Starting to write fiction based on a story shown on Oprah. What are the rules?

[Eliza]

I'm starting to write a story loosely inspired by a story I saw on Oprah a few years back. What are the rules about doing this? I'm not using names, locations, specifics, etc. but the main idea of these people's story is there. I just thought it was a dynamic idea for a story and I wanted to put my own spin on it. Are there any issues with copyright, crediting, or plagiarism? I'm an ameutur, so I doubt it would ever be published. I am just curious.


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[hickcrazy1]

If main thoughts are clearly relative you can credit it as being an homage or being based on whatever it is, but it would be quite acceptable not to do so if only the basic germ of the idea is used, and you are not lifting an intact plot, actions or outcome.

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[blackcat]

There's nothing wrong with writing a novel based on someone's life and you don't need that person's permission. Just change names and maybe identifiable features and write. No one can copyright their life and only written words can be plagiarized. You can credit if you want to, but don't have to. Ideas can be had from different things, including real people, movies, other books, etc.

Don't worry about it being published, because most people will never get their very first novel published, just write for the fun of it and you'll get better after writing a few novels, just make sure you learn from each of them if you want to improve. My novel might never see the light of day and that's okay because I'm having fun writing it, and when I finish I'll start on a sequel or a completely different novel.

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