When are pen names good?

1. 60

   Shon Stallgravesposted 12 years ago

   When are pen names good?
   
   Is it wise to write one book with a pen name and then use the same pen name to write another book that is very far away from the topic you want really do want to be associated with?

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2. 81

   Wesman Todd Shawposted 12 years ago

   When you are too scared to be who you are and use your real name - pen names are good!  LOLOLOL!!!!!!
   
   No - I'm sure that some people have REALLY GOOD reasons for pen names.

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3. 0

   Hanilolposted 12 years ago

   There is nothing wrong with using one always on anything that you create, it adds mystery. :>}

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4. 59

   Jennifer Granaposted 12 years ago

   I believe Pen names are if your writing self is much different than your real self and you won't dare say with your real self what your writing self says. I hope that makes sense. I would use a pen name if your writing with an alter ego. OR if you are a ghost writer writing as a guy when you are a girl for instance.

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5. 59

   Dewan Aneel Rathiposted 12 years ago

   I always use Picasso Pen for all write university work.

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6. 60

   FloraBreenRobisonposted 12 years ago

   Pen names are often used when the author writes in multiple genres  so that readers can *distinguish* between them. Agatha Christie wrote her romance novels under the name Mary Westmacott.
   As well, sometimes the writer's name just doesn't fit into what society expects for a writer of a particular genre-for example, men do not write romance novels. Actually they do. But a man's name on a harlequin romance won't sell. So you might  write a romantic novel under a pen name if you are a man. 
   
   But you're right about another reason why people use pen names for separate genres. Sometimes the writer is famous  as being a "serious" author-but he also writes "popular fiction."  For example, Danial day Lewis's father is a poet lauriet (unsure of spelling). This is a high post. It is not appropriate  for the main poet of a country to be writing (gasp!) detective novels-so he uses the pen name of Nicholas Blake.
   The opposite could be true as well. A writer may start out as a pop fiction writer to make money but wants to be taken as a serious writer. A pen name might be necessary so that the public doesn't roll their eyes when they hear the news.

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7. 59

   justomposted 12 years ago

   The only time they're good are when you can't find a pencil. Be honest or don't pretend to be a writer!!

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8. 60

   seichepreyposted 12 years ago

   I don't know, I assumed when I was younger that it was because people had last names like my own, which are a little intimidating to most people.

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9. 60

   Shon Stallgravesposted 12 years ago

   Thanks to those that answered my question with examples, that helped out a lot.

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