tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post4932536783692496253..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Product Placement in BooksBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-50000509708194197642009-09-11T02:48:09.015-04:002009-09-11T02:48:09.015-04:00The songs issue is interesting. I'm a "br...The songs issue is interesting. I'm a "brand newbie" in the middle of a short story or series of stories which may turn into something bigger, which I DO want to put squarely in a specific time period and I DO want to refer to specific songs the characters related to in some way (not necessarily put lyrics in, but at least the titles) Will that confuse some folks who don't know the songs? Would putting in some of the lines be a huge problem (sounds that way)?<br /><br />The idea is, for example, to create irony and tension in illustrating a situation, e.g. a tender love song being played in the middle of a quarrel, a song about togetherness in the context of a person's isolation or the other way around. And to set it in a specific time frame which is relevant to how the characters behave.LivelyClamorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10930694336919638521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-28384999213163926652009-09-05T12:17:22.312-04:002009-09-05T12:17:22.312-04:00"As of yet, authors aren’t receiving payment ..."As of yet, authors aren’t receiving payment for product placement in books..."<br /><br />I have read of occasional pay for play. Like the Bulgari/Fay Weldon deal. I think there was an author who featured a car in her novel/s for some kind of compensation. I've read also of marketing support in exchange for product placement.<br /><br />I'm surprised it isn't more common given the incursion/intrusion of advertising into so many areas.Judehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17312338448560581132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-38033470926777857422009-09-03T19:25:35.392-04:002009-09-03T19:25:35.392-04:00Do companies ever pay for product placement?
The...Do companies ever pay for product placement? <br /><br />There is one particular series I read that convinces me someone is making some money of placement. If not, then why, oh why, would she incorporate that many product names. They are unnecessary and jarring, and the only thing that keeps me from going crazy is the thought that she is using them to supplement her income.Jennifer Rolandhttp://jennifer-roland.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-60875196713937075992009-09-03T10:06:51.783-04:002009-09-03T10:06:51.783-04:00I'm glad you posted about this - my husband an...I'm glad you posted about this - my husband and I were listening to the Dresden books in the car the other day, and Harry Dresden (who loves Coca Cola, btw), was fighting movie monsters. He fought this little doll, and I don't remember what he called the doll, but he was clearly talking about Chuckie but named it something else, which was jarring. What are the limits when it comes to using characters from a movie or book, even if it is for only a few paragraphs? Does that fall into fair use or would that be copyright infringement?Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08745632421110452801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-60435440242596386062009-09-02T21:22:23.940-04:002009-09-02T21:22:23.940-04:00I'd be careful as to HOW I used a name brand. ...I'd be careful as to HOW I used a name brand. It wouldn't do to say that "He wiped the spilled Johnny Walker Red off the coffee table---and the varnish, too."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34877997773282276512009-09-02T20:26:19.675-04:002009-09-02T20:26:19.675-04:00Of course, you may or may not realise that a lot o...Of course, you may or may not realise that a lot of readers are not actually based in the USA. Chimay? Don't even know what that is. The difference between a quarterback and a full-back or a...is it lineback or linebacker? Don't know, don't care. Robert Langdon? Sorry. I can guess that he's the dude from The Da Vinci Code from the inference, but the name doesn't ring automatic bells for me. SunnyD? Not. A. Clue. Finding that in a book is an automatic "wallbanger" moment for me.<br /><br />Personally, I find use of such shorthand a turn-off and have stopped buying authors who, I believe, over-use "products" as lazy shortcuts in their prose. Not all of us are USians and I have enough reading that forces follow-up research and referencing without having to deal with a foreign cultural view embedded in my mainstream "entertainment" reading.Kaz Augustinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01839835518368442832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-43804173438568784952009-09-02T18:43:03.303-04:002009-09-02T18:43:03.303-04:00Definitely, go for the brand. Now that it's be...Definitely, go for the brand. Now that it's been reinforced over thirty times in this comment section alone, it should be safe to say that its commonly done. <br />It gives the reader something to relate to, or an immediate visual.Jm Diazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02542245056831474827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-58376839905668113472009-09-02T18:24:07.213-04:002009-09-02T18:24:07.213-04:00I was warned I should be wary of using up to the m...I was warned I should be wary of using up to the minute products because they'd go out of fashion and seem dated (in my current novel one of the characters is wedded to her iPhone). In the other hand, I agree with you that this can be a way of getting inside a character's skin - a great way of showing not telling.Dan Hollowayhttp://www.danholloway.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-70526618789390379742009-09-02T17:59:39.090-04:002009-09-02T17:59:39.090-04:00This is something I have been thinking about latel...This is something I have been thinking about lately. Thanks for shedding some light on it for me.<br /><br />~2Tomara Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17185889402088565686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-87527752641916807502009-09-02T15:51:32.442-04:002009-09-02T15:51:32.442-04:00oh my goodness...one of the series I've read h...oh my goodness...one of the series I've read had so much name dropping it was sickeninng. I started just skipping over large parts because it was Prada this and D&G that. Highly annoying. <br /><br />And I have a feeling companies haven't been looking into product placement for books because you never honestly know how a book is going to do before it is launched. unless, like Rick said, it was someone like Dan Brown or Stephenie Meyer.Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02200238579836754155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-31462641042973789522009-09-02T15:05:14.449-04:002009-09-02T15:05:14.449-04:00Wow, now I feel like I'm in Twilight Zone. I c...Wow, now I feel like I'm in Twilight Zone. I can say that right? I'm having some major issues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-17667845347655247892009-09-02T15:03:58.646-04:002009-09-02T15:03:58.646-04:00Sorry Rick, should have read all the comments befo...Sorry Rick, should have read all the comments before posting. Thanks for answering my question before I even asked. LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-49937862670583166202009-09-02T15:03:45.934-04:002009-09-02T15:03:45.934-04:00Sorry Rick, should have read all the comments befo...Sorry Rick, should have read all the comments before posting. Thanks for answering my question before I even asked. LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62984779703534954322009-09-02T14:58:05.930-04:002009-09-02T14:58:05.930-04:00Wow, that was helpful. I've wondered about tha...Wow, that was helpful. I've wondered about that. The other thing I've worried about was mentioning books, song, movie stars by name, and famous bands. Any opinions there?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34927246277230617512009-09-02T14:40:05.604-04:002009-09-02T14:40:05.604-04:00I've seen it so often that I don't even bl...I've seen it so often that I don't even blink an eye at it anymore, but I have noticed it works better when the brands mentioned are long-standing. Brands that are popular may only be fads, and it can date a book if something mentioned was only well-known during a specific time, such as certain internet sites in the 1990s, or beverages like Pepsi Clear. (This is assuming, of course, that the book isn't a historical, and the author would not want it to feel dated ten years down the road.) But Ford and Coke and Wal-Mart and the like have been around for so long, and probably will be for a long time, that everyone would understand it without attaching any historical significance to it.Kristin Laughtinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01536556357622503501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-13835618280217657702009-09-02T13:52:36.833-04:002009-09-02T13:52:36.833-04:00This was really helpful. I used a tv show name in...This was really helpful. I used a tv show name in one of my stories and have been wondering ever since if I should take it out.K.M. Cruzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371889386246308606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-82597943163531230382009-09-02T13:47:56.791-04:002009-09-02T13:47:56.791-04:00I'd wondered what the rules were. It seems har...I'd wondered what the rules were. It seems hard to avoid at least some product placement in creating character.Sheila Deethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465615546936319164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-51114747484476962532009-09-02T13:09:06.575-04:002009-09-02T13:09:06.575-04:00"and as of yet no company seems to be fightin..."and as of yet no company seems to be fighting the free advertising."<br /><br />No one has written about a serial killer who uses an Oral-B tooth brush to stab people with, I assume. It would so fun to be wrong though...Mamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04853842158606222286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-45375785962592343082009-09-02T13:05:19.568-04:002009-09-02T13:05:19.568-04:00I wondered about this. In one of my WIPS the heroi...I wondered about this. In one of my WIPS the heroine gets hooked on mani/pedis and I wanted to work in some of the funky OPI nail polish names (i.e. "I'm Not a Waitress". Wasn't sure if that would be a good thing (product placement) or a bad thing (copyright, licensing issues).Becke Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05347467350985614111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-84539817144076421222009-09-02T13:04:16.659-04:002009-09-02T13:04:16.659-04:00I'm glad you posted this. McDonalds and Walmar...I'm glad you posted this. McDonalds and Walmart make appearances in my book and up until now, McDonalds was 'a burger joint' and Walmart was 'a department store'. Identifying the stores will round out the picture.<br /><br />As always, great post!Beth Lightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-32638777101701807492009-09-02T12:59:43.003-04:002009-09-02T12:59:43.003-04:00Bane,
My guess would be that you can mention the...Bane, <br /><br />My guess would be that you can mention the characters, but not incorporate them into the story.<br /><br />Ex 1 (ok): "Who do you think you are, Indiana Jones?" she asked.<br /><br />Ex 2 (not ok): Keyser Soze came out of hiding once again...<br /><br />I wonder if the dynamics would change for an author like Dan Brown or Stephanie Meyer.<br /><br />If Dan Brown put out the offer to have Robert Langdon drink either Coke or Pepsi in the next novel, would either company pony up for a specific placement? <br /><br />Or if Bella from TWILIGHT were to have a new favorite beverage (other than blood, she got turned eventually, didn't she? Sorry. Moot point.)Rick Daleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173516899130463413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-19313268556220855192009-09-02T11:58:54.619-04:002009-09-02T11:58:54.619-04:00What about characters -- e.g., having a reference ...What about characters -- e.g., having a reference to 'Indiana Jones' or 'Keyser Soze?'Joshua McCunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367262185912463258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-88433842992096730252009-09-02T11:43:43.091-04:002009-09-02T11:43:43.091-04:00Your editor will let you know if what you're u...Your editor will let you know if what you're using is okay, or if you need to change something. Like my biker witches drive Harleys and that's fine, but when one of them is mixing up spells in the bathtub to to the tune of that Prince song from Pretty Woman, my editor said absolutely no lyrics, even in dialogue form. <br /><br />As authors, we just need to stay as true to the story (and our voices) and then let the chips fall where they may.Angie Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05843918280581285622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-88607980643650119302009-09-02T11:26:37.925-04:002009-09-02T11:26:37.925-04:00I have product names in my WIP. Didn't questi...I have product names in my WIP. Didn't question it! What I did question, however, is using names of places, such as a So-and-So Pub on 5th Avenue. <br /><br />I figured as long as it was just to set a stage - nothing negative- it didn't matter. Does it? Do I need permission to use a restaurant name or a line of a song?<br /><br />I just finished a chapter where the protag's companion thought about 'when he sang the words...' Is that a copyright matter?<br /><br />Shakin' in my slippers...Lillian Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488638666900705015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-68625096949856033862009-09-02T11:19:56.363-04:002009-09-02T11:19:56.363-04:00I use the names of cars a lot. And designers, too....I use the names of cars a lot. And designers, too. I think it helps give more insight into the character.Dale Bishophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136056378495563856noreply@blogger.com