Writing about acquaintances?

[TheImaginator]

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[TexasWife25]

I have a question for everyone out there - how often to do you go to people that you've met as inspiration for figures in your stories? I'm finishing my first series and am at somewhat of a crossroads if/when I do write my next tale.

The first story of mine was meant to center around a woman, Laura, but I feel now there's potential for a series with the antagonist, Cassandra, as a serial seducer of young 20-something women. And the ideas I have lined up are all other people I've met, though I can't decide who would make for the hottest story next. I obviously don't use last names or any personal details, just first names and personalities and bodies more than anything. But what are your thoughts on doing that?

Your planning on using their 1st names and physical characteristics?

I'm sure lots of writers do it, although it is a risk, a minor one but still...
If someone you know irl stumbles here, or stumbles on your stories..
if your stories get pirated(which is common) ..

I would say, is there a reason you cant at least change the 1st names?

 

[sr71plt]

I write composites of people I've known, but not a close description--and certainly not with the same name. You'd be surprised how often and painfully that can come back to bite you in the butt.

 

[TheImaginator]

What do you mean by pirated, if I may asked?

I was planning on using first names and personal characteristics. The reason I use the names is because it adds a certain realness to me and makes it easier for me to flesh them out when writing about a screen. I could change their names - it seems strange, though, as if somehow the characters are a little more wooden.

I suppose it's part a mechanic to help me with illustrating them and part because of the erotica, for me, of imagining the actual people involved in a sex scene.

I like to think a lot of authors have a bit of an anonymous presence here, so I guess I might be naive on how that could come back to burn someone.

 

[sr71plt]

Would a black eye be real enough for you?

How would you feel to be found in a story without your permission--and perhaps one of a genre that gave you the creeps?

You could write the story with the real names and then change them all before posting it anywhere. This is dangerously thin ice ethically. And you must have suspected that, because you asked.

 

[TexasWife25]

What do you mean by pirated, if I may asked?

I was planning on using first names and personal characteristics. The reason I use the names is because it adds a certain realness to me and makes it easier for me to flesh them out when writing about a screen. I could change their names - it seems strange, though, as if somehow the characters are a little more wooden.

I suppose it's part a mechanic to help me with illustrating them and part because of the erotica, for me, of imagining the actual people involved in a sex scene.

I like to think a lot of authors have a bit of an anonymous presence here, so I guess I might be naive on how that could come back to burn someone.

Any time you post on lit, there is always the risk someone will see it, like it, and steal it.
Its fairly common to find people selling stories written by Lit authors on Amazon.

Im sure there are a bunch of thread floating around about them

So even if your 100% sure no one you know will ever stumble on lit, they could stumble on it somewhere else, if not amazon, other erotic story sites or something similar.

You could always write the story and then when your in the editing phase, just change the names.

Like I said, you can do it, but you also want to describe real life people, using their names, images and personalities... which is always a risk..

 

[TheImaginator]

I suppose you are correct. The "what if" probably a high enough risk to make it an extremely risky idea. Perhaps it was naive of me to think there's no way someone could draw that sort of line based on the way I drew my characters up? I look at it as inspiration more than direct reference, but you would know better than I and it could definitely be ethically thin ice.

From the selfish standpoint, changing the names doesn't effect how I read or see the story through my lens, and it won't adversely affect the reader's enjoyment.

There is one potential "victim" of Cassandra's attention that I can think of that certainly was going to merit a name-change, at least, if she becomes the star of a series. Cassandra herself is only vaguely based on someone real. Laura has some more basis, however.

 

[MadeYaLook]

I've built in a few characters into my stories which I know in real life, some of them are even good friends. While writing the story, I use their real first name - that way I always have the "real person" in mind when I read through it again and again and again and fiddle with sentences and parts.

Before it goes to an editor (or even online), I use search & replace and change the name. Then I change one or two major physical details about them, e.g. hairstyle or eye-colour, weight, height, clothing, something "exchangeable" that won't affect the plot. Other characters of mine are a "blending" of people I know, mixed with some fiction to make their character fit my needs.

