If you write online from time to time, or if you are a freelance writer just like I am, you might have thought about writing under a pen name rather than using your real name. There can be many reasons you might want to use your pen name rather than your real name when you work on the Internet. If you happen to write on topics you would normally not write on, you might not want to have your real name associated with those articles. Also, your articles might be so stuffed with keywords for SEO purposes that you might not want other people to know that you are the author of those articles. I believe that staying anonymous is necessary if you choose to become an online writer. You might not want your family or friends to know everything you write about. it is all about your privacy after all.
