I have heard that movies and TV shows get advertising or sponsorship money for featuring or endorsing products and brand names. This may or may not be true, but as a writer I think this would be a great thing for authors. If I am particularly fond of a product, place or service, I like to mention them - specifically and by name - in my books and stories because I like to promote them. I believe in these places and things and I want to help them attract more customers and I think others can benefit from visiting and/or doing business with them.
Writers can get into legal trouble if they misuse or misrepresent things that are trademarked. However, if a brand name is used properly and in a positive way, I think the owners of that product should consider sending a check to the writer.
I understand this could lead to some version of promotional purple prose of the worst kind if writers thought that businesses would send them money just for including a product or service in their stories or books. While I'm not clever or business-savvy enough to think of how, there should be some way that businesses could make sure such a thing was not abused.
Perhaps businesses could review books or stories that include their names, product or services and choose to show appreciation to the writer in the form of a book award. Maybe the winner could be chosen for the most interesting or intriguing use of a product, restaurant, etc., in a plot.
I think I may be onto something here. Who do I talk to about this?
www.jennifermballard.com
www.daylightsend.weebly.com
www.trustindarkness.weebly.com
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