I am writing a story and believe that I have come up with a good plot line. However, I am not sure if my characters actions are illegal or just immoral. I thought of calling a lawyer, but I would not be able to pay for a consultation. What other sources are there?
2007-12-19 17:34:03 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
I am planning on having my character do something that most people in passing wouldn't even think is illegal or at least nothing more than a misdemeanor, but results in someone's unintentional death. I'm just trying to be realistic as to whether he winds up in an emotional jail or a literal jail?
2007-12-20 06:01:29 · update #1
You're welcome to talk to me if you'd like, or just google your state/country's laws. My email is on the profile.
2007-12-19 17:36:20 · answer #1 · answered by Mashu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand the question as stated, but I don't understand the problem.
Let me explain. Whether your characters are doing something immoral or illegal, it is still a fiction, right? The only way this would be a problem is if you are advocating this type of action...
Of course, you don't dare explain to people how to build a bo-mb or something like that, cause that could be useful to those idiots that call themselves terrorists.
[ My editorial comment: What is a terrorist? In my opinion it is a loser that can't hold down a real job and wants to take out his/her inadaquacies on someone else, and pretends it is for some high and lofty religious ideals. (Even though the mainstays of Islam are totally against the methods of terrorism.) Look at Bin Laden - Never worked a day in his life - just lives off his family's money... Loser! -end editorial comment]
Anyway, so you obviously don't want to feed that sort of negativism.
So, if you are having a character do something that you are not even sure if it is illegal or immoral or not, and not advising people to do the same things, I don't see the problem. If the plot is good, you will get readers, if not, you won't.
Am I maybe just missing something obvious in your question?
2007-12-19 18:30:14 · answer #2 · answered by Worthy-Wench 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Don't pay a lawyer for that stuff. Different states have slightly different laws (on little stuff.) anyway. Get the State Code for the state where your book takes place and look it up.
*Looking at the extra stuff you wrote makes me think you would have a lot more leeway. First you'd have to find out if the thing was what's really considered a "crime" - like littering is technically not legal but if someone slips, falls, and hits his head and later dies from paper you accidently dropped, nothing would happen to you. If it really would have been a misdemeanor but turned into something worse accidentally, it would be up to the prosecution. (If you just meant to hit someone lightly but somehow they turned in towards you and were killed, the judge and prosecuter would look at all the information. What kind of person? Any previous charges? (If your primary job is drug dealer, they would take the whole thing probably more seriously than if you were a doctor. Probably not fair but that's the way it is.
2007-12-19 17:37:49 · answer #3 · answered by lotus4yoga 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what you're intending to write. I've hit a snag myself and decided to ask the community for their thoughts--because I have a similar problem.
Because of how the book was laid out previously and how I've done some character-building into it...maybe I can get away with it?
2007-12-19 18:00:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take keywords and google them and see what you come up with but give location as well some things aren't illegal everywhere !
2007-12-19 17:37:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd ask here on yahoo, but you need to be brief and specific. Also include place where they are living, as laws change from place to place.
2007-12-19 17:36:41 · answer #6 · answered by Katherine W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