Bisky's Twitterling's Scribbles! discussion

It's recently come to my attention that someone who once entered my life is writing a book. It's a non-fiction and I know by their actions that they're hoping to use me somehow to promote it. As I'm probably going to be in it. They took a bit of advantage of me when I was both broken-hearted and very unwell. And I was, at first, worried about what might be being said about me. Or what I'd said about other people.

But, I've been around a bit in the self-publishing world, and I'm really not all that bothered as I know they aren't going to get anywhere with it, lol. (And they're acting like an idiot online and isolating themselves. I tend to attract narcissists irl so they probably don't realise how horrendously inhuman they're being.)

And I wondered, as there really isn't all that much you can do to stop people from doing this, would it bother you if someone else wrote about you?

I am writing about my parents and my partner in my books. They just kind of leak in as influences. Even my pets. But to be actually named, quoted (or vividly described) in a self-published book, would you want to do anything about it? Even if it wasn't getting sold?

Or, would you ever write about someone? Someone who did something horrible? How far would you go to name them? I know someone who always has their (overtly vile) high-school bully named as a villain who has to die.

Thoughts?

In my novel (fiction) I did my best to NOT write about someone. The problem is, that whatever you write could be considered libel and you could be up for legal charges. Frankly, I would avoid writing about anyone who is a real person, even their pets.

In general I try to avoid it. I have characters that are based off of people I know personality-wise, but that is where the similarities usually end.

I keep thinking of writing a non-fiction book on politics, but I am trying to avoid doing it. I have a ton of ideas, but people have strong opinions when it comes to politics. Any perceived slight could bring the pitchforks and torches.

I don't think you are allowed to write about someone without their explicit permission. That is why we all have disclaimers in our books stating that any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

If you are writing about a public figure, such as a senator, congressman/woman, president, well-know media figure, etc. you can write what you like as long as it's factual. Otherwise you could be libel for slander.

I myself am concerned someone would write about me.

Concerned that it would be very boring.

Would I ever write explicitly about someone? No. Well, maybe. If I was so famous that I was asked to write an autobiography. And I don't think I would name them unless I had permission. Especially if it was someone I thought was a twat. Of course that is an ever growing list, but you don't want to give those people power, so probably only best to mention the Twats, with a capital T, that have impacted you in some way.

In fiction? Well as long as it's fiction and only I know it's them, fair game I say. You made my coffee shit, barista? DIE A COFFEE LADEN DEATH!!!

I had a horrible experience with an ex and had this dream which I wrote into a short story but left it on my hard drive. It was pretty vivid so it's too close to home. I may adapt it to make it more fictionalised, because it workds well as a horror story, but it will always have that connection to me so I have been hesitant.

I agree with what Brian said. Some of the personalities I use or mimic are from people who I have met in the past or present. Some of them know that is them as well, which is funny. I had a friend come up to me and ask, that is me isn't it? lol... Nope, see, their name, it isn't yours. What's funny is some personalities that are real I could never make up. That's why I like fiction, are they real or not?
I could see that if I wrote non-fiction that would be pretty trying. To get everything accurate and get all the individuals permission and okay on everything. Sounds like a headache.