To promote your book, you’ll probably want to own the internet domain and social media handles for your pen name. Currer, Ellis, & Acton Bell. Sold for $30 via J. Levine Auction & Appraisal (August 2013). Did the pen name generators give you any perfect or terrible pseudonyms? Snicket became both author and morose narrator for the series, while Daniel appeared “on his behalf” at book events, encouraging readers not to read the works with “unhappy beginnings, middles, and ends.”. Pen name legality is actually pretty straightforward. Yes, it is legal to publish written work under a pen name. Watch the video below to see how to set up a pen name in your Amazon author account. Real name: Erika Leonard. Do I need to create a pen name (for Amazon only in one genre) so readers will find the genre they’re looking for? But, why do authors use pen names? Thanks, for a fun article. Do the names feel simplistic and basic, like “Christina Stone,” or fantastical, like “Lemony Snicket”? This pseudonym generator is above and beyond any other. Such was the case with Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, who wrote under the name Lewis Carroll in the 19th century. William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, was sentenced to five years in prison for embezzlement, but wrote various short stories under different pseudonyms while in prison. I like this pen name generator anagram tool because it lets you customize more and gave better results than the other anagram makers I tried. Lewis Carroll, “Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There,” 1935. A few rules of thumb for choosing an easy-to-understand pen name: Beware of choosing a pseudonym that's similar to a famous author, person, or character. My regards thanks for all your articles. Some of the most famous pen names are: Why she uses a pen name: Her publisher wanted to disguise that she was a woman so her books would appeal to boys as well as girls. Since the rise of modern literature, authors have adopted pen names to disguise their identity for one reason or another. Some pen names are fairly well-known for what they are. If you’re picking a common name, such as Ashley, be very careful about going with an alternate spelling, like Ashleigh, just because you think it looks nice. Pen Names: How to Pick, Name Generators, and How to Publish. A pen name, or nom de plume, is a pseudonym (fake name) used by authors who don’t wish to publish work under their own name. Why he used a pen name: Horror novelist Stephen King wrote as Stephen Bachman for 8 years early in his career. Try to avoid sounding younger, if possible. What are pen names used for? The author's real name is likely known to the publisher but not to the public. Consider signing up for the primary social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) An anagram maker makes this super easy. Sold for $700 via The Cobbs (March 2013). (In the last few years, as .com sites have become harder to find, there has been a surge in popularity for new extensions.). A pen name shouldn’t be something you carelessly decide because it can be an important part of marketing your book. Real Names: Charlotte, Emily, & Anne Brontë In 19th-century England, women were not permitted to publish poetry, so the Brontë sisters created the pen names of Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell.Each male pseudonym matched the corresponding sisters’ names, helping them publish their first anthology of poetry in 1846. Update your email preferences at any time. To find if a domain is available using Siteground: Siteground will tell you if that domain is available or give you alternative suggestions if it is already taken. A pen name, or nom de plume, is a pseudonym (fake name) used by authors who don’t wish to publish work under their own name. Poets usually keep their first names relatively short with surnames that easily flow off the tongue. In many cases, people choose two first names for a full pen name. When Ali’s publishers requested she change her name before her first book was published, they chose a name more sensible to the thriller genre. 4. A great real-life example of this is author Ali Knight, who changed her name to match her genre. Many authors have used pen names over the years. He developed entire characters to expose gossip, scandals, sexism, and other injustices. Robb. When I do this for “Dave Chesson,” it turns out there is a famous skateboarder in the UK who has the same name. Skip to the next section to get started!). Favorite Add to Personalized black Golden Ballpoint Pen - Engraved with name modern design - Father's day gift - Graduation gift - corporate gift Newfavors. Iain M. Banks, “Matter,” First Edition. Sources | Mental Floss | Powell’s | Electric Lit | The Atlantic | Bookstr | Nameberry. 