Real People In Stories?

[seduced2cheat]

Hello all,

Quick question.

Had a fan who sent me some info about their life they wanted put into a story. I have no problem writing the story, just kind of wondering about legalities here. They gave me names and such and I have already written and told them I would change the names. Anything else I need to look out for?

I want to stay as close to the info they gave me to enhance their fantasy, but do not want to stray too close to reality for obvious reasons. Any hints or tips?

As always, thanks for the time.

S2C

 

[snooper]

Any hints or tips?

Watch for identifiable things about people, even with changed names. If a character has no left leg and no right arm and one eye blue but the other eye brown, it might be fairly easy to spot who is intended?

 

[Chicklet]

ideas:

Write one version with their real names in place, and email it to them. That way they have a copy that thrills them to death. Change the names to post on lit.

As for legalities, I don't believe any come into question. Lit's policy seems to be that anything goes. You can write about whatever you please and whoever you please. Plus you're anonymous, so no one's going to come after you. Your state of comfort and your concience are the only things to worry about. And if the person is asking you to write the story, they're probably not going to freak out if you do.

-Chicklet

 

[sirhugs]

if you write about real people, defamation ( libel) laws apply. These vary from country to country. Lit accepts celebrity stories based on a very broad early Supreme Court decision, and attaches a disclaimer.

If someone is upset about what you write, they may sue you. So if its a real person, best get their permission.

 

[pop_54]

Yep get permission

Get permission in writing if you intend to use a real name and you don't know the person as a good friend.

I've used real names at the request of the characters involved when writing semi-fiction, (that is fact based stuff), but they were, still are, very good and close friends and I could be sure they meant it.

pops...........

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I would second Chicklet's notion...I think that's the safest approach