4 (More) Things To Consider When Choosing Your Pen Name

For some writers, deciding on a pen name is as monumental and at times as intricate and intimate as deciding on names for the characters in their stories.

I've posted about pseudonyms on the blog a few times, most recently sharing the origin story of my own. In these posts, we've reviewed some of the reasons a writer may choose to publish their work under a pen name as well as some tips for coming up with one. Looking back on those posts from 2020, there are some noteworthy considerations that didn't make the list.

That's why I'm back with a few more things to keep in mind as you choose your nom de plume!

Initial Thoughts

Using initials in pen names is fairly common. Some authors may use them if they worry about the way their gender might impact a reader's interest in their work or being taken more seriously within their genre; for example, a woman named Emily Clarkson could publish her gritty crime novels as E.H. Clarkson because it's a typically male-dominated genre.

Initials can also add a dash more anonymity for writers who wish to draw a line between their personal life and their public life as a writer or those who want to keep people in their life like family members or coworkers from discovering their writing.

But when using initials as part of your pen name, you may want to consider what those initials spell. Let's say your name is Alyssa Summers. If you're using initials, it may be better to go with A. G. Summers than A. S. Summers (you know, A.S.S.).

Your chosen pen name is often one of the first impressions your author brand will make on prospective readers, so it's wise to make sure there won't be any unintended, unfortunate connotations.

The Sound Of Things

Deciding on a nom de plume isn't only a matter of looks. You'll also want to think about how it sounds. Is it smooth to say or does it get stuck on the tongue?

Word of mouth is one of the most common ways books are promoted—even more so in the digital age thanks to the rise of podcasts and video-based platforms like YouTube and TikTok—so you'll want to make sure your pen name is easier to say and, as a result, easier for readers to remember.

One reason I added my middle name to my pen name is because when I was testing out "Avril Aalund," the "Vril" and "Ahl" sounds got muddled together more often than not. Marie helps break things up, making my pen name easier to pronounce. Plus I think the sound of spelling it "Avril Marie A-a-l-u-n-d" is cute.

However, don't feel that you MUST change your own name to make it easier for others. It's YOUR name. We can (and should) learn how to say it correctly.

Call And Response

If there is one thing I'm still figuring out with my own pen name, it's using it in the real world. When I'm at an in-person writing event, I don't always know if it's better to introduce myself with my legal name that I go by in every other circumstance or as "Avril."

While there's still a little internal awkwardness on my end, I tend to go by Avril, and I'm soon reminded of another reason I'm glad I chose that as my pseudonym over other top contenders like Claudia, Melissa, Samantha, or Josephine (or simply Josie)—and that's how similar Avril is to my own name.

For pen name-wielding writers, you'll want to make sure it's one you'll respond to. By this, I mean making sure you'll know someone is addressing you when they say your pen name. Nothing worse than appearing to forget your own name, right? Like, "Oh, yeah. I'm Natalie..."

Whoops!

Furthermore, this might prevent you from seeming aloof or standoffish towards fellow writers because not reacting to your pen name could come across as you intentionally ignoring them.

Am I reading too much into this? Probably.

But knowing that my pen name is one I'm more likely to respond to helps (somewhat) quell my anxieties about making a poor impression within the writing community.

Be Unique (But Not Too Unique)

Pseudonyms can be a great way to help you stand out on bookshelves, helping separate your writing from every Jane Doe and John Smith out there.

However, it may be wise to keep your pen name realistic.

I cannot speak for every reader out there, and certainly not any literary agents or publishers, but Andromeda Starthorne may not be taken as seriously as Andi Hawthorne (no offense to any Andromeda Starthornes who may be reading this post).

While there is an air of make-believe in writing with a pen name (as my mother has likened mine to being a Batman-esque alter ego), you probably don't want to get too fantastical with yours.

Writing with a pen name has been very fun for me (not to mention the functionality of having one, too). But choosing the pen name I'll be publishing my work under was actually an unexpectedly multifaceted decision to make. Some may be of a smaller impact than others, but they're no less important to consider.

Do you write with a nom de plume? What name-choosing tips would you offer a fellow author? Share your best advice in the comments below!