10 Authors Who Write Under Different Pen Names. Some of our favorite authors from the past and present have long since used pen names to compose their most decorated masterpieces. Authors who tended to genre-hop would establish various pen names to avoid being pigeonholed into one specific category. by Sarah Dobbs. You shouldn’t have to do that. Sold for $1,375 via Swann Auction Galleries (November 2014). For example, Mary Ann Evans wrote under the pen name George Eliot; and Amandine Aurore Lucile Dupin, Baronne Dudevant, used the pseudonym George Sand. It should include a first name and last name but NOT a middle name and NO middle initials. енбаум, a Russian born, American novelist, playwright and screenwriter. If your KDP is used to publish books by multiple authors, you will be responsible for ensuring they cover the taxes for their books — and that you pay them what they’re owed for their book sales. Political authors who wrote provocative works about the government or social system are a primary example. More than likely, you: People who search for you will have to go through pages and pages about the famous person before they can even find your work or website. Stephen King is the most successful horror writer in the modern age, but even he used a pen name, Richard Bachman, at one point in his career. The very structure and sound of a name might bring to mind anything from sci-fi adventures to erotic romance novels and anything in between. What author name will jive with your readers? Enter your chosen pen name in the author First and Last Name fields. Search carefully to make sure the pen name you've chosen isn't the name of a celebrity or historical figure. The Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, wrote under the pen names Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell to garner the respect their work deserved. Why they used pen names: The three Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, feared their literary works with obviously feminine names wouldn’t attract readers. Additional Pen Names Used: Robert Galbraith. Cramp Free Pen. Before the 20th century, the literary landscape was primarily dominated by men. Currer Bell (Charlotte Brontë), “Villette,” 1853. His most famous pen name, Richard Saunders, allowed him to write Poor Richard’s Almanac, an annual publication that contained timely, compelling information that included a calendar, weather updates, poems, and even the occasional math equation. BY Mental Floss UK. Eliot is highly regarded as one of the most influential novelists of the Victorian era. Pen names won’t help get you out of your dues to Uncle Sam. However, “George Eliot” was also a cover for her unconventional lifestyle: an unmarried woman living with a married man (whose first name was also George). Are the author names primarily male, female, or a mix? The history of pen names dates back to the 1720s. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century, many female writers used This name can also be called a nom de plume or pseudonym. When I am not fighting dragons or chasing the bogey man out of my kids closet, I like using my previous Online Optimization skills to help other authors with the 'technical' stuff and get the right authors to the top of Amazon and any other eBook service out there. Most people know that Mark Twain was the alias of Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Why she uses a pen name: Roberts is a New York Times bestselling author under her given name, but uses the pen name J.D. It appeared in 19th century and because it could be mass produced very cheaply it replaced quills for good. “Gain insight from Kindlepreneur on how you can optimize marketing for your books.". She needed something that was risky and dangerous — like her books. The good news is that, if you own the copyrighted and/or trademarked rights to a specific name, you may now have legal rights to a domain someone else purchased in bad faith. Want to pay homage to a favorite person with your pen name? His book ‘A Death of a Smile’ appeared on my amazon profile. author of two best selling novels, "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged." A name that sounds younger than your target readers is a fast way to kill a book project before you get started. Before picking your pen name, go to Siteground and check if the domain name is available. How will they ever search and find you on Google or Amazon? If you aren’t sure, check the other books in your genre and category on Amazon and ask yourself: As an author who understands your target market and your competition, you’ll more easily be able to come up with a pen name that fits the vibe and makes sense to your readers. As you can see, there are many steps that go into choosing a pseudonym. Action, adventure, and horror authors have been known to choose names that lend a more daring, dangerous undertone while romance novelists often land on feminine, softer sounding ones. None other than Joanne Rowling, popular author of the Harry Potter series, writes under the names