How to Create a Romance Author Pen Name

Amanda Quick
Jayne Castle
Nora Roberts
J.D. Robb
Bella Andre
Christina Lauren
E.L. James

What do all the above have in common besides writing romance?

They’re all pen names.

I once saw an interview with Nora Roberts where she said she thought she was required to have a pen name when she first sought publication. Eleanor Robertson then became Nora Roberts. And when she was asked to create another name to avoid saturating the market, she decided to write a futuristic police procedural under the name J.D. Robb.

Are pen names required? No. At least not usually. Harlequin often asks for one so they can have some control over the author brand, but in general, if you want to use your given name, you can.

But for a variety of reasons, you may want to use a pen name (or several, as some authors do). If that’s the case, here are things to know and tips on creating a pen name.

Why Use a Pen Name?

Sometimes referred to as pseudonym or nom de plume, pen names are used by authors for many different reasons. Here are just a few:

• Hide your identity: I once heard a romance author say her family insisted that she use a pen name because they didn’t want people to know she wrote romance. Pfft…what’s wrong with romance? With that said, many authors don’t want it known that they write romance. Sometimes it’s because they’re writing erotica or extra spicy stories, but sometimes it has nothing to do with heat factor. Sometimes it’s the genre itself, since romance has a stigma of being fluff. Eloisa James (Mary Bly) was a university professor when she started writing historical romance. However, you may want a pen name simply want to maintain your privacy.
• Separate brands: Some authors are already known by another name in a different genre and want to avoid confusing readers. For example, Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb each have different “brands” even though it’s the same person. Or Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick, same authors but one publishes contemporary romantic suspense and the other historical romance. Or finally, J.K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith, same author, different genres.
• Your name is the same or similar to someone else already famous: Did you know Emma Stone, Michael Keaton, and many other actors were forced to come up with new names because someone with the same name was already in SAG-AFTRA? If your name is Joanna Rowling or Nora Robertson, you may want to choose a new name even though these aren’t exactly the same as Joanne (J.K.) Rowling or Nora Roberts. Why? For one, you don’t want to risk being sued, but also, you don’t want your readers making the mistake of finding the more well-known author instead of you.
• The name is already taken in social media or website URL: If someone is already using your name on social media or has a website with your name, choosing another name can help avoid confusion.
• Your name is long or difficult to spell: You want to make it easy for readers to search for and find you. A long or complex name can make this difficult.
• Writing in a different gender or to hide your gender: It’s well known now that Georg Elliot (Mary Ann Evans) was a woman. The Bronte sisters wrote under Acton Bell and Ellis Bell. Many female authors used initials when writing in a male-dominating genre, such as crime or horror. However, men write romance too, using female pen names. Two popular authors in the late 20th century were Jennifer Wilde (Tom Huff) and Leigh Greenwood (Harold Lowery).
• Attract readers: Let’s face it, romance writers have a long history of names that scream romance. If your name is Jane Plain (no offense to any real Jane Plains), readers may subconsciously avoid your books, unless they’re looking for a sweet romance. Anyone looking for a sweet romance might be put off by an author named Ava Wildnight.
• Poor sales under another name. If you have a name that isn’t selling (particularly in traditional publishing), you can pick a new name and start over.
• For the fun of it. I’ll admit, I have a list of pen names that I think would be fun.

Note that you can’t use a pen name to hide from legal obligations whether you owe money, have a warrant out on you, or have a contract with a publisher. For example, changing my name wouldn’t nullify my contract and give me rights back to any of my traditionally published work.

The Challenge of Using a Pen Name

The biggest challenge of using a pen name is being more than one person. This is mostly a factor if you’re already busy maintaining a brand under your own name. Managing two Facebook, two Instagram, two websites, two emails, etc isn’t easy.

Going to events as a pen name can be interesting, although I’ve managed it. I’ve gone to events in which I’ve been two authors. Today, most events I go to my author friends ask me who I am while there. I answer to all my names now. Of course, if you’re hiding that you write romance, you won’t go to events, which is a shame because they’re fun, inspiring, and a great way to sell books.

Another issue is maintaining anonymity if that’s your goal. Today, anyone who really wants to find you can. There are a few things you can do to make it harder, but there’s no guarantee that others won’t find out about your pen name.

Crafting an Awesome Pen Name

It’s important to remember that the name you pick will become your brand. It’s also one that you may need to learn to respond to when you’re attending signings and book events.

What to Consider When Choosing a Pen Name

Because your pen name will be your brand and needs to attract readers, you need to consider the following when selecting your name:

1. What is your purpose? Are you trying to maintain your privacy or simply shorten your name? For example, Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote under L.M. Montgomery because she didn’t like her name Lucy (Anne of Green Gables fame). She didn’t change her name, but simply used her initials. V. C. Andrews’ real name was Cleo Virginia Andrews.
2. Consider Cultural Nuances: A white author just got into hot water for using a Chinese last name for the purpose of making readers think they were Chinese. You also need to consider the cultural meanings of potential pen names. Fanny is a name in the U.S. that some might snicker at, as fanny can also mean “butt.” But in the U.K., fanny is slang for vagina. (This is why many books and movies end up with different titles in different countries.)
3. Consider Audience Perception: Names like Ava Wildnight can work for spicy romance, but perhaps not sweet or inspirational romance. Think about how your pen name might be seen in different places or by various readers. What works well in one market might not work in another.

