novel idea

[Foolishandbroken]

Hi all
I've been writing a book/story/don'tknowreally about my experiences at Bible College (sounds boring I know) but I've sort of changed how things really happened and put a more exciting ending on it.

I'm wondering how far I should change the names/places in it in case the real College find it offensive and accuse me of libel. You see, in the story the Pastor has been allowing pagan ceremonies on his grounds, and God obviously isn't happy. Most of the story is actually true, apart from the ending and some of the details. I'm just not sure if I should go ahead as is, or change it so no-one could recognise the people involved.

Has anyone got any ideas?

 

[Westvleteren]

I would definitely change names. If you were writing an expose or other non-fiction, there would be no problem; and, technically, you are allowed to write about real places even in fiction. But it's taking a risk to do it and you could end up in a legal squabble at some point. Easier just to change it.

I wrote about my college, Wesleyan, in a short story--I referred to it as a small private women's college in Georgia, which narrows down the candidates considerably, but I called it something else just to keep it at arm's length if anyone has a problem with it.

Definitely change the names of people involved (unless it's a celebrity or political figure or someone else whose identity is in the public domain). Using real people in works of fiction is a nasty patch of quicksand.

Sounds like a good idea for a book--good luck!

 

[Foolishandbroken]

Thanks so much for your comments
They are appreciated.
When someone else gives me their input, it really encourages me to carry on.

I think I started off doing this book as a sort of therapy for myself - but now its grown and I started having dreams about where the story was to go next. I trust that it was the lord!!

I have been wrong before though.
Its good for me to have a project to keep me occupied too.

Wesleyan, was that Methodist-oriented college?

Blessings, and thanx 4 best wishes

 

[Wett]

I wish you well as I have a few other freinds who have published a few things...
don't quit the day job

If you believe a Pastor is really involved in something pagan
then I wonder do you mean "occult?"
Shouldn't someone be notified or do some denominations just allow or have minors in that sort of thing now?

confused by a bigger problem in the question

 

[Westvleteren]

Works of art do have a way of compelling you, don't they? And we just think we're in charge...

Wesleyan, was that Methodist-oriented college?

It was historically associated with the Methodist church, as the name would imply; however, when I attended (late 80s, early 90s) the relationship was very "unofficial." But the school chaplain was Methodist; we held baccalaureate at the Methodist church in downtown Macon, etc.