J.K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith, for example. Did any of them stumble over the pronunciation? For example, author Iain Banks created the pen name Iain M. Banks when writing science fiction, and romance novelist Nora Roberts wrote as J.D. According to Koontz he only used ten pen names, but fans have long suspected that the author might be behind even more books written under different names. Diplomat pen company is a well-respected German pen manufacturer that produces high quality fountain and other writing instruments. For drama writers, more Germanic names dominate the genre. Get the latest stories, price guides and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox. Other authors were simply a bit more modest and wanted their personal lives to remain private. Their lists of top baby names by year go all the way back to 1880 (although you’re probably not going to pretend to be a 141-year-old author). You can even choose zombie, vampire, or wizard names. Privacy maybe, and it probably seemed a little glamorous to be distanced from one’s art in that way (yeah, solid thinking I know. ) When selecting a pen name, it’s important to first remember the huge marketing value a pen name holds (particularly in the era of Amazon and Google search). Authors write under pen names for all sorts of reasons. as all my books are uplifting for middle grade children. Not only will it generate legitimate names, but it will also create a real address, phone number, occupation, and even a fake credit card number so you can give your new persona supporting context and a backstory, if you like. “Oh, what was it?” they say, scratching their head. Change the extension if you’d like to try something other than a .com. Many domains are available for between $7 and $80 per year from domain providers like Siteground. Diamond Pen, Name Decal, Bridesmaid Gift, Will you be my bridesmaid, Planner Pen, Pen with Name EAElement. Ashley Nicole is a pleasant-sounding name, but it’s so common among millennial women that it might be easily forgotten. Dave, Can you once and for all give an answer to this question with regards to Amazon KDP, “can I use a pen name like edubookspublishing as the author without it being a real company?”. Pen names, or pseudonyms, are the names we see printed on the title page or by-lines of books and other written documents that are used in place of birth names. Heads up: If you purchase something by clicking on a link in this article, I may receive a small commission. I have a question for you regarding pen names and Amazon. Select a book already uploaded to your account or start the process of adding a new book. A pen name is a name an author uses in place of their real name when publishing. As always, so much good/useful info reflected by your diligent research. You should also say the name out loud to make sure it doesn’t sound like another famous author’s (or another famous person’s) name. Add a first or last name here and we'll do the rest. Pro tip: Domain squatters (cybersquatters) sometimes track search frequencies of URLs to snatch up domains they can turn around and sell for more. (Ready to pick your own pen name? They work…if chosen correctly. To properly choose, copyright, and use a pen name: Once you finally choose a pen name, make sure you have it set up correctly in KDP. When we shop online, we don’t realize how many quick snap decisions we make on things. There should be a way of contacting Amazon and getting that rectified. Why she used a pen name: Like many female authors of the time, Evans chose a male pen name, in part, to conceal that she was a woman. These fictitious signatures held more weight in previous decades, where women who historically had to hide their identities often chose aliases to garner better success within the male-dominated writing industry. It’s okay to pick a name a few years older than your target audience in most cases. This isn’t a shot at all those difficult names out there, but understand that someone is more likely to remember you if your name is something that sticks out and is not too hard to spell. If you know a website where your ideal readers hang out, you can use Quantcast Measure to learn more about the visitors' demographics. The Bentley pen collection captures the heritage and prowess of the Bentley brand. Using our pen name generator, create your own nom de plume that might one day top the list of famous pen names of history. You may or may not intend to brand your pen name or write more books under it. Say the pen name out loud. When you see a familiar author’s name on … Pen names also provided a sense of anonymity that famous authors might not have received otherwise. After creating a rich backstory for the writer of his pseudonymous novels, King chose to stop writing as Bachman when the alias was revealed to be a nom de plume. Are there similarities to names in this genre? Works of O. Henry, 12 volumes, 1912. Extremely