Should You Use a Pseudonym?
What the Editors of The Writing Cooperative Think
Jessica: I have never used a pseudonym but sometimes feel it would allow me to write more freely if my words weren’t forever tied to me and my name. My favourite writing is connected to emotion and vulnerability which I find easier behind a mask. Ultimately, I am happy that I write under my own name. It helped me to gain readers when I was starting out since I could use my personal social media accounts and contacts. I also appreciate not having to worry about someone discovering my identity. Building my writing brand with my name has also opened a few professional doors that might not have been open to me if I wrote under a pseudonym.
Stella: As some of you may know, this Stella character is my pseudonym. I chose to use a pseudonym for many of the reasons Jessica mentioned above: much of my writing contains a vulnerability that is easier to write about without tying my real name to it. Additionally, I want to protect the privacy of family, friends, people I’m dating, etc. who I tend to write about often. In this regard, a pseudonym has been perfect for me as a means to have a creative outlet without necessarily impinging on other aspects of my life. However, there have certainly been times where using a pseudonym is simply an inconvenience — getting paid for writing for example, or other situations where you need to use your legal name. It’s not difficult, per se, but the conversation where you say, “Actually, my real name is…” can sometimes be awkward. More recently, as I begin to explore different topics, I’ve considered also writing under my legal name — again for some of the reasons Jessica mentioned: I’d have a built-in audience of social media contacts that I didn’t have when I started using “Stella”. Overall, I’m happy I made the decision to use a pseudonym as it gives me more flexibility in the content I put out for the world to see, however, I may eventually transition away from it. (Though, honestly, I think “Stella” has a nice ring to it.)
Justin: Every once and a while I wonder if I should have started this whole writing thing with a pseudonym. I think, what would a cool pen name be? Then I realize how much I have built up the “brand” that is me and realize I have zero desire to start over again. I’m not sure I’d write anything differently if I were using a pseudonym as opposed to my actual name. I figure, I am who I am and that has worked well so far. Why change things?
Sand: I think a pseudonym is appropriate in certain specific situations. In fact there are articles that I have written but then did not publish precisely because I did not want to attach my real name to them. I seriously considered publishing them under a pseudonym. The topics are usually deeply personal and health related. In these cases I chose not to publish rather than publish under a pseudonym. I figure if I’m not willing to put my name on it, it probably shouldn’t be a public article in the first place. In most cases though, I think a pseudonym hinders both authenticity and growing your audience.
52-Week Writing Challenge Questions
Do you use a pseudonym? Why or why not?
Do you wish you had made a different decision when you started writing?
Share in the responses or on our Slack channel.
