1. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    Messages:
    6,088
    Likes Received:
    7,421

    Characters with real names.

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by deadrats, Dec 20, 2017.

    So, I'm sure at one point or another we've all based a character on someone we know. Well some might be flattered there are others we are glad don't read. So, what's the problem if any of racing your character off your old friend Bob? He looks like Bob. He does the same kind of work as Bob. He dresses like Bob and so on. He's real Bob in a fiction story. Can I call him Bob? Real Bob and I haven't had contact in years and I don't imagine we are likely to ever talk again. Plus, he's not going to read it. Even if someone told him about it, he still wouldn't read it. And he just wouldn't care about this sort of thing. On top of that I'm not even sure there's anything wrong with it. What do you think? Have you dealt with a similar situation in your own writing? Did you still call him Bob?
     
  2. Sundowner

    Sundowner Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2015
    Messages:
    104
    Likes Received:
    85
    Location:
    World Marshal Inc.
    Can't name any off the top of my head, but plenty of authors do this. I've never done it, but I always thought it was cute. I mean, as long as you portray them well and don't, like, murder them in your story.
    If you want to talk legalese, might want to put that old "any likeliness to any real-world people are purely coincidental" note in the front page.
     
  3. BayView

    BayView Huh. Interesting. Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    10,462
    Likes Received:
    11,689
    Just "Bob", no last name? As long as the name is as common as "Bob" is, then, sure, why not? (although, also... why?)

    But I wouldn't include a character with the full or unique name of anyone I know, and I certainly wouldn't match a full or unique name with the characterization of the real-world person. I don't see an upside to doing it, and there's a potentially significant downside.

    (Most novels still have that "any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental" disclaimer in the front... it'd be nice if the first pages of your book didn't contain an outright lie.)
     
  4. Trish

    Trish Damned if I do and damned if I don't Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2011
    Messages:
    3,421
    Likes Received:
    2,083
    Location:
    New York
    My characters often have traits of people I do know, but they aren't entirely anyone. And I would never give a character the same name as someone whose base traits or looks I've used. It would be weird for me, I can't imagine how weird it would be for them.
     
  5. making tracks

    making tracks Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2017
    Messages:
    228
    Likes Received:
    185
    I don't know legally what the implications would be if 'Bob' read it and took offense and could prove that you know him and all the similarities between him and your character. I think the others are right in that it probably depends on how common their name is and how much of a readership you will have.

    Personally I don't think this is something I would do for other reasons too, because having one character based that heavily on someone I know and using their real name would take me too much out of the writing and the story. It would feel too much like a constraint to keep trying to keep them true to life rather than having a character that can grow and change, so in terms of real life inspiration I use people I know as just that - inspiration rather than the be all and end all of the character. That is just personal preference though and I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with basing characters on people you know.
     
    Shenanigator likes this.
  6. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,141
    Likes Received:
    19,768
    Location:
    Rhode Island
    I rip off everything about everyone I know or see. Appearances, mannerisms, slang, philosophies, whacky behaviors, personal stories... especially the stories. Anything anybody tells me is fair game in my book. And people who know me well will often tell me something, see the look on my face, and say, "Shit, you're going to use that aren't you?" to which, I say, "Uh-huh... it's mine now."

    Having said all that, I would never use anything that would be potentially hurtful or damaging to someone I care about. And I never use similar names. I just don't see the point of it. Why open an unnecessary can of worms? The traits are what counts... the name itself adds nothing.
     
    GlitterRain7, Shenanigator and Trish like this.
  7. raine_d

    raine_d Active Member

    Joined:
    May 30, 2011
    Messages:
    160
    Likes Received:
    143
    I would change the name and at least a couple of physical details, just to play safe (you never actually know who's going to read it and get offended, even if it's just his mother). Especially if it's being published electronically, because how many people google their own names every so often? - most of us :)
     
    BayView and Shenanigator like this.
  8. Shenanigator

    Shenanigator Has the Vocabulary of a Well-Educated Sailor. Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2017
    Messages:
    4,886
    Likes Received:
    8,763
    Traits, yes, names never. And usually, I'll mix things up by combining traits and characteristics of more than one person.

    Or, like I did in my current WIP, split one real person into twins plus give them something extra.

    Am I tempted to make a couple of my exes into characters? Yep. Would I? Nope.

    I also alter real events.

    For myself, anything else would be lazy writing in a supposed piece of fiction. Otherwise, I'd get permission and do it as a nonfiction piece.

    ETA: Also, social media comes into play. if you use Bob's name and Bob's characteristics, and you've got Bob as a Facebook friend, all it takes is one crazy reader who stalks all your FB friends to make Bob lose his anonymity, and Bob's life becomes hell.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2017
    BayView likes this.
  9. Shenanigator

    Shenanigator Has the Vocabulary of a Well-Educated Sailor. Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2017
    Messages:
    4,886
    Likes Received:
    8,763
    Not everyone would consider it cute though. As a really private person, I would hate that and probably never speak to them again.
     
    BayView likes this.
  10. newjerseyrunner

    newjerseyrunner Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2022

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2016
    Messages:
    1,462
    Likes Received:
    1,432
    Use the Small Penis Rule to get around this.

    Whenever you have a bad character who is based on a real person in a very obvious way, and do not want to be hit with a libel case, the most common trick is to also associate some very negative quality to that individual in your story that the real person either doesn't, or won't admit to.

    South Park uses this trick extensively.
     
  11. Laurin Kelly

    Laurin Kelly Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2016
    Messages:
    2,521
    Likes Received:
    4,054
    Yeah, it's like an in-joke, but as your readers aren't in on the joke it really serves no purpose except maybe to tickle the writer. I've actually be guilty of doing this in the past (not the name thing but a wink/nod to something personal) and each time my editor has been confused by why it's there and questioned its relevance.
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice