Using LoTR elements in own writings

[Tamuril Sirfalas]

do you guys think its bad to use lotrs names like...use the name rivendell and lorien in your book? should i change the names a little?


my other one is about a girl who goes into a story to find out why the story is leaking into hers...still not finished...does anyone know the cost to publish a book?

[Acalewia]

I don't know. I've seen LotR names in everyday life. There's a behavioral center near where i live called Rivendell. *scraches head* HMM What do you guys think?

[Earniel]

Personally I would avoid using LoTR names in your own writings if you intend on publishing it. If only because the Tolkien Estate seems to employ some very enthousiastic laywers. I remember the instance where the post-company Shiremail got a letter from them demanding they removed the "Shire" part out of their name. Like it was no ordinary word before the books.

Also, If I would read LoTR-named places such as Rivendell in other people's writings I might see it as a lack in imagination on the part of the writer. Still, it depends on the case.

If for instance you write about an Elven city or settlement with a clear LoTR name, then yes, the writer could have done much better than merely re-using Tolkien's material. It's almost like fanfiction then.

If on the other hand you have a character that lives in a camper and has decided on a whim to name his home Lorien because, while he can't remember where he heard it from, he thought the word sounded kind of cool; or a character who has a dog named Frodo, then it is much more pleasant (for me) to read. In some cases it can even be a way to add something to a character without looking like a writer that can't write without ripping off Tolkien. IMO you just have to consider the seperate cases carefully.

[Tamuril Sirfalas]

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Personally I would avoid using LoTR names in your own writings if you intend on publishing it. If only because the Tolkien Estate seems to employ some very enthousiastic laywers. I remember the instance where the post-company Shiremail got a letter from them demanding they removed the "Shire" part out of their name. Like it was no ordinary word before the books.

Also, If I would read LoTR-named places such as Rivendell in other people's writings I might see it as a lack in imagination on the part of the writer. Still, it depends on the case.

If for instance you write about an Elven city or settlement with a clear LoTR name, then yes, the writer could have done much better than merely re-using Tolkien's material. It's almost like fanfiction then.

If on the other hand you have a character that lives in a camper and has decided on a whim to name his home Lorien because, while he can't remember where he heard it from, he thought the word sounded kind of cool; or a character who has a dog named Frodo, then it is much more pleasant (for me) to read. In some cases it can even be a way to add something to a character without looking like a writer that can't write without ripping off Tolkien. IMO you just have to consider the seperate cases carefully.

like i was thinking of using rivendell, lorien, mirkwood, rohan. like the actual places and the characters go to them. all i am using is the names and thats it...do you think thats harmful? and what about using Lady Galadriel as a character?

[Earniel]

Then basically you are writing fan fiction. My bad, I thought you were talking about using them in orginal fiction.

There's absolutely nothing wrong or harmful with fan fiction. Valandil for example writes fan fiction about Middle-earth and those stories are wonderful. (Check out the thread 'Visitors come to court')

But publishing your fan fiction, as in printing it in books and selling, would obviously be impossible.

And erm... , I notice I went rather off-topic here so that's the last I'm going to say about it in this thread.

[Tamuril Sirfalas]

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Then basically you are writing fan fiction. My bad, I thought you were talking about using them in orginal fiction.

There's absolutely nothing wrong or harmful with fan fiction. Valandil for example writes fan fiction about Middle-earth and those stories are wonderful. (Check out the thread 'Visitors come to court')

But publishing your fan fiction, as in printing it in books and selling, would obviously be impossible.

And erm... , I notice I went rather off-topic here so that's the last I'm going to say about it in this thread.

valandil? ha! thats the name of one of my characters horses!! why would it be impossible to publish? would they sue me?

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally Posted by Tamuril Sirfalas

do you guys think its bad to use lotrs names like...use the name rivendell and lorien in your book? should i change the names a little?

What the Frog-mod said. Listen to her.