The Power of Pen Names

list of crazy names

Ah, the pen name—a writer’s alter ego, a mask of mystery, and sometimes a necessary tool of survival. Choosing a pen name is like naming a character in your own story, except this character is you. It’s a decision that can shape your career, protect your privacy, or even give you the freedom to reinvent yourself. So, why and how should an author pick a pen name?

Why Pick a Pen Name?

1. Privacy, Please

Let’s face it: the internet is a wild place. If you’d rather not have your nosy neighbor, your ex, or your in-laws digging into your dark romance novel or your gritty true crime exposé, a pen name can be your shield. It’s like a literary witness protection program.

2. Genre Hopping Without the Side-Eye

If you’re a children’s book author by day and a steamy romance novelist by night, a pen name can help you keep those worlds separate. Readers can be fiercely loyal to a genre, and you don’t want your middle-grade fans stumbling across your vampire erotica. (Unless you do. No judgment.)

3. Breaking Bias

Unfortunately, biases still exist in the publishing world. A pen name can help you navigate these waters. For example, J.K. Rowling famously used her initials to appeal to young male readers who might not have picked up a book by “Joanne.” Similarly, some authors choose gender-neutral or culturally ambiguous names to avoid stereotypes.

4. Fresh Starts and Second Chances

Maybe your first book flopped harder than a pancake at a vegan brunch. Or maybe you’ve outgrown your old writing persona. A pen name lets you hit the reset button and start anew, free from the baggage of your past.

5. Because It’s Fun

Let’s be real: who doesn’t want to be someone else for a while? A pen name lets you step into a new identity, one that might feel more aligned with your creative vision. It’s like cosplay, but for authors.

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How to Pick a Pen Name*

1. Keep It Memorable (But Not Too Weird)

Your pen name should roll off the tongue and stick in the mind. Think “Mark Twain” or “George Orwell”—simple, catchy, and impossible to forget. Avoid names that sound like a keyboard smash (looking at you, Xzy’quandra).

2. Match It to Your Genre

Your pen name should fit the vibe of your writing. A romance author might go for something soft and lyrical, like “Isabelle Hart,” while a thriller writer might opt for something sharp and edgy, like “Jack Steele.” (Yes, I made those up. No, you can’t have them.)

3. Do Your Homework

Before you commit, Google your chosen name. Make sure it’s not already taken by a famous author, a serial killer, or a particularly aggressive real estate agent. You don’t want to accidentally share a name with someone who’s already dominating the search results.

4. Test Drive It

Say it out loud. Write it down. Imagine it on a book cover. Does it feel right? Does it inspire you? If not, keep brainstorming. Your pen name should feel like a natural extension of your creative self.

5. Consider the Practicalities

If you’re planning to publish under your pen name, make sure you can secure the domain name and social media handles. You don’t want to be stuck with @RealPenName1234 because someone else snagged the good one.

6. Own It Legally (If Needed)

If you’re serious about your pen name, you might want to trademark it or set up a DBA (Doing Business As) for legal and financial purposes. This is especially important if you plan to make writing your career.

Famous Pen Names and Why They Work

J.K. Rowling: Used initials to appeal to a broader audience.

Stephen King (as Richard Bachman): Wrote under a pseudonym to publish more books without oversaturating the market.

Mary Ann Evans (as George Eliot): Adopted a male name to be taken seriously in the 19th-century literary world.

Nora Roberts (as J.D. Robb): Created a separate identity for her futuristic crime series.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a pen name is a deeply personal decision. It’s about finding a name that feels like home, even if it’s not the one on your birth certificate. Whether you’re hiding from your past, embracing a new genre, or just having a little fun, a pen name can be your passport to a whole new world of possibilities.

So, go ahead. Pick a name that makes your heart sing. After all, every great author deserves a great alias—even if it’s just to keep your mother from finding out you wrote that book.

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The Write Kit: Or How Jesse and I Finally Stopped Waiting and Started Building (Because Perfection is Overrated)

At my age, I’ve learned a few things about life. For one, waiting for the “perfect moment” is like waiting for a toddler to clean their room—it’s never going to happen. For another, if you have a burning desire to do something, you’d better get on with it before the fire turns to embers and you’re left with a pile of ashes and regret. So, with a lifetime of stories behind me, a heart full of purpose, and a friend who actually knows what he’s doing, we started TheWriteKit.com. Not because we had all the answers, but because I knew what it felt like to have a voice and no clue how to use it.

The idea for The Write Kit didn’t come to me in a dream or during a yoga retreat (though downward dog does wonders for the lower back). It came from decades of watching people struggle to share their stories. I’ve met so many writers—brilliant, passionate, and utterly lost—who had something to say but didn’t know how to say it. They were drowning in a sea of self-doubt, technical jargon, and the overwhelming question: How do I get my writing out there?

We wanted to throw them a lifeline. Or, better yet, teach them how to swim. And by “we,” I mean me and Jesse Kanner, my partner-in-crime and the guy who actually understands things like “product development” and “design strategy.” (I’m more of a “let’s wing it and see what happens” kind of gal, which is why Jesse is essential to this operation.)

The Write Kit began as a whisper in my mind: What if I could create a place where writers could find the tools, guidance, and community they need to be heard? At first, I dismissed it. I’m not a tech guru. I speak broken HTML and kitchen CSS, and my idea of coding is yelling at my laptop until it does what I want. But the whisper grew louder, and eventually, it became a roar. So, I did what any sensible woman would do: I rolled up my sleeves, poured myself a cup of tea, and called Jesse.

Jesse, bless him, didn’t laugh when I pitched the idea. (Or if he did, he waited until after we hung up.) Instead, he brought his genius and product-building know-how to the table, and together, we turned my half-baked idea into something real. Jesse’s the one who made sure The Write Kit wasn’t just a website—it was a brand. He’s the reason we have a sleek design, a clear vision, and a marketing plan that doesn’t involve shouting into the void.

We are filling The Write Kit with everything I wished I’d had when I was starting out: a ten-minute website, sparks of creativity, templates to organize ideas, and Sprints on marketing. I started this Substack where I shared my own struggles and triumphs, because nothing says “you’re not alone” like admitting you once cried over a rejection letter.

But The Write Kit isn’t just about tools and tips. It’s about connection. It’s about creating a space and reminding them why they started writing in the first place. Because here’s the truth: writing is hard. It’s messy, vulnerable, and often thankless. But it’s also one of the most powerful ways to be heard. And everyone deserves to be heard.

The emails are starting to trickle in. A young mother who finally finished her first short story. A retiree who published his memoir. A college student who found the courage to share her poetry. Each message was a reminder that The Write Kit wasn’t just our project—it was theirs, too. It was ours. It was everyone’s.

I’ve learned that life isn’t about waiting for the right moment. It’s about creating the moment. It’s about looking at the world and saying, “I can help with that.” The Write Kit is our way of helping. It’s our love letter to writers everywhere, a reminder that your voice matters and your stories deserve to be told.

So, if you’ve got a story burning inside you, don’t wait. Don’t let fear or doubt or the myth of perfection hold you back. Start writing. Start sharing. Start building. And if you need a little help along the way, well, you know where to find us. Jesse and I will be here, ready to cheer you on—and maybe share a few marketing tips while we’re at it.