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Why I Currently Don’t Want To Write Under a Pen Name
It prevents me from censoring myself.
When I started writing on Medium, I wasn’t concerned about growth. I decided it would be fun to publish a post. My main goal was to avoid the hassle of setting up a blog. My name was put there because I couldn’t be bothered to come up with something catchier.
A pen name or pseudonym is a fictitious name under which authors publish their literary works. The publication Modern Parent gives one-off opportunities to do so. Some parents publish under their name, but the publication also offers parents who seek advice but wish to remain anonymous the option to submit their writing, which will then be published by the author(s) working under the author collective, also named “Modern Parent”.
Writing under a pen name has clear advantages. The trail of words you’re leaving behind can never be tracked back to you, a useful feat if you’re keen on your privacy. If you find yourself in an unsafe environment where free speech is not a given, protecting your identity might even be necessary to guarantee your own and your family’s safety.
One might argue that in such scenarios speaking out and standing up for yourself is even more important to break loose from the grip of the free-speech oppressors, but doing so can put a target…
