Questions about writing about real people.

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So, I'm currently starting work on something (probably a book), about . . . things . . . in my life. I don't really want to get more specific about it right now. I'll be writing about real people and real places, though, and not everyone is still around for me to ask their permission.

In a nutshell I want to know how far I can go with real people and businesses, especially in regards to writing things that are not nice, or about illegal activities. Do I need to get everyone's permission in writing? Can I write whatever I want and just change the names? If I fictionalize the story but still use actual situations do I have to say so?

Any help would be great.

Alpine

I think that if you say anything negative, make sure you have the evidence to back it up, because if they don't like it and you can't prove it as truth, that's slander or libel or something like that.

Obviously, I'll let the other "IANAL" posts speak for themselves

Cryogen

Assuming you intend to eventually publish this book, i think you should get some actual legal advice. Alternatively, you could ask this question in the Writers Block forum, as i would expect some people there would have some experience with this.

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Well, I was trying to decide which section would be better. If it should be moved, how should I do that? Ask a mod?

nescientist

Alternatively, if it isn't really important to you that it be tagged "a true story," simply writing it as fiction (with changed names, of course) should (IANAL) be a neat dodge.

It is rather amazing what some people have gotten away with in fiction.