>Identity change

>A student signed his first article with a name I had never heard of. Have I been calling you the wrong name all this time, I asked? Nope, he decided he needed a pen name. Considering what he does for his day job, I can understand that. So far, I haven’t used a pseudonym. I have always felt that if my mother couldn’t read whatever I published and be proud, I shouldn’t publish it at all. But there’s nothing wrong with a pen name, especially if your name is a tongue-twister or you’re venturing into a writing style or subject where you’d rather not have everybody know who you are. Just make clear to the editor which is your pen name and which is your real name. Also alert your bank that you might be getting checks addressed to your alias. Remember, Mark Twain did a lot of newspaper writing, and that was not his real name.