Do You Need to Cite Your Sources in a Work of Fiction?

Although you are probably accustomed to citing your sources when you write non-fiction, some writers are often confused when it comes to writing fiction. Just because you've created imaginary characters, plots and settings doesn't mean that some of what you write in a fiction novel can't be true. So do you need to cite your sources in a work of fiction?

For example, let's say that you're writing a work of fiction based on detailed medical information gleaned from various sources. You're not a medical doctor, but you've been hitting the books for the last six months straight, talking to professionals at your local hospital and reading up on the Internet. You've got a pretty good handle on the information you need for your story, but of course, that information came from another source.

The difference between a work of fiction and a factual book or article is the way in which the information is presented. I learn new things from Robin Cook, Tom Clancy and James Patterson all the time, but I learn as the characters are learning or as the author narrates. In a non-fiction work, on the other hand, the author is speaking directly to the reader and must cite his or her sources on the information presented.

As a rule, writers don't cite their sources when it comes to works of fiction. They might give credit to the source of their information, but they don't include a works cited or bibliography page at the end of their novel. I've read a few that have, but it is far from the norm. Fiction writers choose to give credit in other ways, however, though not to protect themselves from plagiarism, but to give credit where credit is due.

Acknowledgements

One of the ways in which authors can cite their sources in works of fiction is to include an Acknowledgements page in the front matter. The Acknowledgements page is separate from the Dedication in that it gives clear information as to the source from which their information was gleaned.

For example, in the medical story mentioned above, the author might want to thank the doctors he or she interviewed, the books which were particularly helpful and any trade journals or articles they used for research.

Afterword

Many authors also use an Afterword as an alternative to citing their sources in a work of fiction. Unlike the Acknowlegements, an Afterword goes in the back of the book after the last chapter has concluded. Many authors of works of fiction prefer the Afterword to Acknowledgements because it may address latter chapters of the book which, if read first, may spoil the ending.

Credit in the Afterword is given in much the same way as in the Acknowledgements and includes names and sources from which information was used in the work of fiction.

Citing Your Sources

If neither an Acknowledgements or an Afterword page appeals to you, there is still the option of citing your sources, which should be done if you have used one of the following things in your work of fiction:

--Statistics

--Quotes from a Book or Person

--Reference to a Case Study

If any of those three things have been used in your work of fiction, you would probably be better off citing your sources. You can do this in the same way you would for a non-fiction work, using the MLA stylebook for reference.