It's Lit!

What's in a (Pen) Name?

To some people, the idea of a pen name seems kind of weird. If I, a writer, am going to put countless hours of hard work and thought into my masterpiece, why wouldn’t I want to put my own name underneath the title? But some of literature's biggest names, from Mark Twain to Dr. Seuss, aren't their real names. Here's why.

What's in a (Pen) Name?

14m 34s

To some people, the idea of a pen name seems kind of weird. If I, a writer, am going to put countless hours of hard work and thought into my masterpiece, why wouldn’t I want to put my own name underneath the title? But some of literature's biggest names, from Mark Twain to Dr. Seuss, aren't their real names. Here's why.

PBS PASSPORT

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA+ and PBS Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.