writing about my life

[Kim Welch]

If i am writing an Autobiography do i have to worry about what other people in the book think? I guess i mean is it legal to write about true personal events and things that happened with my family and friends, teachers? Could someone sue me over what i write about them? is this one of those things you do for art and hope for the best? I guess they could sue me, right?

 

[easywriter]

No one can sue....the only legal action someone can take is a court order for "defamation"...easiest way around that is simply change the names of those who you will be writing about in a negative manor...good luck!

 

[Pippa]

Be careful

Be careful

The law may say one thing; be interpreted in another; there is the letter of the law; the spirit of the law; yada yada yada.

If someone wants to sue you, whether they have a case or not, then you have to be prepared. Their lawyer will send a letter. You'll have to get a lawyer to send a letter. The bills will add up. It will take up your time. You may lose alot of sleep.

It's a case of how much justice you can afford. Who you offend.

How much money they have and how forcefully they feel offended etc and are willing to spend on it.

This is how lawyers make a living. They have a way of finding a way to make a case - they get paid to do this.

A very wise person once said something like: if this EVER happens to you then swallow all pride and send a polite letter with an apology. Get in your car, train, airplane and go knock on their door and apologise, reason it out. DO WHATEVER SO THAT LAWYERS DO NOT GET INVOLVED.

In summary, stay away from this minefield.

 

[Paul Holloway]

My first screenplay I am writing is strongly based on some events that happened in my life. I changed the story a little bit. Changed the characters name. Added some new ones I made up to mix up the story. It is about 50% related to things I have been through and 50% made up in order to give the story more of a story. If I told the real story like it happened, it would be a very boring screenplay but the fact I mixed it with some things that didn't happen will make it a better story, I think.