Updated 30 April 2021

What is “Tuckerisation”?

When an author uses a real person’s name for a character, place, or thing in their story, this is called tuckerisation. It was (ironically) named after Arthur Wilson “Bob” Tucker, who used the names of friends and fans in his works.

The Policy

As a writer, my craft is words. However, as a human, I unfortunately make errors in my manuscripts. Despite numerous edits and proofreads by myself and others, these errors may wiggle their way into print or digital copies of my published stories.

I offer an interesting proposition to you as the reader. If you spot an error in one of my published works (any short story, novelette, novella, or novel), I offer you the opportunity to be tuckerised in one of my future stories.

I may also offer tuckerisation to people I work with, friends, family members, supportive fans, or randomly if I ever get the urge. In these situations, there need not be any typographical error found.

How to Get Tuckerised

NOTE: Once a reader has found a specific error, no other reader can use that error to claim tuckerisation.

You will need to provide your full name (or a variant of your name), as well as evidence of the error you have found. Please follow this procedure:

  • Use the Contact page on this website: provide chapter number, page number, and the context in which the error is found so I can easily locate the error.

As an extra reward for your keen eyes, your name will also go on the Wall of Honour on this website, along with the character after which you have been named and the name of the story/stories in which that character appears.

Multiple Tuckerisations and Same Reader Names

The same reader can claim multiple tuckerisations if other errors are found. In this case, the character may appear in another story (excellent if he/she is in a series) or maybe that name will be used to commemmorate the character in-story. Additionally, readers sharing the same surname or the same full name will not be hindered by the name’s popularity. We will simply figure out some variance of a name or nickname to use as your character.

Use of Name

Here are some possible outcomes for tuckerisations:

  • I write a lot of military science fiction. The sad fact is that people die in the armed forces. You might have the honour of dying in some battle centuries in the future. Or, maybe you’ll have a military plan named after you, or a ship or space station.
  • I also write humorous science fiction. Maybe something funny or strange will happen to your character.
  • There’s a fair bit of science in science fiction. Maybe a new element is added to the periodic table, named after you, the scientist who discovered it. Or perhaps you were the pioneer who explored a planet, and now it is named in your memory.
  • Maybe I just need to name a character and your name fits the bill.

The opportunities for tuckerisation are limitless! While I try my best to provide error-free stories, I recognise that I can turn mistakes into something fun that both reader and writer can enjoy. Happy reading!