To pen, or not to pen (name)

A lot of authors use pen names when writing, but other don’t.  How do you know if you should use a pen name or not?

1-Will you get creepy e-mails?  The romance writers in our group use pen names to avoid unsavory solicitations from strangers.

2-How good are your marketing skills?  It’s easier for people to remember one name than two.

3-Are your works similar?  Some authors will use pen names for their different genres of writing.  Your name will eventually build an audience who will expect a particular type of book from you.  (For example Georgette Heyer- clean regency romances, Janette Oke- Christian romance.)  You will potentially put some readers off if, for example, they expect a christian romance, and you’ve decided to try an erotica novel that time.   

4-Will your book sell better under a pen name?  One of our members attended a conference where an author was asked to create a pen name that would be similar to a writer whose style she resembled.  Their reasoning was that someone browsing in a bookstore will look a little to the left and right of that more famous author’s book and decide to try hers as well.  Also, romance writers don’t usually pen their names as Bertha.  And Sci-fi writer’s names aren’t usually named Sky or Daisy. 

5-Are you worried about potential stalkers/kidnappers when you make a gazillion dollars?  It’s easier to track you down if you use your real name.  You want people to have easy access when trying to contact you, but they don't all need to know your exact address.

7-Are you really proud of your work and want people to know it was by YOU?

8-Are you good at keeping your identities separate?  When asked a question, can you know when to respond with your real name as you, or with your pen name’s alter ego?