FICTITIOUS NAMES

Any time you base your fiction on actual events, it is best to rename the characters and change the location to avoid a lawsuit for invasion of privacy by the actual participants. These kind of changes need to be substantial so the persons tied to the actual event are not easily recognizable. If the event or person you are writing about is unique or it's an extreme situation, there may not be a way to disguise it enough that people wouldn't be able to tell what or who you are talking about. In that case it would be best to delete that incident.

There may also be occasions when you are sharing personal experiences or writing your own story that it will be necessary to change the names of the other people involved. Be sure that the identity of the person is not obvious to that person or to those who know him. For information on the legal ramifications, go to: http://www.rightsofwriters.com/2010/12/could-i-be-liable-for-libel-in-fiction.html.