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Should You Use a Pen Name?
Creating a persona might be one way to set yourself apart
“Pen names are masks that allow us to unmask ourselves” — Terri Guillemets
I’m someone who has a million book ideas and one difficulty I face is knowing which genre to write.
Lots of writing advice teaches us to pick a genre or a niche and stick with it.
In theory, it makes sense, I don’t know many children’s book authors who also pen erotic fiction. Or Science Fiction writers who are also known for their romance novellas.
That’s not to say it never happens. Some authors navigate different areas. Yet, it is rare and makes it harder to market your work and your ‘brand’.
One way to overcome the issue of wanting to write in different genres is to use a pen name. Lately, I’ve considered it more and there are a few reasons you might want to do the same:
A Pen Name is a Mask
Sometimes I shy away from writing certain topics or being too ‘honest’ in my fiction. As a writer, you draw inspiration from experiences. Many of my characters embody characteristics of people I know.
