Famous Pen Names
- Samuel Clemens as Mark Twain
- Examples of Famous Authors with Pen Names
- J.K. Rowling
- Dr. Seuss
- Lewis Carroll
- George Orwell
Many authors change identities or use pen names to conceal themselves. Reasons for pen names vary. But many famous authors have used them successfully.
Mark Twain got his pen name from his job as a riverboat captain. The term meant the water was safe. C.S. Lewis used the names Clive Hamilton and N.W. Clerk. Joseph Conrad used a pen name to Anglicize his Polish name.
Choosing a Pen Name
A good pen name should be creative. Try a pseudonym generator to create unique pen names. Make it easy to remember and pronounce. It should stick in readers’ minds, like Mark Twain. Research other author names in your genre first. Once you choose your pen name, commit to it.
Stephen King’s Pen Name
Stephen King wrote under the pen name Richard Bachman. He did this to publish more than one book per year without saturating the market. The name came from a rock band he was listening to when asked to choose a pseudonym.