Writing Horror set on my college campus? [help please!]

Hi guys. So I've had this idea for a horror anthology set on my college campus for a while now, and it just popped back up in my head after I was doing laundry (and came up with a really horrible story I wanted to write ;D). Problem is, I don't know if this is legal or not.

I don't know why I think it would be illegal... the stories would not use real people of course, it would just take place at various locations on campus. I think because it's horror it might cause some problems, I'm sure if it were romcom or something like that it wouldn't be a big deal. And I know I could just like change around place names and stuff, but that wouldn't be the same :( the point of it would be because it is set on my campus.

I know I can *write* it for myself, but if I wanted to publish it, like serially online for example, do you think I could get in trouble for it?

I know it's best to actually ask the school about it, and I will, but I wanted to hear you guys' opinion on it. Would it be a problem?


(not sure where this belongs, but I know this forum gets the most views, so please move if it needs to be!)

I don't think there would be any problem in setting it in your campus. Honestly, I think that would make it more interesting. See if you can find a map of the campus grounds to put in it.

I've never read a horror story that took place in real place like that, so I think that would be great. And if it makes you feel any better, I've seen a published book by a big name author (Patricia Briggs, I believe it was) that was set in a real area (not far from where I live, in fact).

As long as it's a public place, I don't see a problem. There are dozens of novels or movies set in real places (heck, Roland Emmerich frequently destroys them!), so why would anyone be able to ban something because of such a setting?

You can use any real place in your novel.

Think of all the movies and novels that are set at Harvard, Yale, or any other school.

The only time there might be a problem is if the school feels their reputation or image might be damaged. If you have the officials at the school be corrupt and all that, there might be a problem. But if it is just set at that location and you are not going to be trying to convince that the school official are corrupt, there is no problem.

One thing to keep in mind: If your story ever becomes a movie, the school will have the right to say whether or not the film is shot at that location.

Basically, you can use any public place, even Taco Bell and Walmart. But if you are going to have the restaurant serving rat infested food and stuff, you better make up a fictional location for the eating establishment.

If you are concerned that there is something about your story that might cause damage to the school, (If it becomes a best seller and because of it student enrollment plummets because students don't want to get eaten by zombies.) you might want to rethink the idea.

But if it's just a good story and it's not going to harm the school, I don't see any problem.

Terror at Baxter U
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/terror-at-baxter-u/
A slasher movie filmed on Michigan State campus. The school obviously didn't have a problem with one of their professors filming a slasher movie on their campus.

Besides, the school you use as the setting might like the free publicity.

My two cents.

If you are concerned, create a fake a college. One of the joys of fiction, you can make crap up.

I think it should be fine. If you're concerned, ask the Dean.

Of course, I went to a college where I lived blocks away from the real Elm Street.

That's right, the Nightmare on Elm Street books.

My friend had a favorite halloween costume.

Your honest to dog best bet, get written permission from the school. It might sound paranoid, but anything less and there is always the possibility of it coming back on you. The way legalities work, and lawsuits, is it doesn't really matter if it's "legal" or not. If they want to bring you to court over it, who do you think has the money to last a trial? It's unlikely it'd go there, but on the off chance it did, you might be in a pretty bad place.

Personally, I would change names and let it be an insider's secret that it was Suchandsuch University.

I'd say just use the campus but if you're worried about how it'll be seen, change the names. I've used both the one I work at and the ones I went to in stories and heavily alluded to them, but never used the actual names. Makes it easier to plot out the scene as you already know what it looks like. ^^