badwriter888
Junior Member
First, sorry if this is in the wrong place, it seems like this is the right place, though.
So I live in Los Angeles and I'm writing a book. I don't fancy myself a literary genius or anything so I intend to publish it through one of those vanity press deals. It's an autobiography, focusing on the time I spent working in a major retailer.
Here's the facts:
I don't name the retailer by name, but it's obvious what company it is and what location I worked at (I name the city and surrounding establishments). But again, the company is never named, I use a made up name for the company. It's not something like I worked at K Mart and say I worked at the L Mart. Let's say I worked at the Home Dept (I didn't) and I refer to it as The Big Home Improvement Store. It's along those lines.
When I speak about the people I worked with I don't use their real names. It's obvious to those involved who is who, however.
Only time a real name is used is when I don't give a last name. For example, let's say I worked with someone named Tom Kenley. (Not real, btw). Tom Kenly became Fred Smith in the book. However, if I only mention a person by first name, say a David, then David is still just David. No last name.
I also mention having used drugs (weed) on the job. Could my current employer do something to me for that? The incidents in the book took place over a decade ago. Nearly 15 years, actually. I had to take a drug test for my current employer and passed clean (this about four years ago).
So that's where I'm at. I don't expect it to be a big hit, I don't expect it to be a good book, I don't claim I'm a good writer. It's just something I'm doing, mainly just for me and a couple friends. I just don't want to get sued doing it.
Appreciate the help, thanks in advance.
So I live in Los Angeles and I'm writing a book. I don't fancy myself a literary genius or anything so I intend to publish it through one of those vanity press deals. It's an autobiography, focusing on the time I spent working in a major retailer.
Here's the facts:
I don't name the retailer by name, but it's obvious what company it is and what location I worked at (I name the city and surrounding establishments). But again, the company is never named, I use a made up name for the company. It's not something like I worked at K Mart and say I worked at the L Mart. Let's say I worked at the Home Dept (I didn't) and I refer to it as The Big Home Improvement Store. It's along those lines.
When I speak about the people I worked with I don't use their real names. It's obvious to those involved who is who, however.
Only time a real name is used is when I don't give a last name. For example, let's say I worked with someone named Tom Kenley. (Not real, btw). Tom Kenly became Fred Smith in the book. However, if I only mention a person by first name, say a David, then David is still just David. No last name.
I also mention having used drugs (weed) on the job. Could my current employer do something to me for that? The incidents in the book took place over a decade ago. Nearly 15 years, actually. I had to take a drug test for my current employer and passed clean (this about four years ago).
So that's where I'm at. I don't expect it to be a big hit, I don't expect it to be a good book, I don't claim I'm a good writer. It's just something I'm doing, mainly just for me and a couple friends. I just don't want to get sued doing it.
Appreciate the help, thanks in advance.