Using Real People in Your Writing

When I was in the seventh grade, I had to write a short story for health class. I went to my best friend at the time and told her that I was going to make her the main character of my story. Thinking she would be flattered, I was shocked when her reply was an uncomfortable, “Why?” I eventually talked her into it, but she was never comfortable with the idea. From then on, I was more sensitive to the idea of using real people in my writing.

Writers are constantly being depicted in movies as unoriginal parrots who don’t even try to fictionalize their real life inspirations.  This is a major pet peeve of mine. I break this trope down more thoroughly in my HubPages Article, “How Writers are Inaccurately Portrayed in Films.”

However, it is true that writers draw inspiration from real life. We’re most influenced by our interactions and relationships with other people. What we don’t always realize is that we’re holding a mirror up to the people who see themselves in their work. This opens them up to a ton of interpretation that could get misconstrued. Even those who are initially willing to be featured in your writing may not like the end result. So, what is the best way to go when using real people in your writing?

Would you want to see yourself depicted in a story?

When I think about whether or not I’d want to be featured in somebody else’s writing, my answer is: absolutely not.

I wouldn’t want someone to take a magnifying glass to my personality or physical traits and then spill them into print, positively or negatively. It’s like watching yourself on film or listening to a recording of your voice. It’s too intrusive, and I’m a private person to begin with. Yet, I hypocritically use the physical and personality traits of people I know in my writing all the time.

Luckily, I’ve never lost a relationship as the result of something I’ve written. This may be because I tread lightly. The people closest to me rarely read my work, or if they did and saw themselves in my work, it didn’t bother them.

My siblings have all popped up in my novels. They are usually quick to point out when they find themselves. They’re always fine with it. Still, I’m embarrassed that I didn’t disguise my inspiration well enough.

My friends too have pointed out or, when they weren’t sure, questioned whether or not they appear in a certain character in a book I have written.  In one case, a book that was based on our summers growing up. So, I did include a lot of the games we played and locations where we hung out.

This made me nervous when it came to portraying the book’s conflicts. Would they think I was vilifying them in any way? Would it seem too close to our real life stories? Overall, though, I’ve gotten a positive response from them. It’s just awkward when they try to decipher real life from the fictional world I’ve created.

Using real people in fiction

I try not to make my inspirations too obvious, even when I’m sure that person isn’t ever going to read my work. For fiction, it’s more creative to blend details and original ideas into your work. So, it is easier to disguise the traits that you pulled from real life.  However, when someone you know does read your work, they are, at least subconsciously, looking for themselves, or others they know, in the piece.

It’s easy to become highly defensive or deny your inspiration. Even the most self-assured person can be put off by seeing themselves in print. Writers may not even have considered this until they’re confronted by their muse, even innocently. So, there’s a tendency to over-explain yourself at the risk of getting into trouble.

What if what you used truly was an unflattering depiction of a person you know? Should you avoid doing this all together? Keep that person, and everyone else who knows that person, from reading it so that they never find out? Or do you bring it up before or while you are writing the piece just to give them a heads up?

Because we put so much time and effort into our writing, even the most humble writers tend to get a bit pompous about our craft. Who wouldn’t want to see themselves in my story? Wouldn’t it be an honor? Wouldn’t it show my loved ones what I think about them? Don’t my enemies deserve what they get?

What we don’t realize is how sensitive people can be about being described in print. Even a harmless description, such as a person’s pointy nose or calling them a bad singer, might come off as hurtful.

Famous examples of real people used in fiction

What if your work becomes famous and your unlikable characters are immortalized in the writing world? How will their real life inspirations handle the world’s perception of them? According to Barnes and Noble’s piece on 10 Fictional Characters Based on Real People, J.K. Rowling based one of her most famous characters in the Harry Potter books, Snape, on a real life professor that she had. When he found out, he said he was “horrified.”

Whether his characteristics were punched up for dramatic effect or whether the fictional version of himself is how Rowling saw him as a person is unclear. However, the fact that his feelings were hurt by the very public representation shows how our vulnerability can emerge when others’ perceptions of us are exposed.

On the other hand, an article by Bustle.com remarks on how Truman Capote used to brag about the fact that Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird was based on him. Now, Dill is one of the beloved heroes of the story and an innocent one on top of that.  And Capote was a public figure who was able to control the cultural perception of him to some degree.

