Town names

ToddWBush · Mar 12, 2008

Not sure if this is the place for this question, but I'll post it and if it needs to be moved, that's cool.

I was told to change the name of the main town in my WIP because, being a novel involving terrorism, I might be setting myself up for legal action by the actual town if I used it's actual name. So, I changed the three main towns in the novel.

Now I have mentioned in passing other towns in the South Florida area in the novel. They do not have any action occuring in them; just are mentioned in passing by a character or two.

Question: Should I change all the town names to fictional names? Or can I leave the real names in the novel if I am using them just in passing?

Can someone who is published or who has knowledge of the legalese involved with fiction help me out?

IceCreamEmpress · Mar 12, 2008

You can use the names of public figures and public places with total impunity as long as nothing potentially defamatory is said about them.

If you say "I drove through Miami, drinking a Pepsi and listening to a Madonna song, still thinking about the horrible corruption that I'd exposed in Citrus City" you haven't defamed Miami, Pepsi, or Madonna in any way.

ToddWBush · Mar 12, 2008

Ice, you are seriously smart. Everytime I have a question, I'm coming to see you.

IceCreamEmpress · Mar 12, 2008

ToddWBush said:
Ice, you are seriously smart. Everytime I have a question, I'm coming to see you.

This is not my smart--this is the smart of highly-paid publishers' lawyers

I take no credit for anything other than remembering it.

I'm good at chocolate-chip cookies, though.

52greg · Mar 12, 2008

I've created a fictional town in Indiana for my two mystery novels just to give myself more descriptive leeway, but I still refer to and have scenes in real places.

blacbird · Mar 12, 2008

H.G. Wells' Martians destroyed real London suburban towns in The War of the Worlds (Shepperton, Weybridge, among others, as I recall). I know, because I later lived in one of them. Excellent job of rebuilding, they'd done.

caw

MDSchafer · Mar 12, 2008

I can't see where you would possibly have an issue unless you are openly inciting terrorist to attack a specific city.

The best example I can think of is Dale Brown's Storming Heaven. He published the book in 1994 and its main plot is about terrorists using large commercial aircraft to bomb American airports. The man fairly effectively forshadowed 9-11 seven years before it happened, and absolutely nothing happened to him, and someone actually attacked Washington D.C. in an airplane in a simliar fashion to the climax of his novel.

Priene · Mar 13, 2008

blacbird said:
Excellent job of rebuilding, they'd done.

Except Woking. That could do with another extraterrestrial incursion.

Craig Gosse · Mar 13, 2008

Priene said:
Except Woking. That could do with another extraterrestrial incursion.

Hmmm.... That's the place Fozzie Bear was always talking about, right?

(Reps to the first person who gets it - and posts to prove it, of course.)

Tasmin21 · Mar 13, 2008

I thought Fozzie always said "Wokka wokka"...

lute · Mar 13, 2008

Craig Gosse said:
Hmmm.... That's the place Fozzie Bear was always talking about, right?

(Reps to the first person who gets it - and posts to prove it, of course.)

Ahaha that's amazing <3

Anyway, I have noticed that many writers will use fictional names within an established or recognizable area. It's much, much easier for you, if you think about it. No unnecessary research to make sure your character is walking on the correct streets, etc. It is also better legally, as IceCream mentioned. Personally, I love to include defamatory items in my stories, so fictional places are the way to go for me.

RJK · Mar 14, 2008

Real town fictional characters

My WIP has yet to be seen by agent or publisher, is set in Niagara Falls. I couldn't think of any other way to have my action take place on the US/Canadian border with a magnificent falls that has a large part in the story.
The characters are, of course fictional, most of the locations are fictional, or if based on a real structure, moved. If I did refer to a real restaurant, it only served as a free plug for them because nothing takes place there.

I will use the standard disclaimer and hope for the best.

Mythica · Mar 14, 2008

I think you will be fine. As long as the book is fiction, you can do a lot. Just like on SNL when the actors do parodies of celebrities. My books are set in Detroit, and I have events occurring in real areas of the city, on real streets.

I don't think you should worry

ToddWBush · Mar 14, 2008

Thanks to everyone who answered my question... you guys are the best help any beginning writer could ask for.

Town names

ToddWBush

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

ToddWBush

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

52greg

blacbird

MDSchafer

Priene

Out to lunch

Craig Gosse

Bored fanatic

Tasmin21

They will come from below...

lute

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Mythica

Expert Gerbil Wrangler

ToddWBush