Pen Names
Create separate author identities for different genres or audiences. Each pen name keeps its own books, branding, and reader following organized.
What is a Pen Name?
A pen name is an author identity you write under. Many authors use multiple pen names to separate different genres or target audiences.
For example, you might write romance under one name and thrillers under another. This keeps readers expectations clear and lets you build distinct brands.
Tip
You do not need multiple pen names to use StorytellerOS. If you write under your real name only, just create one pen name and use it for all your books.
Creating a Pen Name
- Go to Project Studio → Pen Names
- Click + New Pen Name
- Enter the author name (how it appears on book covers)
- Fill in the optional details below
- Click Create
Pen Name Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | The author name that appears on books (required) |
| Photo | Author headshot or avatar |
| Bio | Short author biography for book pages |
| Website | Author website URL |
| Public contact email for this pen name | |
| Primary Genre | The main genre this pen name writes |
| Status | Active or Inactive |
Organizing by Pen Name
Once you create pen names, you can filter everything by author identity:
- Books — Each book belongs to one pen name
- Series — Series are linked to pen names
- Social posts — Schedule posts for specific author accounts
- Email lists — Segment subscribers by pen name
- Finance — Track income and expenses per pen name
Note
When you create a new book, you will choose which pen name it belongs to. This cannot be changed later, so pick carefully.
Social Media Accounts
Each pen name can have its own social media profiles connected:
- Facebook Page
- Instagram account
- TikTok profile
- Twitter/X account
- And more...
This lets you schedule posts to the right audience. When you create content in Social Studio, you select which pen name is posting.
Switching Between Pen Names
Use the pen name filter in the top navigation to switch contexts:
- Click your current pen name in the header
- Select a different pen name from the dropdown
- The dashboard updates to show only that pen name's data
Or select All Pen Names to see everything combined.
Best Practices
- Keep genres separate — Readers have expectations. A cozy mystery reader might not want steamy romance recommendations.
- Complete your profiles — Fill in bio and photo for each pen name. Readers connect with authors who feel real.
- Use consistent branding — Each pen name should have its own visual style, voice, and personality.
- Do not over-complicate — Only create separate pen names if you have a clear reason. Managing multiple brands takes extra work.
Privacy Note
Your real name is never shared. Only the pen name appears publicly. You control what information is visible to readers.
Editing a Pen Name
- Go to Project Studio → Pen Names
- Click on the pen name you want to edit
- Update the fields you want to change
- Click Save Changes
Deactivating a Pen Name
If you stop writing under a pen name, you can deactivate it instead of deleting:
- Edit the pen name
- Change the status to Inactive
- Save changes
Inactive pen names are hidden from dropdowns but all their data is preserved. You can reactivate them anytime.