Every time you publish a book, you’re putting your name out into the world.
People will look for you on Amazon and other bookselling sites, they’ll look on social media sites, and they’ll look for an author website.
Being a well-known writer and having your name instantly recognized might be the ideal for most self-published authors.
But, do you really want all that attention focused on your true identity?
What if you’re a member of the PTA at your child’s school, yet you want to write a bodice-ripper?
What if you are known for writing business books, but you want to write in an entirely different genre?
Or maybe your name is Ishcabbible Humperdink, and it just doesn’t seem to fit with the romance novels you want to write.
Using your own name in any of the above instances could cause problems, either for promoting the book you wish to write, your day job, or even the safety of you and your family.
What’s a writer to do? Choosing to write under a pen name (a.k.a. writing under a pseudonym, a.k.a. nom de plume) is an option writers use for many reasons.