We live in a time where the default is to use your real name for writing. This was not always the case, as I learned in Benjamin Franklin’s biography. 300 years ago the default was to use a pen name. For good reason, as speaking your mind could be dangerous.
This got me thinking. Why don’t we use pen names more often today?
There are clear benefits: You can create a completely different persona. You can speak your mind even more vocally. And it overall feels lighter as the personal downside is smaller, which could especially be helpful for introverts.
Here are some famous pen names I wasn’t aware of:
- Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
- George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair)
Have you always wanted to start a blog, write a book or create YouTube videos?
So here’s today’s idea: Why not start with a pen name?