Pen Names, Masks and Invisibility Cloaks
When I started out as a serious writer in the early 2000’s, I gave a lot of thought to choosing a pen name. I toyed with names like Seanna (Shawna) Smythe but everyone pronounced it Sienna so I tossed that one out the window. Then I tried Juanita Chavez (a play on my real name) and planned to write steamy romance set in exotic destinations, but I soon discovered that wasn’t what I wanted to write. Desperate to just get on with the job, I chose to write under my own name. Now, if you Google this topic, you will be inundated with information on the do’s and don’ts, so as writers we’re much more prepared than we were before the internet opened up a whole new world of research.
If I had my time over, I might have stuck with one of those chosen names because, over a decade later, things have changed. Back before computers, authors chose pen names for anonymity. As technology grew, they used them to seperate the different genres they wrote in. Take for example the great Nora Roberts who writes romance and magic but uses J.D. Robb to write futuristic suspense. I love her romance novels but I’m not a fan of her futuristic series, so that helped me identify which books of hers to read. Nowadays though, there is a more sinister reason to use a pen name.
To use or not use a pen name or pseudonym is a personal choice. There’s not really a right or wrong answer on this—unless you do share a name with a well-known author and/or celebrity. Just remember: If you do use one, be ready to take on that new persona.
ROBERT LEE BREWER
A surge in cybercrime has highlighted the need for anonymity. Using your real name as a public figure can now make you a target for hacks and scams. Sure, if a hacker digs deeply enough, they can find out who you really are, but some are simply too lazy to go that far. They want a quick buck, not a long term investment. Have you ever recieved a message on Facebook or Messenger from someone posing as someone you know? That’s a real danger for a user with a high traffic profile on social media. It can ruin friendships and cause you to lose credibility. Anyone can pretend to be you and scam your friends and followers. By using a pen name, you’re given a bit more of an invisibility cloak.
As technology gets smarter, so do cybercriminals. It’s becoming more and more important to protect yourself. Think of a pen name as installing anti-virus software. It puts up a defence barrier, and while that barrier may not be inpenetrable, it’s a layer of security that you never had before.