What is a pen name?

A pen name is a pseudonym an author uses on the cover and listing instead of their real name. Writers choose one for privacy, to separate genres (so readers of your children's books do not stumble onto your thrillers), to have a name that is easier to spell or search, or to fit genre conventions.

Most self-publishing platforms let you publish under a pen name. You enter it as the author or contributor name on the listing, while your tax and payment details stay in your legal name — the store pays you, not the pseudonym. If you buy your own ISBNs, the books are still registered to you or your imprint.

A few practical tips. Search the name before you commit, to make sure there is no well-known author already using it. Make sure the domain and social handles you want are available. Spell it identically on every edition and platform so stores can connect your books. If you write in several genres, decide early whether each pen name gets its own mailing list and author page.

You must not use a name chosen to make readers think the book is by a different, real author. Copyright in a pseudonymous work can be treated differently in some countries — for example, the term can be calculated from publication rather than the author's life — so if that matters to you, look up your country's rules. This is general information, not legal advice.