Writing in Anonymity: Should I Use a Pseudonym?

The question of using a pen name or a pseudonym lingers through generations. Culture and belief have changed through time, yet this simple idea of writing anonymously is still a hot topic at present. There is nothing wrong with it; it is legal and acceptable. However, many readers, especially in the criticism genre, want writers to be true and honest in terms of revealing themselves, to defend a certain idea they’ve written about.

Pseudonym, pen name, alias, or nom de plume - whatever you call it, writers and artists choose to be anonymous for a number of reasons. Some do so for marketing strategy, others for branding, some to separate a certain project from what they are currently doing, and majority for security. Whatever the reason is, it is every writer’s prerogative and there is nothing wrong about it.

Using pen names in blogging

The new form of media writing called blogging gives birth to innumerable new writers. The Internet, as we all know, has sped up the sharing and dissemination of information worldwide. This encouraged many writers to come out of hiding and publish original works online.

Some readers say that pen names are for writers who don’t have the guts to reveal their real identities. By hiding behind anonymity, they are free to lambaste an idea, an artist, or a product without sacrificing their reputation and security. However, for writers whose works involve general information, using a pen name is not an issue. Readers are more concerned with the content of the work than with the writer behind it. This is a less critical field of writing compared to writing about topics like film and music.

Still, a blogger has the freedom to write under a pseudonym.

And, for me, this is not actually an issue. I choose to focus on the article or blog post’s content, and not on the writer’s name.

Writing under an alias is an act practiced by many writers around the world, and the question of using it depends on a writer’s beliefs or chosen field. It is more of a personal conviction, and arguing about it will involve never-ending debates. What matters is the writer’s ideas or thoughts, and not his or her name.

It’s all about the content. Believe me.

Joseph writes about SEO, Blogging, and Web Development. He works for Endless Rise as a professional writer. Endless Rise provides SEO services to SEO Resellers You can become an SEO Reseller today.