Break Up Your First Name into Two Consider Stan Lee’s example. Other than the fact that Stan “the man” Lee was a comic writing legend, his name is arguably so memorable because it’s easy to read and say out loud. Stan Lee’s real name is Stanley Martin Lieber. Therefore, to make his name more accessible to people, he broke up the first name to create a simple first and second pen name. Each name has just one syllable and less than four letters. This allows his name to be memorable – once you hear the name, it is hard for it to slip out of your mind. Shorten Your Full Real Name If you want your pen name to be similar to your name, consider simplifying your real name. Jack Kirby is a good example of that. Kirby’s real name is Jacob Kurtzberg. Kirby dropped one syllable by changing Jacob to Jack. He also made his last name easier to read, pronounce and remember by changing it from Kurtzberg to Kirby. Abbreviate Your Real Name Writers like J.K. Rowling (original name is Joanne Rowling) have also simplified their names by abbreviating their first names. This simplifies the name to a certain degree, making it easy for readers to remember. Why Should You Consider Anonymity When Creating a Pen Name? One common use of pen names is to keep a writer’s identity safe. This is es pecially useful (and sometimes necessary) when you are writing something controversial. If you don’t want the book to be traced back to you, you should use a pen name that is vastly different from your real name. Anonymity Gives You More Freedom with Your Topic Selection Anonymity is also good for authors who write about things that are considered taboo or risqué in general society. For example, you may not want people from your workplace to know that you have written and published an erotic novel that touches on subjects and practices that are not common or considered normal. In such cases, an anonymous pen name is a good way to keep your coworkers’, friends’, or family’s noses out of your second job. You Can Write Something Controversial Anonymity can help you to voice your opinions on a politically sensitive subject. If you want to speak more about prevalent injustices present in society but are generally afraid of society’s reactions, a pen name is a good consideration. That 58