were a few major reasons why pen names were often used:

1. Social Norms: In the past, societal norms often dictated that women’s writing was either discouraged or overlooked. To get around this, many female authors used male or gender-neutral pen names to gain recognition for their work. One of the most famous examples of this is the Brontë sisters, who initially published under the pseudonyms Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell.
2. Privacy and Anonymity: Some writers chose pen names to protect their privacy. Authors who held prominent positions in society, like diplomats or politicians, wanted to keep their literary endeavors separate from their public life. Mark Twain, for instance, was the pen name of Samuel Clemens, a humorist and author who worked as a journalist.
3. Genre Flexibility: An author might also use a pen name when switching genres. For instance, Joanne Rowling adopted the pen name J.K. Rowling when transitioning from children’s fiction to more adult works under the name Robert Galbraith.

There are many other famous examples of authors’ using pen names.

1. George Orwell – The author of “1984” and “Animal Farm” was born Eric Arthur Blair. He chose the pen name George Orwell to protect his family’s reputation while writing about sensitive political topics and about his childhood poverty.
2. George Eliot – The brilliant novelist Mary Ann Evans wrote under the pen name George Eliot to ensure that her works were taken seriously in a male-dominated literary landscape.
3. Dr. Seuss – The famous children’s author Theodor Geisel adopted the pen name Dr. Seuss to preserve his real name for his serious writing and use a more playful name for his children’s books.
4. Ayn Rand – The philosopher and author Alisa Rosenbaum wrote her groundbreaking novels, including “Atlas Shrugged,” under the pen name Ayn Rand.
5. Lewis Carroll-Born Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, Lewis Carroll, the author of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” wanted to preserve his privacy as an Oxford scholar and created a playful pseudonym that sounds whimsical and fitting for his tales.
6. Agatha Christie– Wanting to branch into a different form of writing different from her established mystery writing, Christie chose the pen name Mary Westmacott to write works that delved into psychology and love.

If you’re considering adopting a pen name for your writing, here are some things to consider:

1. Consider Your Brand: Think about your genre and what type of projects you’ll be working on. A name can project a different feel to your work, and help in crafting an image within a certain genre.
2. Check for Availability: Before settling on a pen name, make sure it’s unique and not already used by another author. A quick internet search can help with this.
3. Think About Anonymity: If you desire privacy, choose a pen name that doesn’t reveal your true identity. Be cautious about sharing personal information when promoting your work if privacy is something that is important to you.
4. Test It Out: Write a few pieces using your pen name and see if it feels right. It should be something you’re comfortable using for years to come.
5. Legal Considerations: If you have any doubts about the usage of a certain name, consult with a legal expert or intellectual property attorney to ensure your chosen pen name doesn’t infringe on any trademarks or copyrights.

There are many reasons why someone would choose to use a pen name to write. And there are also many reasons why an author might not choose one, or might choose to use initials or another variation of their given name. Ultimately the decision is yours to make, and to make in the way that makes you feel the most creative and inspired, as well as comfortable and secure. Writing is deeply personal, and sometimes sharing can be very hard. If writing with a pen name gives you that comfort, then I think it is a very good thing.

Do you use a pen name? If so, what were your reasons for choosing this name and what special meaning does your name have? Did you choose based on literary genre? Is it based on a nickname or a name or word that had special significance for you? Let me know in the comments!

Wishing you a very Happy Wednesday, and lots of creativity and great joyful energy and inspiration,

-Winter