Brainstorming Possible Names

This is the fun part.

1. List names that you like: I like to brainstorm first names and last names, playing with them like magnetic poetry. I’ll have a list of first names like Ava or Grace or Maxie or Roxie, and a list of last names like Foxx or Gray or Dumont etc. Then I mix and match:

• Ava Foxx
• Ava Gray (this is taken)
• Ava Dumont (no…I used that as a character in a book)
• Grace Foxx
• Grace Gray
• etc.

2. List family names: Mine your family tree for names. My sister chose her middle name with a variation of our grandmother’s maiden name. Gray and Arrington are names in my family tree that I like. I’d love to use them together such as Emma Gray Arrington, but that’s too long.

3. Check out baby name books or websites: I love this for character naming, but it’s a great way to search for pen names. You can look up popular names from the year you were born. Or perhaps names that have your same initials.

4. Use a pen name generator. Here are a few you can check out:

• Reedsy’s Pen Name Generator: Enter a first letter, the name’s gender (or neutral), and the language, then click Generate Name (I was given Jane Blake).
• Masterpiece Pen Name Generator: Fill out a list of prompts and then click Generate to get a list of possible names for various genres. It gave me Suellen Mikedress, Skye-Anne Sillyflower, and Shelley Thornlove as possible pen names.
• Fantasy Name Generator: Writing a fantasy or even Victorian romance, this name generator has hundreds of types of names. You can click on “Random Generator” to be taken to one of the many options, or select a specific generator to get 10 names. I selected Red Queen Names, then clicked the “Female” option below the list and was given: Claire Wallace, Fory Cole, Hollie Whistle, Willow Farley and more.
• Fake Name Generator: Enter the gender (or random), the name set (Country background), and language. Under advanced options, you can select age as well. It gave me Mary R. Boudreaux. (This makes me think of Jack Boudreaux from Tami Hoag’s Cry Wolf…I loved that book!)

Narrowing Down Your Options

Once you have a list of possible names, it’s time to assess and research them.

1. Does it fit with your genre and subgenre? Again, you want a name that fits with the type of book you’re writing. A name like Serinity Grace fits will with sweet or inspirational fiction, whereas Ava Wildnight doesn’t.
2. Is it easy to pronounce, spell, and remember? For example, I love the sound of the name Saoirse, but many readers wouldn’t know that it sounds like Sersha. And if I said “Sersha” they wouldn’t know to search for Saoirse when looking for me or my books.
3. Search for the author’s name on Amazon. I love the name Ava Gray, but it’s already taken. Aside from possible legal hassles, I wouldn’t want my readers accidentally going to her books. Also consider how close the name is to another author. Could I get away with Avaline Gray? Or Ava Grayson? Maybe, but I have to consider again if readers might confuse that name with Ava Gray’s.
4. Search for the name’s URL. You can type the name with .com into your browser (e.g. avawildnight.com), but you’ll also want to search the domain in registrar to make sure someone hasn’t bought it, but isn’t yet using it.
5. Search for social media profiles that already use the name. Again, your goal is to choose a name that isn’t already in use. This is a challenge depending on the name you want to use. There are other Jenna Harte’s in the world. If you find your name, but they’re not an author, can add “author” to your social profile name (e.g. @JennaHarteAuthor)
6. Do a trademark search in your country. While you can’t trademark a given name, it is possible to trademark a pen name. Odds are, you’d know the name is taken as trademark requires known branding behind the name. But it doesn’t hurt to check your country’s trademark office:
   1. US Trademark Search
   2. UK Trademark Search
   3. Canada Trademark Search
   4. If you’re in a different country, search your country and trademark office in Google. (E.G. Australia trademark office).

Even if your name isn’t trademarked, do be careful. Don’t use existing big names in any industry. First, you don’t want to send your readers to someone else by accident. Second, you don’t want to risk a lawsuit. For example, you don’t want the pen name of Dolly Parton or anything similar, such as Dollie Parden.

Establishing Your Pen Name

Let me start by saying that I’m not a lawyer nor an expert on intellectual property. Please check with a lawyer if you have questions or concerns. But here is some basic information to guide you through using and protecting your pen name.

