|
|
Post by Suzy on Apr 21, 2014 7:52:00 GMT -5
In my WIP, the hero is a war correspondent. In the story, he is taken prisoner in Syria by terrorists and held captive in a camp for over a month until his sudden release.
I based this on a true story I read in a Swedish newspaper about a journalist who was captured in very much the same way. I also read his own account of his imprisonment and another biography of an American war correspondent.
The release of the journalist in the story is very similar to what happened in real life- he was set free and dumped on a deserted road just inside the border to Lebanon. No explanation of how or why, other than the negotiators had been working hard to achieve this and that for security reasons no details could be revealed as it would endanger other journalist still in prison camps in that area.
So... I was wondering, as this is romantic fiction, if I should put a disclaimer or explanation at the beginning of the book that this is based on true events. Just to make sure readers don't go; "this is totally unrealistic. What would she know know about such things."
Thoughts?
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Apr 21, 2014 9:25:49 GMT -5
or are disclaimers ignored?
|
|
|
|
Post by cbedwards on Apr 21, 2014 9:42:48 GMT -5
I don't think you need one, but I don't think it would do any harm. How's that for wishy-washy? Maybe put an author's note at the end, then the reader will go "Wow, that's cool."
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Apr 21, 2014 9:47:06 GMT -5
I don't think you need one, but I don't think it would do any harm. How's that for wishy-washy? Maybe put an author's note at the end, then the reader will go "Wow, that's cool." Sounds like 'maybe'? The reason I ask is that one of my betas thought the story was a little unrealistic so I had to tell him it was based on facts and a true story. |
|
|
|
Post by Alan Petersen on Apr 21, 2014 12:22:39 GMT -5
I'm not a lawyer, but I would stay away from putting down that it's based on a specific event. You can write a dedication for ALL war correspondents who risk their lives and have been held captive in the pursuit of journalism... something like that. But then: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.  |
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Apr 21, 2014 12:25:42 GMT -5
I'm not a lawyer, but I would stay away from putting down that it's based on a specific event. You can write a dedication for ALL war correspondents who risk their lives and have been held captive in the pursuit of journalism... something like that. But then: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. No, that's not what i meant. I meant i should explain that I have done extensive research on the whole subject. I wouldn't mention a specific event, just that I have read about these different kidnappings and how they sometimes end. Just so the reader knows I'm not just making it up. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 12:27:52 GMT -5
I think you're probably better off not addressing it ahead of time. I don't know how many betas you use, but if this was only a note from one of them, I'm not sure it warrants writing a disclaimer that could look unnecessarily defensive to a reader who hasn't even started reading the book yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Apr 21, 2014 12:31:55 GMT -5
I think you're probably better off not addressing it ahead of time. I don't know how many betas you use, but if this was only a note from one of them, I'm not sure it warrants writing a disclaimer that could look unnecessarily defensive to a reader who hasn't even started reading the book yet. Yes, very true. Good advice. Thank you. |
|
|
|
Post by Alan Petersen on Apr 21, 2014 12:40:06 GMT -5
I'm not a lawyer, but I would stay away from putting down that it's based on a specific event. You can write a dedication for ALL war correspondents who risk their lives and have been held captive in the pursuit of journalism... something like that. But then: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. No, that's not what i meant. I meant i should explain that I have done extensive research on the whole subject. I wouldn't mention a specific event, just that I have read about these different kidnappings and how they sometimes end. Just so the reader knows I'm not just making it up. AH, got it, I wouldn't address that. The backstory of my WIP is human trafficking, but I wont address that I did a lot of research on the real life subject, that might take readers out of the story which is fiction after all. |
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Apr 21, 2014 13:08:28 GMT -5
I also think it's probably best left unmentioned. You could always do a blog post about having researched the topic deeply, without mentioning specific books.
|
|
|
|
Post by vrabinec on Apr 21, 2014 13:47:38 GMT -5
I would say it's partly based on true events, and not specify what part is based on true events. It worked for the Cohen Brothers and Fargo. People love to think they're reading a true story.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Apr 21, 2014 13:50:42 GMT -5
I would say it's partly based on true events, and not specify what part is based on true events. It worked for the Cohen Brothers and Fargo. People love to think they're reading a true story. ^^^^^^^ This^^^^^^ !!!!! |
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Apr 21, 2014 14:09:48 GMT -5
I would say it's partly based on true events, and not specify what part is based on true events. It worked for the Cohen Brothers and Fargo. People love to think they're reading a true story. But don't you have to buy the rights to someone's story? |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 14:11:22 GMT -5
I would say it's partly based on true events, and not specify what part is based on true events. It worked for the Cohen Brothers and Fargo. People love to think they're reading a true story. But don't you have to buy the rights to someone's story? Not if you're not specifying whose story it is.  |
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Apr 21, 2014 14:24:41 GMT -5
But don't you have to buy the rights to someone's story? Not if you're not specifying whose story it is. But can't someone recognize their story in what you wrote and sue because they wanted to make a profit off it themselves? |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 14:43:20 GMT -5
Not if you're not specifying whose story it is. But can't someone recognize their story in what you wrote and sue because they wanted to make a profit off it themselves? Depends on what part you borrowed. Plus, I'm not sure vrab was serious about that suggestion. |
|
|
|
Post by vrabinec on Apr 21, 2014 14:44:09 GMT -5
Not if you're not specifying whose story it is. But can't someone recognize their story in what you wrote and sue because they wanted to make a profit off it themselves? Then make sure you have something in the story you plant that is a true event depicting yourself or someone you trust not to sue you, and tell them that THAT'S what was based on a true story. Claim ignorance and coincidence on the other stuff. |
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Apr 21, 2014 14:45:30 GMT -5
Nobody would think this was based on a true story by just reading my book
|
|
|
|
Post by vrabinec on Apr 21, 2014 14:47:26 GMT -5
But can't someone recognize their story in what you wrote and sue because they wanted to make a profit off it themselves? Depends on what part you borrowed. Plus, I'm not sure vrab was serious about that suggestion. I am serious, this time. Why not? If you have something that's based on true events, but you don't make the whole thing based on true events, why not? It's still in the fiction section. You're not claiming it's a true depiction. Why not fudge it a little? People understand it's sensationalized. At least, these days they do. Maybe there was a day way back when when people expected it to be almost completely based on true events, but not anymore. It helps with the illusion. |
|
|
|
Post by Alan Petersen on Apr 21, 2014 18:59:32 GMT -5
I would say it's partly based on true events, and not specify what part is based on true events. It worked for the Cohen Brothers and Fargo. People love to think they're reading a true story. And that wasn't even based on true events, they were being the Coen brothers. www.snopes.com/movies/films/fargo.asp |
|