useful and detailed post. Inkless Pen. This is the main reason I chose a pen name. Robb for her Death series, but used Jill March and Sarah Hardesty for other narratives. You don’t pay a penny more, but it helps me write more content like this. Why he used a pen name: Blair wanted to protect his family from the embarrassment of their time living in poverty. By Andrew Housman Published May 29, 2020 Thanks Dave, It’s amazing that i have just read this article as I’ve just found that there is another author using the same name, ie Peter Brighton. This one step could save you a lot of heartache in the long run. 3. Blixen’s most well-known male nom de plume was Isak Dinesen, which she adopted for the American publication of her 1934 collection of short stories Seven Gothic Tales . The pseudonym you use for your writing can have a large impact on your book and your platform because it: In essence, your pen name is your author brand. “Mark twain” is a river term that means two fathoms (or 12 feet), when water depth for a boat is being sounded. For instance, if your real name happened to be Stephen King there could be several obstacles inherent for readers in finding you, specifically. He chose George Orwell as a “good round English name” by which to publish his dystopian bestsellers. Might get into hot water with the famous person, and/or. We'll even help to match your genre. His daughter, Ruth, was “lee child.”, Famous Works: Jack Reacher thriller novel series (1997-2020). Successful pen names. You want to be sure to choose a pen name that evokes the right emotions for your target audience, is easy to remember, and doesn’t resemble another author. This cool metal alloy pen leaves a mark on most types of paper without any ink. Try to choose a pen name that uses a simple and/or familiar spelling, is not difficult to pronounce, and is likely to be remembered. Whether political, personal, or simply fun, below are some of the common reasons why authors have chosen to use a nom de plume to represent their literary identity. Do the authors more often use initials or fully spelled-out names? A pen name generator is a piece of software that randomly goes through a database and finds legitimate-sounding names. Technically, you could add it as an ‘author’ and it would get by Amazon. Cool modern pen from Korea comes with a built-in USB flash drive. Google. You don’t want fans phoning you or coming by your house. To avoid the confusion, some authors have exchanged their real names for pen names. Today, fewer modern authors create a “nom de plume” like their literary predecessors, though they are still widely used nonetheless. One that I like is the Fake Name Generator. This is a list of pen names used by notable authors of written work. Whether it’s to choose a more memorable name, because you’re concerned about what people may think about your work, or if you think it just sounds fun, it’s up to you! Science fiction author Robert Heinlein used pen names when writing outside the sci-fi genre.) View our, Currer Bell (Charlotte Brontë), “Villette,” 1853, Lewis Carroll, “Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There,” 1935, The Evolution of Classic Horror Characters, 15 Banned Books and the Reasons for Their Censorship, A Guide to Post-Impressionism: 10 Artists That Defined The Movement, Online Auction Tips From Our Most Successful Bidders, Baseball Card Values and How to Determine Their Worth, The Fifteen Most Expensive Books & Manuscripts Ever Sold, The American Regionalism Movement: Shaping the Art of the Nation. Real Names: Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë. Authors use pen names for many reasons, whether it be for branding purposes or just for privacy. There should be no legal concerns of someone with the same name claiming authorship or any other legal standing for your book with Amazon. Why she used a pen name: Agatha Christie, already a famous author of Murder on the Orient Express (1934), used the pen name Mary Westmacott when she made the genre switch from crime and mystery to romance novels. Book Marketing for Self-Publishing Authors. When choosing your author pen name, consider whether or not it fits with your genre. ‘Allison Potter' vs ‘Ali Knight' for a thriller author…a perfect pen name example. And of course, I always assumed there’d be a Publisher there guiding how I did it all, because in the olden days (before … Why he used a pen name: Geisel was banned as editor-in-chief from a magazine for drinking during Prohibition, so he wrote under the alias “Seuss”. From 19th century novelists to celebrated, present-day authors, pen names have allowed many to write under the identity they prefer. January 30, 2017. iStock. Avoid famous names. Masterpiece Pen Name Generator – Get a list of pen name ideas after adding details and fun words from a few prompts. Did they all pronounce it the same way? You should also acquire the social media handles for your pen name.