When Does Fiction Go too Far?
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- Scribe4u
- Diane_Schuller
- ledjonathan
- kellibrooke
- kellibrooke
- ledjonathan
- bluemerle1960
- Hausser418
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» Scribe4u - Using corporations, etc
Interesting questions. I am currently reading a fiction novel wherein President Clinton and Warren Christopher are named and play key roles in the novel, as is Rabin. As I said, it is fiction, but did cause me to ponder whether this useage was cause for problems for the author.I am working on a manuscript about a person I know. I originally intended to do it as a biography but that will not play out. So, now am fictionalizing it. My question is, I suppose, if I use this person's real first name, but not the surname, am I, as the author, liable in any way?
In fact, this is the second of two of my manuscripts which are based on real people and events and I struggle with the names.
Is there a rule of thumb on that or ???
-- posted by Scribe4u
» Diane_Schuller - how far?
You raise some very interesting questions and they aren't easily answered, although we should definitely be considering them. I feel, as you have stated, that if we 'mention' a name of a show, person, or business that as long as we use it loosely (in passing, so to say) that we then can 'get away with it'.I see another danger. We are all very familiar with the extreme marketing techniques of movies and corporations who then market little trinkets, dolls, and the like (such as Disney through McDonald's)-- what if those same corporations begin to hire writers to produce pulp fiction *promoting* their product throughout?
More to think about....
Diane Schuller
Editor, Cenotaph Pocket Fiction
http://www.cenotaph.net/pe/index.html
-- posted by Diane_Schuller
» ledjonathan - re:
It's always a tough call. The gauge is age, it seems. Whereas it might seem inappropriate to mention a recent film such as A Knight's Tale, you might not feel uncomfortable with making reference to an old staple such as E.T.If I am going to use a real-life person as the basis for a character, the rule I abide by is making their fictional counterpart as whacked out as possible. For example, if I were to use the running woman mentioned in this article, in my fiction she would be running every day because she's trying to throw the Earth off its tilt. Or something like that, you get the point.
-- posted by ledjonathan
» kellibrooke - Re: Using corporations, etc
Well, I believe to begin to answer this, I have to ask you if the person you are writing about knows it or not. Have they okayed the use of their name? If not, I believe it would be best to change both names. The person would have a good case against your use of him/her if you used their first name because they could prove you are talking about them. I think it is safer to change the name. It is a shame we have to do it sometimes, but it happens that people freak out.-- posted by kellibrooke
» kellibrooke - thanx for posting, interesting questions
These are some interesting questions. I think the thing about pulp writers used to promote companies is a scary thought. That would really be lame. I hope it never happens, but I wouldn't doubt that it has already.To jonathan, what do you do about making the character seem real to life? If you are having them perform acts for completely crazy reasons, is it hard to make serious characters out of them? I am interested in what you do with these characters. 
-- posted by kellibrooke
» ledjonathan - Re: thanx for posting, interesting questions
Well, my characters are always a bit screwy, but the thing is they all take themselves seriously. It sort of just balances out. For example, I am currently writing a story where several characters are based on real life people. So, how did I change it up? I made them all professional wrestlers. Can't get much zanier than that! Yet, they all mirror their real life counterparts where it's most important. But that's just my tactic.-- posted by ledjonathan
» bluemerle1960 - Have wondered myself
I have wondered about many of these issues myself. I am currently working on a manuscript dealing with my personal experience with child sexual abuse and rape. Some of the abusers are still alive. Some of them have living children. I am publishing it under my own name and am using false names for the perps but anyone who knows the family structure would have no problem figuring out who the people are. The thing is, if my mother only has one full brother and I am discussing my maternal uncle as an abuser, there isn't much I can do to hide who he is. I realize this isn't the same as a fictional story but any suggestions?-- posted by bluemerle1960
» Hausser418 - Music
I'm working on a novel, in which I want to use some specific music during ice skating routines and dancing. How do I go about that? Would I have to recieve any permission to do so? I would grately appreciate any advice you could give me. Thanks.-- posted by Hausser418
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