There is a chess scene in Martins Amis' Money which I think is absolutely amazing. I wanted to do something similar in my own work. I wanted to recreate a game of monopoly. Would this be aloud? Am I aloud to mention brands in that way?
First. you mean "allowed", not "aloud". Yes, you can freely refer to product names in your writing. Your characters can swig Jack Daniels, smoke Chesterfields, and chow down on Big Macs to their heart's delight. On the other hand, if they get a case of the runs after stopping at the Golden Arches, better get yourself a lawyer. When the mention becomes defamation, you're in trouble. When in doubt, consult a literary attorney.
I've seen a lot of stories refering brands, so I guess it works. But to be on the safe side, don't use too many of them.
there's nothing unsafe about using 'too many' brand names... though it can be annoying to the reader and lessen your chances of agents and publishers taking you and your work seriously...
The Stand by Stephen King had an inordinate amount of brand names in it. To make it worse, almost none of the brands were recognizable to me, probably because they were products from the seventies, and were likely specific to the eastern side of the US. It was stuff like Mifco windshield wipers and Tompak marshmallow squares. I totally made those up, by the way. Now that I think about it... King probably did, too. Although I've heard that he's been paid to place products in his novels?
i wouldn't be surprised if he was... but don't let that make you think just anyone can make money that way, 'cause it only works if your books sell by the millions...
