Non-Greek Wanting to Portray Sorority Life as Part of Story/Script

[GDIwriter]

Is it okay to use a well known sorority name as the setting? Obviously, the sorority itself is not being attacked as wrong or evil, only the member(s) who is/are doing something evil.

[RaggedyAnn]

Originally Posted by GDIwriter

Is it okay to use a well known sorority name as the setting? Obviously, the sorority itself is not being attacked as wrong or evil, only the member(s) who is/are doing something evil.

NO, not without permission. The only reason why Denise Swanson can use our name is because she is a sister and it was approved by headquarters.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by RaggedyAnn

NO. The only reason why Denise Swanson can use our name is because she is a sister and it was approved by headquarters.

Plenty of writers who are not members of fraternities or sororities have used real organization names in their work without permission. It can fall under fair use.

That said, why risk offending part of your potential audience? I'd steer clear of real sorority names.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Plenty of writers who are not members of fraternities or sororities have used real organization names in their work without permission. It can fall under fair use.

That said, why risk offending part of your potential audience? I'd steer clear of real sorority names.

I use the NAACP, several colleges, APO, Alpha, AKA, Kappa, and Lambda Pi Chi fictitiously in my novels. Like the disclaimer says, I used them fictitiously to give the novel a sense of realism.

The main fraternity in my novel was fictitious though. As well as the main two colleges.

Aww, writing.