please help!

[debschnell]

I have wrote a book about TRUE nursing home stories.
I need to know do I use my real name? or make up a nother name?
please help me, I am not sure what to do!!!
I do not know if I could get into any trouble with the stories that I have told.
Thank you!

[CACTUSWENDY]

Welcome to AW. Hope you enjoy your stay with us.

How do you like your popcorn?

You might want to look through the forum headings and place your question in a place that gets the traffic through it for your kind of question. This is just a welcome area. Look for one that deals with markets. Maybe the Networking/sharing leads threads could help you.

[Chrisla]

The non-fiction forum might be a good place to address this question. Welcome to AW.

[Boo Radley]

Hmm, interesting, my grandmother was a nurse for MANY MANY years and a couple of years ago had a book published telling all of her stories. Nothing particularly bad about a specific place. Can you just leave out the name of the specific place you worked and tell of just events?

[debschnell]

I have not name no nursing homes!

[Phot's Moll]

Hi:hi:

I reckon that if telling the stories will get you into trouble, it's the stories and not your name you need to consider changing!

[aka eraser]

Oh boy.

Deb, you're worrying too much about something that matters too little at this stage.

Focus on making the writing as good as it can be. Judging from your post, I have a hunch that might take some time. If, down the road, an agent or publisher becomes interested in your book, they will help you decide whether or not your real name should be attached to it. Until then, focus on polishing the work.

Good luck.

[debschnell]

Thank you, that does help me...

[Deccydiva]

:welcome:

[willfulone]

Welcome to AW!

I am not sure it matters what name you use. When you state "True" stories you are implying you are writing a non-fiction book. I could be wrong, but that is what I get from that statement. In order to write up your stories in format of the truth for non-fiction, you will need permission of the nursing homes you write about. Residents and employees will need to give you permission before you can publish anything about them also, or else you may have a peck of trouble on your hands concerning libel. If you have the permissions, I do not see why you are worried about a pen name at all? Why would you need a pen name to write such a non-fiction book?

ETA: Took this part out, it was ported and merged, this statement no longer applies.

Please clarify why you need/want a pen name and if you are writing a non-fiction book or a fiction book based on real events/people - that may help the responses be more effective to what you seek.

Good luck either way!

Christine

[kct webber]

:hi:

[dpaterso]

Duplicate threads merged, sorry for any confusion. :)

-Derek

[Donkey]

If this is a story that you feel compelled to tell, I recommend finding someone to cowrite the book. You need some help with your grammar, spelling, and general communication skills. This is not a dig. It's well meant advice.

[Marina Snow]

I am no expert but I have done a little research on this. It is my understanding that If you use real names and the person is not a public figure, or they have not had their information made public in some other way, then you had better be careful about using real names, unless the information can be proven to be true and is not defamating. Also, as I understand it, you have to change any identifying information that could point to them, even if their name has been changed.

If you are being published through a publishing house, then their attorneys should take care of this. If you self-publish then you might want to change everything you can or hire an attorney to look over your manuscript.