Why write fiction under a pen name?

Ethan Cross
October 31, 2025

There may be personal, business or professional reasons to use a pseudonym

Why authors choose pen names

Editor’s note: The following is a conversation between author Ethan Cross and publisher-editor-author Lou Aronica, who has appeared on Authors A.I.’s First Draft Friday.

There are many reasons authors choose to use a pen name or pseudonym. For some, it’s practical—you may have a name that’s difficult to spell, pronounce, or remember. Others adopt a pseudonym to avoid conflicts with their day job. For example, one author writes dark, violent horror novels by night while working as an assistant principal by day.

Some writers also change names to reinvent themselves, especially if they’ve experienced poor sales under a previous name. A fresh identity can offer a clean slate in the marketplace.

Writing across multiple genres

Another compelling reason to use a pen name is the desire to explore multiple genres. Many authors have creative ideas that don’t fit neatly into one category, and using different names allows them to pursue those ideas without confusing readers.

The importance of author branding

The publishing industry encourages authors to establish a clear brand—much like any other product. Readers should be able to pick up a book by a specific author and know what to expect.

It’s similar to the difference between Pepsi and Mountain Dew. If you open a Pepsi and it tastes like Mountain Dew, you might be surprised—or even disappointed. Even if you like both, you expected one and got the other.

Setting reader expectations

The same principle applies to authors.

“I want readers to pick up an Ethan Cross novel and be able to count on a breathless, fast-paced suspense thriller.”
– Ethan Cross

Maintaining consistency helps build trust with readers. When they know what they’re getting, they’re more likely to come back for more.

At the same time, many authors—Ethan Cross included—have ideas spanning multiple genres, from action-adventure and science fiction to literary fiction, horror, and fantasy. By using different pen names, those ideas can be organized into distinct “boxes,” each aligned with reader expectations. This way, readers won’t pick up an Ethan Cross book expecting Pepsi and get Mountain Dew instead.

One author, multiple genres: pros and cons

Some authors successfully write across multiple genres under a single name. Others differentiate their work through cover design, titles, and marketing while keeping one identity. Both approaches come with trade-offs.

Use one name, and readers may be disappointed when a book doesn’t match their expectations. Use multiple names, and readers may never discover your work in other genres they’d enjoy.

There are no fixed rules. Ultimately, each author must decide what works best for their goals, audience, and creative vision.

Ethan Cross on building a pen name brand

To provide some context: I write thrillers under the name Ethan Cross. I chose a pen name because I plan to write in multiple genres, using each name as a distinct brand.

Currently, Ethan Cross is the only name I’m published under. When I attend conferences and events, I introduce myself as Ethan Cross. It feels as natural as my birth name. I maintain an Ethan Cross website, Facebook page, Twitter account, and more.

The challenges of managing multiple identities

However, I’m about to face a new challenge. I’m starting a series with a co-author who writes in a completely different genre. We plan to publish under a single shared name—two writers, one identity. This means creating an entirely new platform: website, social media accounts, and branding.

Managing one author identity is already demanding. Balancing social media, marketing, and writing is a challenge on its own. Adding more identities can quickly become overwhelming.

And what happens when I decide to write that space opera or epic fantasy I’ve been thinking about? You can see how things can spiral into something unmanageable.

Finding the right balance as an author

So how do you strike the right balance between meeting reader expectations, pursuing creative freedom, and managing the business side of writing?

To explore this further, I’ll turn it over to Lou Aronica, who brings valuable insight from both the publishing and author perspectives.

A publisher’s perspective on pen names

From a publisher’s standpoint, pseudonyms offer several advantages. As mentioned earlier, they can help erase a poor sales history and give talented writers a second chance to reach their audience. A pen name can also be more marketable—sometimes it simply sounds better.

For example, “Amelia Storm” has a stronger commercial appeal than “Emily Schmabowski.”

Some authors also find it easier to promote themselves under an alter ego. They may feel more comfortable engaging with readers when there’s some distance between their personal identity and their author persona. Since author visibility is critical to a book’s success, anything that makes marketing easier has real value.

Juggling multiple pen names: pros and pitfalls

There are also marketing considerations related to gender. Readers often have expectations about who writes certain genres. Romance readers may hesitate to buy books written by men, while fans of hard-boiled detective fiction may gravitate toward male authors.

These expectations aren’t rooted in literary quality, but they can influence sales. In some cases, adopting a gender-neutral or opposite-gender pen name can improve marketability.

However, there are clear downsides—especially when managing multiple identities. Each pen name requires its own platform, voice, and audience engagement strategy. Maintaining several personas can quickly become a significant workload.

Lou Aronica’s personal experience with pen names

All of my fiction now appears under my real name, but that wasn’t always the case.

I published my first two novels as Ronald Anthony, then later wrote under the pen name Michael Baron. I initially chose a pseudonym to avoid industry preconceptions. As I gained traction, I began publishing under my real name. My book The Element, co-authored with Sir Ken Robinson, became a New York Times bestseller.

At that point, I decided to use my real name for all nonfiction.

Meanwhile, I had written a deeply personal novel, Blue. Although it would have made sense to publish it under Michael Baron, I chose to release it under my real name. This left me managing three identities—something that quickly became unsustainable.

Eventually, I retired Ronald Anthony and republished those works under my real name. I later phased out Michael Baron as well. While I had success under multiple names, I wasn’t benefiting from the combined recognition.

Now, all my work appears under one name, with clearly defined categories within my brand. Everything lives in one place—one website, one platform, one identity. For me, that was the most practical solution.

Choosing the right strategy for you

There’s no single correct approach to using pen names. Each option has advantages and challenges. The key is to carefully consider your goals, your audience, and your long-term strategy.

Weigh the pros and cons, think ahead, and choose the path that aligns best with your vision as an author.

Ethan Cross

Ethan Cross’s work is an unforgettable combination of high-intensity thrills, memorable characters and complex scenarios. The Bookworm called his first bestseller, The Shepherd, “a thrill ride that takes off from page one,” and that’s the experience you can expect from everything Ethan Cross writes.

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