Ask Permission or or just do it?

There's nothing wrong with basing a character off of someone you know and there's no need to ask permission for that. As for the story...I'm not sure. I would think it's fine so long as you don't put part of the article or whatever in your ms. I could be wrong though.

If it's a sensitive topic (which, from what you've said on RMAYW, it is) I would ask if he minds too much.

Or you could base your character off of him and alter the story slightly.

If you're using him as inspiration for a character, I don't think it's particularly necessary to ask. Especially since it's probably just part of his personality that you see in class anyway, so really you could have been inspired from anywhere.

Also, about the story from class, since it's not about him or his story and actually happened...there's no need to ask permission for that, either. I mean, it's a new topic, so it's open to anyone in the world to use.

At the most I'd say you could put him in an acknowledgements type thing at the beginning of the story for inspiring the character and telling you the story in the first place.

But, yeah, I don't think asking is necessary, and esp. not about the new story because it was never actually his in the first place....

It isn't a problem, as long as you don't base any characters around ME.

only if its personal would i see need for permission

Do it.

You can ask if you want. He might be flattered, as long as you're not portraying him in an overly negative way. If he is the basis for some criminal, then perhaps you might want to keep a low profile, but otherwise there's no harm in asking. You can tell him you'll put his name in the acknowledgements, and perhaps even once your book is published, the fact that he is in there as a character could be a motive in itself for him to want to buy or promote your book to others he knows.

I wouldn't worry about it. We all base characters on people we see around us sometimes. The chances are he'll never recognize himself anyway. Lord knows when my students describe me, I have no idea who that woman is they're talking about.

mollyluna said:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of this author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Click to expand...

I thought all novels had this disclaimer. Movies have the same one at the end of the end credits.


I based one of the characters in Ghost Machine on my sister-in-law. Of course, much of it is exaggerated and many details are changed, but if she were to read the book when it comes out she would probably recognize herself. Of course, she's in jail right now (for vehicular manslaughter) and will probably be in jail for ten years from the looks of things, so I doubt she will ever find out.

allen