Pen Names
Pen names are something I find quite interesting. Some people use them because their birth name(s) aren’t exactly smooth on the tongue. They feel a more “mainstream” name would suit their purposes better. Others want some anonymity and thus use a pen name to achieve it. Historically speaking, women weren’t allowed to be published, so they adopted male names in order to do so.
I don’t feel there is anything wrong with using a pen name unless it is purposely ridiculous or somehow offensive to other people. Sometimes people don’t feel they fit their birth name while others enjoy taking on the persona of another person for their writing. There’s nothing wrong with that.
However, you should be very careful when using a pen name if you decide to do so.
eSSORTMENT lists a few pros and cons about using a pen name including the con that if you’re a beginning writer, poorly choosing a pen name can lower what little leverage you have with publishers.
I have played with the idea of a pen name in the past, but have never felt I truly needed one. Now, my fiancé and I have decided we will both be changing our last names when we get married (to a last name we have yet to choose), so I feel that will give me all the anonymity I need.
Seeing as it will be my married name, I won’t have to fear one of the other cons listed in the article linked above - a pen name becoming an inescapable label if an author wants to go back to his/her real name.
Do you have a pen name? Why or why not?
Also, Wikipedia has interesting article on pen names if you’d like to check it out. 
January 27th, 2007 at 1:39 am
Most of my writing (that other people actually get to read) is written under the name Kage Chaos. I also use Kage as a character in a few stories of mine.
January 27th, 2007 at 3:11 am
January 28th, 2007 at 12:32 am
I’ll definitely keep using it for a character in my stories, but I’m not sure whether or not it will be my permanent pen name.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Well, you have time yet to decide.
For right now, get writing! 
January 28th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
When I was in 10th grade I told my best friend that was going to be a writer, and that I was going to use ‘Hildegard Katzner’ as my pen name.
That one just rolls off the tongue like peas on a butter knife, eh?
Heh.
I was, of course, teasing my friend. I suppose comedy isn’t my strong suit.
My husband prefers to write under a pen name. But as for me, I feel comfortable using my own name.
January 28th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
…best friend that I was…
I forgot the ‘I’.
January 28th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
Hehe. You just reminded me about my proofreading post.
Hildegard, hm? Well, it would certainly be a memorable one! I don’t know if I could keep a straight face trying to pull off that one.
By the way, nice site!