pennames
Writers' assumed identities
Pennames is the plural of penname, a fictitious name adopted by an author in place of their real one.
Writers use pennames for privacy, to write across genres without confusing readers, or to obscure identity for political or personal reasons: She published romance novels under several pennames.
Also spelled as two words: pen names.
Writer of prose narratives
- essayistAuthor of short prose
- poetWriter of verse
- playwrightAuthor of stage dramas
- biographerOne who writes lives
memoirist · columnist · journalist · storyteller · chronicler · satirist · ghostwriter · screenwriter
Adopted false name
- monikerInformal designation for someone
- sobriquetDescriptive informal name
- incognitoWith identity concealed
- anonymityUnknown identity state
persona · handle · avatar · username · codename · mask · disguise · cover
Freedom from observation
- anonymityUnknown identity state
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
- protectionGuarding against harm
separation · discretion · revelation · unmasking · exposure · mystery · intrigue · deception
Official content restriction
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- politicsGovernmental power struggles
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
marketability · collaboration · reinvention · branding · privacy · safety · controversy · taboo
novelist
Writer of prose narratives
- essayistAuthor of short prose
- poetWriter of verse
- playwrightAuthor of stage dramas
biographer · memoirist · columnist · journalist · storyteller · chronicler · satirist · ghostwriter · screenwriter · lyricist
alias
Adopted false name
- monikerInformal designation for someone
- sobriquetDescriptive informal name
- incognitoWith identity concealed
anonymity · persona · handle · avatar · username · codename · mask · disguise · cover · veil
privacy
Freedom from observation
- anonymityUnknown identity state
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
protection · separation · discretion · revelation · unmasking · exposure · mystery · intrigue · deception · authenticity
Voltaire
French Enlightenment satirist
- MolièreTartuffe's comic creator
censorship
Official content restriction
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- politicsGovernmental power struggles
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
experimentation · marketability · collaboration · reinvention · branding · privacy · safety · controversy · taboo · subversion
pennameslegal names
Officially registered identities
true names · birth names · given names · proper names · Christian names
pennamesbylines
Author identification lines
birth certificates · self-identification · legal documents · official records · baptismal names