Note to Self...

[przed]

...be careful when using actual people in fanfic. (In a non-RPS way, I mean.)

So, today I get a message from a woman asking what my historical sources were for a Wild Wild West story set during the Civil War I wrote way back in 2000. This is weird, but I respond that the story is over ten years old and I don't know that I still have a record of the books I used, and could I ask why she's interested.

Turns out that one of the three soldiers I pulled from the actual historical record for the story is the great-great-whatever-grandfather of this woman, and she just wants to know if anything in the story is confirmable fact.

Yikes!

Fortunately, she didn't seem at all upset about the slash aspect (didn't mention that at all, in fact), and was quite complimentary about the story. In fact she asked if she could get a copy of the zine. And I dug through my files and managed to find photocopies of the references I used to research the story, so I was able to help her out with sorting the fact and fiction of the piece.

But man, that could so have gone so very, very badly.

ETA: Soooo, the woman has just responded to my last email, and amongst other things said this:

the homosexual angle was quite an interesting twist....wondered if there was any truth to that.

Ummmmm. (How does one begin to respond to that?!)

Comments

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

It's probably very fortunate that you didn't slash any of those soldiers together... or did you?

I glad it went so well.

[przed.livejournal.com]

It was strictly a Jim/Artie story, thankfully. ::wipes brow in relief::

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Did you try googling the soldier's name? I'm wondering if she found your story that way or whether she just stumbled across it while reading slash. Stranger things have happened.

[przed.livejournal.com]

If you google the guy's name and rank, my story is on the second search page, so that's probably how she found it.

That, or she's a WWW slasher. *g*

[dorinda.livejournal.com]

Zounds! That would have made me hide under the bed. I mean, I would be glad to share my references, but still, I would be startled.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Startled begins to cover my reaction. I'm just ever so grateful that she didn't freak out. And happy that I did still have my references to share.

[morgandawn.livejournal.com]

I once used the name of a hated ex-boss in a story. Small bit player who died along with 99% of the world's population.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I may have used the names of irritating co-workers for villains on occasion. Though I only ever pull a first or last name, never both.

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

Over 30 years ago I had an English flatmate - and yes he did make it into one of my stories, first name and background intact. If he ever reads B/D he might work it out, but somehow I doubt it :)

How does one begin to respond to that?!

With a straight face???

[przed.livejournal.com]

No he's not likely to read B/D. But Googling his name and having your story come up is a far more likely scenario.

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Eeek! The things we don't think about (and I'm looking at you, Google!) Right, that's pretty much confirmed for me that I shall never use the full real name of anyone in a story--except for the historically famous, perhaps. It is terrific that she apparently didn't freak. And good that you could help her out. But...eeek! *g*

[przed.livejournal.com]

I usually grab fun first or last names of people I know, but this is, fortunately, the only time I've used the full name of a real, non-famous historical person. Never again...

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that's quite amazing and scary! But it's lovely you were able to provide her with your sources and that she's fine with it all. :-)

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm just happy she was cool with it. And that I could help her out.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Wow, I never would have thought of that happening! Since I do write in one Western, thanks for the heads up. I've never used an actual name for a character, but now I know not to start. *g*

[przed.livejournal.com]

I've used fragments of real names, but this is the only time I've used full ones. There were two other real people I used. I'm hoping their relatives don't track me down. (I also used a variation of my grandfather's name, but at least my family know I'm a nutter. *g*)

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm, I guess I'm having a totally different reaction than most folks. For me, it's no big deal. I guess I'm not very sensitive! I'm a bad girl. :)

Was his name so unusual that it had to be he? And why worry even if it is unusual. It's a work of fiction, and of course, every single piece of fiction out there has a name that belongs to some real person if the name is not some alien thing made up from Alpha Centuri. I use my customers' names all the time but I'm using the "name". I don't use the real person and often don't even know the person other than to see them once a year. Some names are just better than others.

I'd respond by saying there are gay people in every walk of life and have been for at least 100 years, maybe more, and there were probably a few even during the WWW. *bg*

[przed.livejournal.com]

You're not a bad girl. Just laid back. *g*

I used his name, rank, and the very famous Civil War raid he was involved with, so yeah, it pretty much could only be him.

I'm actually tempted to explain the whole slash concept to her. She's an academic, and given her reactions so far, I think the chances of her freaking out are slim to none. She might even be fascinated.

[togsos.livejournal.com]

That is kinda freaky biscuits. I read a couple of rugby slash stories that featured my then boyfriend. I then proceeded to leave them open for him. He was horrified. I dont see why as the writer had totally exaggerated his prowess in bed and his cock! he should have bloody been flattered in my opinion!!!!

[przed.livejournal.com]

You are a cheeky devil. And he totally should have been flattered. *g*

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

"Ask your relatives."

[przed.livejournal.com]

Heh.

[soundofthesurf.livejournal.com]

Interestingly people with veteran relatives very often don't seem to be bothered or surprised by "homosexual angles". Like "it was war, they were scared and far away from home". Or maybe you have just converted someone to slash. *g*

[przed.livejournal.com]

Interestingly people with veteran relatives very often don't seem to be bothered or surprised by "homosexual angles". Like "it was war, they were scared and far away from home".

Very interesting indeed.

". Or maybe you have just converted someone to slash. *g*

Or at least opened her eyes to the possibilities. *g* (I'm still mulling over my response to her last email.)

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's an amazing slash-meets-RL anecdote. I'm glad it worked out okay.

[przed.livejournal.com]

You and me both.

Ya know, Dean's looking just a bit Bodie-like in that icon. *g*

[mad-lemming-89.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow! I think I'd have completely freaked out if that had happened so kudos to you for not panicking, heh!

I suppose you could just be truthful and say that the slash angle was a part of your particular narrative that you chose to incorporate, but you just don't know for certain either way whether there's truth to it, perhaps? Or something along those lines; at the very least it sounds as though she didn't have a problem with it being present in the story. It's not as though it's impossible to imagine two soldiers embarking on a romance during service, after all!

[przed.livejournal.com]

I did panic just a bit at first. But then I took a deep breath, and responded and hoped for the best. (The woman in question is an academic, so I reckoned I wasn't going to get a completely crazy reaction.)

I seriously considering giving her a high level primer on slash. I reckon she'll at least appreciate it on an intellectual level. *g*

[norfolkdumpling.livejournal.com]

Cripes! That's pretty freaky. I'm glad she took it all so well (and that you didn't slash her great great grandad!!).

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad she took it well. And that I didn't slash her relative. (Can you imagine?!)

[saintvic.livejournal.com]

Woah, now that is a new one on me. I am pleased she sounded reasonable and that you were able to find some things for her, that was very good of you.

[przed.livejournal.com]

This is the down side of me being a stickler for historical accuracy when I'm researching fic. :-/

But on the up side, it's been an interesting interaction.