G’day, readers!
I’m Jack and I’ll be presenting the Daily Controversy today! The controversial question for today is this:
“Do you think writers should use pen names?”
While this is more of an opinionated matter than a debate, I still think this is worth discussing because I personally adore pen names but I know some people who aren’t big fans. If you check out my Substack bio or if you read any of the poems or short stories I’ve posted on social media, you’ll notice that I go by the pen name Jakson. I’ve also used my real name before, but I enjoy using a pen name more. Why? For starters, they’re great for protecting your identity if you’re a young author. But pen names are also better for those with super hard-to-pronounce last names (like me! See if you can guess how to pronounce it in the comments . . . just kidding, unless you want to!).
I find pen names especially useful for these reasons, but why do some people dislike pen names? Honestly, I have no idea. It’s always important to consider that everyone harbors their own preferences and opinions though. If you don’t like pen names, make sure to leave a comment explaining why! If you agree with me, I’d love to hear your pen name and if you have any other reasons besides those I shared.
One more thing, how do you guys feel about mononyms, one-word pen names like mine? Do you suppose last names are required, even if the entire name is made up anyway? I’m eager to hear what y’all have to say so make sure to leave a comment and debate with each other about this topic and pen names in general.
Remember to be kind and respectful! I hope you all have an amazing Friday and I’ll see you in the next post! Happy arguing! :)
I love pen names! It provides me with some privacy; and I have a hard-to-pronounce name so that's why I use my pen name. How do you pronounce it, Jack? kwee-SO or KWEE-sun?
I like pen names a lot! I think they're fascinating. Part of that though, stems from my innate and inborn love and fascination with names in general. I've loved them since I can remember, and this just gives me an excuse to come up with new ones! But I don't think they're at all necessary. I'd personally just choose to use one for fun.