Hi My Name Is......The Art of Pen Names

Aspiring authors always ask "should I use a pen name?" Well I hate to report but there is no magic answer to this age old question. The key is to be memorable. Therefore, you must do what works for you. In my opinion if your name is common, chances are you just may be lost in the sauce of the million other "Danielle's" of the world. Unless of course you are Danielle Steele. Her name is a household commodity and is synonymous with the term "bestseller". However, don't get me wrong. It does not just take a strong name to sell a book. For these purposes we are assuming the book is great!

Whether or not to use a pen name was the dilemma I faced when embarking on my literary journey. I knew my name was common so I wanted something that I could brand and set myself apart from others in my field.  I wanted it to be short enough to remember yet easily associated with something memorable. In addition, the key for me was to also make it catchy with a bit of an edge to say the least. To me, pen names should be a conversation piece. So far "Envy Red" has done just that.

People often ask "what does it mean or how did you come up with that name?" The conversation takes off from there. Even if I don't sell a book right then, I have successfully implanted myself in their psyche which could lead to future opportunities. Those opportunities may not necessarily be tangible direct sells but something a bit more powerful. I like to call it free flights or word of mouth!  

Another question of debate is whether or not to have different pen names depending on the genre you are writing or if multiple pen names are necessary period? Some do so in an effort to have multiple publishing contracts while others do so to separate their work in the minds of varying readers. Again, the answer is you must assess your goals and do what is right for you. The magical art form to choosing a pen name lies with you. As an author, you are the writer of your destiny so like any other area of the business don't just take it from me, do your own research. Happy writing!

~Envy Red