So, factor in the muse’s personality, public platform, history with the author, and fictional depiction. There are a combination of ways that they will deal with being featured in your work. You have to be willing to deal with questions about your inspiration, – either from your readers or the muse themselves.

Children as muses

Adults have to be extremely careful when using children as inspiration for characters. Many writers have based stories off of children they know. But is this right?

The most famous depiction that comes to mind is that of Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Carroll and the Liddell family were very close when Alice was 10. He took many photographs and used her likeness as the basis for his heroine. From a literary perspective, this seems helpful, but from a cultural one, it comes off as downright creepy, especially when you learn of the disturbing content in some of those photos.

On the other hand, John Green’s relationship with young fan Esther Earl inspired him to write his novel, The Fault in our Stars. While she is known as the basis for his main character, Hazel, Green did not solely base the character on Earl. Esther Earl died before TFIOS was published. So, she was never able to comment on her fictional persona.

Green often clarifies that Hazel is not a carbon copy of Esther. But a writer can only do so much to curb public opinion and rumors, especially with such a famous book. He will most likely spend the rest of his career clarifying the differences between Hazel and Esther on Esther’s behalf.

It might seem flattering to use children as the basis for a story. But be sure to take the real person into account. Think of the fictional Amazing Amy series from the book and film, Gone Girl. An innocent collection of picture books created an inferiority complex which helped to shape the sociopathic mindset of its muse. While this is a fictional and extreme example of how stories can damage a person, it’s also an important cautionary tale.

Using real people in non-fiction

Nonfiction is another story. When you are writing about real people and real events, you lay much more out on the table, even if you’ve changed people’s names. Writing a memoir or essays about your real life is a very gutsy move. Not only are you putting yourself out there, but you’re also submitting a version of events from your point of view that others featured in your story might not appreciate.

I don’t envy David Sedaris’ siblings. He’s not afraid to talk about the most personal, unflattering moments that he’s shared with his friends and family in his essays. Luckily, they seem to accept his blunt writing style. Because of this, his audience appreciates them and their flaws as well.

Most nonfiction writers are not as famous as David Sedaris. However, if their work is published, they have to account for the fact that the people featured in it may actually read it. This plays a big part into what you want to include, how you want to include it, and the context behind it.

Censoring yourself too much, though, can affect the quality of your piece. Juicy stories are often controversial and unflattering in some way. Writers usually handle this by putting the most unflattering details about the situation on themselves or explaining another character’s actions in the story.

Again, you’re playing with a wide range of personalities. Some may feel fine with anything you have to say. Others, even those you might not expect to be sensitive about their depiction in print, could react in a range from mildly annoyed to completely embarrassed or angry. Depending on their level of hurt, one written piece could mean a discouraging confrontation, a blow up fight, or even legal intervention.

Legal action

So what happens if someone you know are offended enough to sue? This article from Copylaw.com talks about libel and how it relates to fictional accusations especially. The good news is that it’s difficult it is for accusers to win a libel case when a person’s likeness or personality is portrayed in fiction.

Even more helpful is their advice to disguise your muse to make it even more difficult to prove that it’s them in the story and to help avoid lawsuits all together. In any case, it’s best for everyone to draw from many sources to create a fictional character. It’s more unique, creative, freeing, and protective. It takes much more talent to blend inspirations together rather than simply dropping a real person into a fictional story.

In terms of nonfiction portrayals, this article from janetfriedman.com warns against the legal action that can be taken against your nonfiction work. Weigh these options before starting your memoir. Also, be in the right mindset when you are developing a piece. Are you angry about a situation and writing from that angry point of view? Are you being mean-spirited? Would you be willing to deal with the consequences of your tone and perspective?

How to proceed

In the end, there is no formula to follow when drawing inspiration from real life people, events, or conversation. When in doubt, always let the people you know that you’re going to use their likeness, personality, or a story about them in your work. Read their reactions. Take into account any concerns they might have. If you’re writing fiction, make sure that they know what was actually them and what you made up.

If you’re writing nonfiction, make sure they’re okay with specific details. Give them a new name if need be. Make sure that the reader recognizes this as your version of events as well as how your involvement comes into play.

Most of all, don’t be like the writers in movies who don’t utilize any creativity or try to disguise their muse at all. Be inspired, but also be creative. Realize that when you write, you’re drawing from real, multidimensional people with feelings and reputations. Being immortalized in print is not always an honor. So, take your work, and your muses, seriously.

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