I have been watching this topic on the boards and elsewhere for awhile now, and I am getting mixed messages as to whether you use real brand names in your writing (for realism) or not (to keep from association, negative or positive). I see different practices in published works, too.
Well, now I'm collecting opinions again.
My WIP includes a reference to a church's "brand-name" organ. The non-organ-inclined will blip over the detail and the organ-inclined only need to know that the organ is a pipe organ made by an independent organ builder as opposed to a mass-produced electric one from a major company. It's only important because of the realism it brings to a plot point.
So, my question: I'm not sure how far to go with said realism. Initially, I made up a name, then I thought that looked tacky, so I used a real organ builder. But now I'm concerned that looks like an endorsement or advertisement or is somehow wrong.
Is there a rule of thumb here? Or is this another "Kat, you're overthinking this" situation?
Well, now I'm collecting opinions again.
My WIP includes a reference to a church's "brand-name" organ. The non-organ-inclined will blip over the detail and the organ-inclined only need to know that the organ is a pipe organ made by an independent organ builder as opposed to a mass-produced electric one from a major company. It's only important because of the realism it brings to a plot point.
So, my question: I'm not sure how far to go with said realism. Initially, I made up a name, then I thought that looked tacky, so I used a real organ builder. But now I'm concerned that looks like an endorsement or advertisement or is somehow wrong.
Is there a rule of thumb here? Or is this another "Kat, you're overthinking this" situation?