When is it safe to write about other people in your book and when is it risky? I include other people in many of my books, but not in any sort of slanderous way. I quote them for my publishing and book promotion books. I also get permission from them before I go to press. It used to be signed permission—in writing, but now you can get permission via email—and probably texting.
But what if you want to write an article or a book about something that happened in your life—a situational memoir, for example? Certainly, there were other people involved in the incident. And some of those people may have treated you or someone else badly or committed a crime. How do you handle that part of the story? How do you get permission to slander someone? And how do you keep from being sued if you do slander them? Will the truth protect you from a lawsuit? Can you prove that what you’re presenting is the truth? Can you afford to defend yourself in court if someone comes forward and launches a defamation of character case against you?
I’m the one asking the questions today. I would love to hear your stories along these lines. Have you written about other people? How do you protect yourself from lawsuits? Have you been sued because of something you wrote about someone else? What would you advise authors who want to write an exposé?