Hidden Identities: Exploring the Purpose Beyond Anonymity

Hey there! Let's talk about my writing journey and the pen names I've chosen to use. Yes, you heard it right, I'm not just one author - I'm three! You know me as Jennifer Mattern, but when it comes to my fiction work, I've got a couple of alter egos.

I don't use pen names for the sake of privacy. Nope, not me. I use them for a smart marketing move. And part of that strategy involves shouting it out to the world about my alter egos.

Right now, I'm working on a murder mystery novel series under the name Aria Klein. And I'm getting ready to publish my first horror novel under A.J. Klein (A.J. being a combination of my other pen name and my real first name). I'm cool with revealing that those names can be traced back to the same author. They're similar for a reason, and the genres complement each other. I may even write under yet another name when I start a children's book - the only type of creative writing I've formally studied.

You might question why I'd bother with the pen names and maintaining separate websites and social media profiles if I'm gonna let the cat out of the bag anyway? Well, let me tell you, it's all about marketing. Here are some reasons why using different names for various projects can work wonders, especially if you're not hiding your real identity:

Protecting your search engine rankings: I've spent years building up my search engine rankings for my name and site brands. I don't wanna some fresh, only mildly related site coming along and knocking them down a few notches.
Targeted social networking: Not everything I share with freelance writers applies to horror fans, for example. It might even piss them off. Meanwhile, most freelancers probably don't give a hoot about novels or my research for them or even me discussing horror films on any given day.
Crafting your own image: Let's say you write fantasy novels and attend a related convention. Would you prefer business cards tied to your pen name in the genre or one for your real name that you use for your freelance writing services? I'd opt for the former.
Cross-promotion opportunities: Depending on the projects you take on, there can be fantastic opportunities for cross-promotion. For instance, mysteries and horror can tie in nicely. Even something like this blog can tie into my fiction work because I can chat about the publishing arm of my business, sales and marketing, and so on - things other freelancers might be interested in if they want to publish books as well. I've also got an indie publishing blog (under my real name) that would be a logical platform for cross-promotion.

In a nutshell, I might mention my pen names and related projects more often going forward (except for freelance writing, of course). If you're interested in following the projects or connecting via Twitter, here are the new sites and profiles:

Aria Klein (mystery author site)
MurderScripts.com (the novel series site)
Aria Klein (Twitter)
A.J. Klein (horror author site)
A.J. Klein (Twitter)

Do you also write under multiple pen names? If you find any marketing benefits to using different names for different projects or genres, hit me up with the deets! Do you write under pen names but keep them private? If so, spill the beans on why you prefer to keep it on the DL and if you've ever considered the more public approach.

As a freelance writer, I find it strategically beneficial to use multiple pen names for different projects, allowing me to protect my search engine rankings and target specific social networking audiences.
I've chosen to work on a murder mystery novel series under the name Aria Klein, enabling me to craft a distinct image for my mystery writing career.
In the future, I may even write under a new name for a children's book project, given that it's the only type of creative writing I've formally studied.
Using separate websites and social media profiles for each pen name can create cross-promotion opportunities, such as showcasing the publishing arm of my business, sales and marketing, and networking with other freelancers who want to publish books.
I've assembled a freelancer team, each handling various aspects of my lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, relationships, pets, travel, cars, and shopping projects, allowing me to focus on my writing.
I've spent years cultivating my reputation as an author, and my pen names serve as marketing tools to reach a broader audience interested in different genres like horror and mystery.
Maintaining a low-key approach with pen names can help in certain situations, especially if you while keeping your real identity hidden. Share your experiences and insights if you've either decided to keep your pen names private or revealed them publicly.
Do you write under multiple pseudonyms for various genres? If so, I'd be eager to hear about the marketing advantages you've discovered by using different names for different projects or literary genres.