If you write a story based on a real person, you're trapped by the details of the real person and his life. It gets in the way of writing your own story.

To create a character who really interests you, try combining aspects of your favourite fictional character with a real person.

I'm not a real person. I'm a legend.

I'm a real person. I have real feelings. I have real thoughts. It's a quality people like about me. They can reach out and touch me. I wouldn't give it up for anything.

Only write a story that only you can write.

While 'Precious' isn't a real person, it's someone's story, and it's too many peoples' story.