Assuming you’ve done the work above and made sure the name is available for use, here’s how to set about using the name:

1. Buy the domain for your pen name. Even if you don’t plan to set up a website yet, buy the domain URL and get it with .com (not .net or any other ending). It will cost $10 to $20 and ensure that you own the name when you do decide to build a website. It also protects you from someone else buying the name and using it, which could confuse readers. Imagine choosing Serenity Grace for a sweet romance author name, but someone else buys it and uses it for porn. If you’re hiding yourself behind a pen name, pay the extra for privacy so that anyone looking up the WHOIS for the domain information won’t see your given name as the owner. I use Godaddy for my domains but you have other options.
2. Set up social media profiles in your pen name. You don’t need to be everywhere in social media. Instead, think about where your readers hangout to learn about the type of books you write. This could be TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc.
3. Set up your business using your pen name or a publishing name. You can use your pen name as a business, or set up a publishing business and have your pen name be a business under it. You can operate as a sole proprietor to avoid the paperwork and cost of setting up an LLC (although down the road you’ll want to consider setting up an LLC). With an official business (sole proprietor or LLC) you can open a business banking account, which will be important to write-off your publishing expenses on your taxes. I’m not a business or tax expert, so please discuss this with your financial advisor and attorney to make sure you’re doing what’s best for you.
4. Submit a Fictitious Name Statement (sometimes called Doing Business As). Check with your city or county clerk’s office on how to do this. You can probably do it online for a $10 or so fee. If you set up an LLC under a different name (for example I have a business name for my LLC), and want to use a pen name that is different, you may need to do an FNS or DBA under both names; one for the LLC and one for the pen name business within your LLC.
5. If you’re traditionally published or want to be, give your agent or publisher your pen name. You can submit your queries with your given name and pen name, for example: Sally Sue writing as Sally Grace. When signing contracts, sometimes you can use your pen name, but more often you’ll use your legal name.
6. Use your pen name on your books, marketing, copyright notice, and other materials produced for the name. Use your legal name on contracts and business accounts. For example, your business name may be your pen name (and people can write checks to you in that name) but your bank will have your legal name on the account.
7. Register the copyright for your work. You can use your pen name, but over at Jane Friedman’s site, Attorney Helen Sedwich recommends registering your work under both your pen name and legal name. If you’re hiding behind a pen name, you should be okay because readers aren’t likely to hunt you down by copyright. You might want to check out Helen’s book, The Self-Publisher’s Legal Handbook for more great tips to keep your publishing empire on the right track.

Protecting Your Pen Name: Copyright and Trademark Considerations

You can’t copyright your pen name. You can only copyright work created by the pen name.

You can trademark your name, but you need to prove that the pen name is a unique brand. When you hear J.K. Rowling, you think of all things Harry Potter. Dr. Seuss is trademarked as well. Most authors don’t go through the time and expense of trademarking their name.

Every now and then, do a search or set up Google Alerts to keep track of your pen name. If another author is trying to use it and you haven’t trademarked it, you can send them a note to let them know the name is being used and indicate why it’s not to their advantage to use an existing name (they might send their readers to you by accident). If that doesn’t work, contact a lawyer.

Building a Brand with Your Pen Name

I gave a list above of author pen names. When you read them, what do you think of?

Nora Roberts
J.D. Robb
Christina Lauren
E.L. James

Their names tell us what they write because the name is their brand.

What is a brand? I love the definition of brand being a promise of an experience. When I pick up J.D. Robb, I know what I’m getting and she delivers every time. That’s what you want for your readers. When they see your pen name, they’re excited because they know what sort of romantic adventure they’ll be going on.

This is why many romance writing courses recommend staying in a single lane with your writing. While some authors have gotten away with criss-crossing genres, writing across different genres can make it hard for readers to know what they’ll get. If I pick up Jayne Ann Krentz, I know I’ll get a contemporary romantic suspense, which I love. Amanda Quick readers get a historical romance. Same author, different brands.

So how do you build your brand?

1. Build your identity. Note that I’m not saying create a different person. In this case, I’m talking about branding assets: your picture or logo, tagline, color scheme, etc. When it comes to your picture, an image of a person creates greater connection with readers, but if you’re hiding that you write romance, you can create a logo in Canva (many authors have a logo).
2. Be consistent with your brand. Have the same name, photo or logo, and tag lines across all your platforms from your website and social media, books, ads, etc. Stick within your romance subgenre, including tone for your books. One thing I wish I’d done is choose a pen name for my cozy mysteries to separate them from my romances since cozy mystery readers don’t usually like to read spicy stuff and my other mystery series has some spice. Staying consistent makes it easy for readers to recognize your work and your unique name.
3. Engage with your readers under your pen name: Connect with readers by joining online groups, answering their questions, and sharing interesting tidbits about yourself (within your comfort level). Be consistent with your tone and attitude. Pippa Grant has a picture of herself with unicorn horn and the opening of her bio is, “Pippa Grant wanted to write books, so she did.” Her emails are quirky and fun. Rina Kent uses a logo on her author page and her bio, while interesting, doesn’t have the quirky tone that Pippa’s does.

Side Note: One concern many authors have is about deception and having readers get mad learning the name they’ve come to know you by isn’t really your name. Most readers understand authors use pen names. Plus, you can be you just under a different name. Your interests and personality don’t have to change. It shouldn’t. You should be authentic. At the same time, you don’t have to reveal all of you all the time.

Do you have other tips or ideas for using a pen name? Let me know in the comments below!