Very often, the main male character of the story is based on myself, or the person I sometimes fantasise I was. I find it especially difficult to write a story in the first-person perspective, where the first-person is a character I as an author have nothing in common with. E.g. I've noticed on Lit, but also in "professional" fiction, that the I-person and the author usually have the same gender ('course I haven't done a representative study, but to me the pattern is obvious). I'd find it very difficult to have a heroine and write in first-person narrative, simply because I cannot tell whether the thoughts I let my character share are authentic. I simply don't know what's going on in women's brains. If I knew, well ... My life would be a lot simpler

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I'm retired but spent a long life doing all kinds of work and activities, and from all of it I knew plenty of interesting people who did many unusual deeds. I use them in my stories.

I shamelessly steal, loot, and plunder from obscure and extinct academic journals of the 1800s. Great material.

 

[TxRad]

I've used real people, composite people, and people from pictures.

Writing with real people i usually use either real names or nicknames and then change them all when the story is finished.

The exception was a story i did for a friend who didn't believe i wrote erotica or is that porn. Her real first name and a pretty fair description of her was used. Only the real first name did not come out until the last few paragraphs. To this day she still won't sit on the old chaise lounge in my living room.

My first three mainstream books were unofficial semi autobiographies of a fairly famous person with his blessing and help. His name was changed slightly but anyone familiar with auto racing would pick him out instantly. It was a fun write in many ways and will culminate with his full autobiography when he finally retires.

So using names is totally up to you and also up to how much you think you can get away with. That said, I'd advise to err on the side of discretion. No one has so many friends that they can afford to alienate even one.

 

[TheImaginator]

I don't know how much is too much, I guess. For example I don't know the in-depth sexuality of my characters. And the details about where they live are definitely off.

I also tried to use people from different "worlds" as it were. They don't really know each other, which I don't know if that helps or not. The sex scene is in a totally fictional apartment.

Part of why I ask is because I am "casting" people for my next story and I suppose I thought about how I could ask for my readers; opinion, if Cassandra is the protagonist, without giving anything away.

I appreciate your guys' replies and sharing your thoughts and I'll definitely keep them in mind for future tales!

 

[SamScribble]

I think every writer uses real people - at least in part - as models for their characters. But like a few other people here, I would suggesting changing the names completely. I've had several stories nicked and run elsewhere - with or without the same title.

 

[Darkniciad]

I'm with everyone else. If you need the "realness" to write, then keep the names in your initial drafts, then use a find/replace to change the names to something else in the final draft that you post.

Make sure your find/replace operation is careful. Don't just "replace all" keep clicking next, check to make sure you're changing the right thing, and then afterward, read slowly with a specific eye for the names to make sure you got everything.

 

[TxRad]

I'm with everyone else. If you need the "realness" to write, then keep the names in your initial drafts, then use a find/replace to change the names to something else in the final draft that you post.

Make sure your find/replace operation is careful. Don't just "replace all" keep clicking next, check to make sure you're changing the right thing, and then afterward, read slowly with a specific eye for the names to make sure you got everything.

I wonder if this is how some stories end up with character name changes in part of the story. It has almost happened to me once or twice.

 

[sr71plt]

I wonder if this is how some stories end up with character name changes in part of the story. It has almost happened to me once or twice.

When I've done that, I just haven't kept track of the names I'm using.

 

[estragon]

A good continuity editor is hard to find, but if you find one, hang on. Obsessive-compulsive has a hyphen for a good reason.

 

[Darkniciad]

I often change my mind about a character's name after the initial few paragraphs when I'm rough-sketching something I plan to work on later.

Then, if I put the story down for too long between sessions, the old name may creep back in there. I usually catch it after a few goofs, but some have made it all the way to the final draft.

The worst one was Jonathon/Nicholas. I was writing too very similar characters in two completely different storylines at the same time. There are *still* instances in Danica where I need to correct "Jonathon" from Laresa's World being there instead of Nicholas.

A lot of name goofs in stories are probably mistaken find/replace or failed check upon changing the name mid-write.

 

[TheImaginator]

I try to edit my own stories which adds to the confusion with details like clothes and what-not from one scene to the next. It certainly takes a keen eye to make sure things don't change.