Comments on: A Few More Questions http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/11/a-few-more-questions/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:27:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Parker Haynes http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/11/a-few-more-questions/#comment-3621 Parker Haynes Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:42:34 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/11/a-few-more-questions/#comment-3621 Randy, I have a question about a project that's been (as you put it) composting for several months. In narrative nonfiction, memoir, essay, etc. (Think Gretel Ehrlich's "The Solace of Open Spaces) how do you deal with stories about people, dead or alive? If, for example, you have a great tale about Joe Schmo that might embarrass or infuriate him (or family members, if he's dead). Change the name? Seek permission/approval? Write it factual and hope? I ask because in my thirty years of living in the hinterlands of northern New Mexico, where many of the characters had no last names, or often assumed first name like Catfish or Stargazer, I have built an internal database of dozens of tales about both the famous and the infamous--tales told and retold around a campfire, at a kitchen table, over coffee or a beer. Any thoughts to share? Randy,

I have a question about a project that’s been (as you put it) composting for several months. In narrative nonfiction, memoir, essay, etc. (Think Gretel Ehrlich’s “The Solace of Open Spaces) how do you deal with stories about people, dead or alive? If, for example, you have a great tale about Joe Schmo that might embarrass or infuriate him (or family members, if he’s dead). Change the name? Seek permission/approval? Write it factual and hope?

I ask because in my thirty years of living in the hinterlands of northern New Mexico, where many of the characters had no last names, or often assumed first name like Catfish or Stargazer, I have built an internal database of dozens of tales about both the famous and the infamous–tales told and retold around a campfire, at a kitchen table, over coffee or a beer.

Any thoughts to share?

]]> By: Sarah Stockton http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/11/a-few-more-questions/#comment-3622 Sarah Stockton Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:05:52 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/11/a-few-more-questions/#comment-3622 Twice I have had editors approach me about writing a book for them. Each time, after agreeing verbally what the content would be, I then wrote up proposals- not only to clarify our discussions, but so they had something to show their colleagues when it came time to pitch to the rest of the publishing team. Which, BTW, did the job each time. Proposals are unavoidable, so might as well get good at them! :) Twice I have had editors approach me about writing a book for them. Each time, after agreeing verbally what the content would be, I then wrote up proposals- not only to clarify our discussions, but so they had something to show their colleagues when it came time to pitch to the rest of the publishing team. Which, BTW, did the job each time. Proposals are unavoidable, so might as well get good at them! :)

]]> By: Daan Van der Merwe http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/11/a-few-more-questions/#comment-3631 Daan Van der Merwe Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:16:47 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/11/a-few-more-questions/#comment-3631 About 3 months ago I posted the same question as Parker. Randy correctly pointed out that one can not libel a person who has moved on to happier hunting grounds. In my opinion, if this person's widow and kids are offended by what is written about him, from a legal view, tough cheese. I wanted to base one of my characters on a real person who is still alive. She is the widow of a world famous author. I had planned to change her name only slightly so that there can be no mistake as to who my character is. I figured it would add at least 34000 kilojoules to my story. The ideal thing to do is to ask her permission, but I know for a fact that se won't grant it. I have therefore decided to change her name completely, move her place of residence to the other side of the country, and to make her late husband a controversial politician instead of an international bestselling author. When my book gets published sometime during 2010 or 2011 by some misguided publisher (I only turned sophomore on 14 December 2007)I will give the reader the old "all characters in this book are fictional and figments of the author's devious mind" line. About 3 months ago I posted the same question as Parker. Randy correctly pointed out that one can not libel a person who has moved on to happier hunting grounds. In my opinion, if this person’s widow and kids are offended by what is written about him, from a legal view, tough cheese.

I wanted to base one of my characters on a real person who is still alive. She is the widow of a world famous author. I had planned to change her name only slightly so that there can be no mistake as to who my character is. I figured it would add at least 34000 kilojoules to my story.

The ideal thing to do is to ask her permission, but I know for a fact that se won’t grant it. I have therefore decided to change her name completely, move her place of residence to the other side of the country, and to make her late husband a controversial politician instead of an international bestselling author.

When my book gets published sometime during 2010 or 2011 by some misguided publisher (I only turned sophomore on 14 December 2007)I will give the reader the old “all characters in this book are fictional and figments of the author’s devious mind” line.

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