I know there are a few writers kicking around here, so I'd really like an opinion on a discussion I had!
Pen names are pseudonyms adopted by authors to hide their identity, distancing or protecting themselves from their work. I believe that pen names are important, especially with controversial material, for safety/privacy reasons as well as encouraging an unbiased analysis of the text itself. Example: perhaps a white woman writes a book about the struggles of black women. She might be spot on or miss the mark entirely, but either way she is likely to be heavily criticized.
My friend, however, believes it's important to share your identity just as much as it is to write the book. The idea being that the author can participate in discussion surrounding the material, and their audience can have a better understanding of the text's roots.
What are your thoughts on this? Would you adopt a pseudonym?
I will publish under my own name when my book is done. Really its done already, and most of it is published here, but there is a lot of work to writing besides writing.
I want the conflict that it will bring. The whole point of writing about all these terrible things is to bring them up. If I get to be the one who argues against them in public then I would be proud to do it. If all I'm good at is fighting, then at least I should be able to fight.