Story deeply inspired by a real person

[redwards_119]

Hello all, I have a question as to whether or not something I'm writing will be against the content guidelines or otherwise frowned upon. The guidelines suggest that dealing with real people is touchy, and the story I'm working on is basically "girl goes and finds renowned BDSM pornographer who dropped off the face of the earth, finds more than/exactly what she was seeking."

The story includes many references to work that is either directly or largely resembles the work of an actual person/site. There are non-consensual elements and the person is shown to be fairly evil. More than one person/site is used, but a majority of it is a single person and if you're familiar with his work I think you'll be able to put together who it is.

I have a disclaimer at the top:

The inspiration for this piece is several notable pornographers, whose work is referenced in description or used as inspiration for similar ideas and images. The subject depicted is a fictional creation and claims no relationship to any living person or persons and his thoughts and actions should not be taken as any kind of commentary on or depiction of any actual person or persons.

Any thoughts from writers more experienced here than I are welcome. If this is the wrong place for this kind of question I humbly apologize.

 

[Carnevil9]

Even if you are using a single person (or small number of people) for inspiration, you should try to anonymize the story so that there is no implication who it is. Change the venue from NYC to Milan, for instance, or Los Angeles to Miami. Change the decade where it is set. Certainly do NOT mention that there are real individuals that inspired the story! (even though there are) Have a disclaimer that says NO real people are depicted or implied, and any similarity is coincidence. Just like they do in the movies.

“Any resemblance between the Three Stooges and regular human beings is a dirty shame.”

 

[pink_silk_glove]

There's an entire category called celeb/fanfiction which allows one to libel, slander, demean and even outright rip off anyone and anything with impugnity, so ... (shrug)

 

[redwards_119]

Even if you are using a single person (or small number of people) for inspiration, you should try to anonymize the story so that there is no implication who it is. Change the venue from NYC to Milan, for instance, or Los Angeles to Miami. Change the decade where it is set. Certainly do NOT mention that there are real individuals that inspired the story! (even though there are) Have a disclaimer that says NO real people are depicted or implied, and any similarity is coincidence. Just like they do in the movies.

"change things enough that this isn't a problem" is a clear solution and I appreciate you raising it, but the story started as a tribute to someone who really did build quite the body of work with some great imagery and I wondered if I can keep it that way.

 

[ElectricBlue]

"change things enough that this isn't a problem" is a clear solution and I appreciate you raising it, but the story started as a tribute to someone who really did build quite the body of work with some great imagery and I wondered if I can keep it that way.

Vague it up enough so the person can't be identified. Maybe set it in a different era, a different city. I wouldn't set it in another country unless you've lived there, because your veracity will fall over. Basically, point in the opposite direction and say, look over there. Point away from the person, not towards them.

 

[SimonDoom]

This Site openly allows fanfic/celebrity stories about real people, but those stories generally are about very famous real people or characters in fiction. Although you know who this person is, it's very likely that most of your readers will not. They'll have no clue. It will make no difference to them whether the person is real or not. The appeal and success of your story will have nothing to do with whether you identify this person as real or draw the person in such a way that someone intimately familiar with this person will recognize who it is.

So why not fictionalize and anonymize the character? I see no reason not to. It seems like the polite and appropriate thing to do, and it will in no way compromise the artistic integrity or likely popularity of your story. Change the details just enough that you wouldn't face the chance of a viable defamation suit. It's easy to do.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Although you know who this person is, it's very likely that most of your readers will not. They'll have no clue. It will make no difference to them whether the person is real or not.

Very true. I'm surprised by the number of authors who expect everyone to know who all their favourite porn stars are.

Besides, if you say a story is "true" readers don't believe you, and there are many readers who think characters are real when they're fictional.

The appeal and success of your story will have nothing to do with whether you identify this person as real or draw the person in such a way that someone intimately familiar with this person will recognize who it is.

Yep. The strength of the story will come down to the writing, nothing more.

 

[SimonDoom]

Very true. I'm surprised by the number of authors who expect everyone to know who all their favourite porn stars are.

Besides, if you say a story is "true" readers don't believe you, and there are many readers who think characters are real when they're fictional.

Yep. The strength of the story will come down to the writing, nothing more.

Yeah. It's different if you write an erotic story about Taylor Swift, or Gandalf. I'm sure there are gazillions of people who fantasize about Taylor Swift and want to read kinky stories about her, and I'm sure there are some weird Tolkien nuts who have fantasies about Gandalf tying them up or casting kinky spells on them ("Let me show you what I can do to you with my staff, young elf maiden"). But that's not what we're talking about here. The number of readers who might potentially care can be counted on one hand. There's no point.

 

[MyBareTorso]

Yeah. It's different if you write an erotic story about Taylor Swift, or Gandalf. I'm sure there are gazillions of people who fantasize about Taylor Swift and want to read kinky stories about her, and I'm sure there are some weird Tolkien nuts who have fantasies about Gandalf tying them up or casting kinky spells on them ("Let me show you what I can do to you with my staff, young elf maiden"). But that's not what we're talking about here. The number of readers who might potentially care can be counted on one hand. There's no point.

Hey, how did you know about my Gandalf fantasies???!!!!

 

[Sallyhansen6914]

Hello all, I have a question as to whether or not something I'm writing will be against the content guidelines or otherwise frowned upon. The guidelines suggest that dealing with real people is touchy, and the story I'm working on is basically "girl goes and finds renowned BDSM pornographer who dropped off the face of the earth, finds more than/exactly what she was seeking."

The story includes many references to work that is either directly or largely resembles the work of an actual person/site. There are non-consensual elements and the person is shown to be fairly evil. More than one person/site is used, but a majority of it is a single person and if you're familiar with his work I think you'll be able to put together who it is.

I have a disclaimer at the top:


Any thoughts from writers more experienced here than I are welcome. If this is the wrong place for this kind of question I humbly apologize.

Maybe writing this would help that one be more clear minded to the situation and how you fall into it? Or at least how you’d know their situation? Maybe be more clear minded. *IF* they are even on this website or happen to cross it. I hope this doesn’t come across bitchy but it’s not like it will become world wide. Maybe it will make the person feel like they are significant enough to even right about? Just my thoughts.

 

[Bamagan]

Yeah. It's different if you write an erotic story about Taylor Swift, or Gandalf. I'm sure there are gazillions of people who fantasize about Taylor Swift and want to read kinky stories about her, and I'm sure there are some weird Tolkien nuts who have fantasies about Gandalf tying them up or casting kinky spells on them ("Let me show you what I can do to you with my staff, young elf maiden"). But that's not what we're talking about here. The number of readers who might potentially care can be counted on one hand. There's no point.

I have no desire to legitimately write fanfic, but the idea of a Gandalf x Taylor Swift story is rather compelling in a train-wreck kind of way.

 

[SimonDoom]

I have no desire to legitimately write fanfic, but the idea of a Gandalf x Taylor Swift story is rather compelling in a train-wreck kind of way.

Gandalf standing facing Taylor Swift at the gate to Arrowhead Stadium: "You shall not pass!"

 

[Bamagan]

Gandalf standing facing Taylor Swift at the gate to Arrowhead Stadium: "You shall not pass!"

"At least, not until you learn how to service my secret fire..."

 

[ElectricBlue]

Hey, how did you know about my Gandalf fantasies???!!!!

They're his own. The Taylor Swift thing, I think that's new.

 

[AchtungNight]

You can heavily alter the characters of famous people in Celebrity Fanfics- tabloids do it all the time. They do it themselves also in their media appearances. Just don’t go too far.