J.K Rowling. Dr. Seuss. Mark Twain. Nora Roberts.

These authors aren’t who you think they are.

Well, on paper at least. These authors, and many more, choose to write under a pseudonym, also called a pen name, meaning the names printed on their books are not the names they were born with.

Some people might think it’s strange to put a different name on their books, but there is a rich literary history of writers publishing under a name pseudonym. While motivations may have changed throughout history, there are many reasons an author today might choose to publish their work under a pen name even after they’ve become well-established in the industry under a different name.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons a writer might choose to write under a pen name so you can decide if it’s right for you.