Okay, this is sort of a quirky blog subject, and it may wind up as one of the shortest posts to date, but here goes...
Tattoos: Do you got 'em? Want 'em? Love 'em or hate 'em?
Your Characters and Tattoos: Do they got 'em? Want 'em? Love 'em or hate 'em?
I've written a couple characters with tattoos. In my never-ending, OMG am I so very ready to be done with this book that I'm writing, rewriting, adding to, subtracting from, editing, rewording, repacing, revving up (you get the picture) there's a secondary character with an important role who has a fanged rattle snake tattooed around her wrist. She also has one cheek and both eyebrows pierced. This poor woman has been through the wringer and the tattoo and facial jewelry is her way of shouting her anger to the world.
Do you use tattoos or body/facial piercings in your stories to signify, express or decorate your characters?
Do you have any tattoos of your own? Do you want one, or plan on getting more?
29 comments:
Okay, I'll go first. Tattoos and family:
My DH has a tattoo of an eagle wrapped in an American flag on his upper arm.
None of my three brothers have tattoos.
My dad was in the navy during World War Two and managed to come back to the states without any tattoos.
My ex father-in-law had several tattoos from his days in the service. None were pretty. All were plain green ink -- things like the number seven on his hand. He always wore long-sleeved shirts, even in the summer, to cover up the tatts on his arms. Fear of regret is the biggest reason I never got tattooed.
When I was 17, I entertained the thought of getting a small butterfly on my ankle. Then I heard how much it hurts to get poked with a needle a kazillion times that close to a bone. Changed my mind on that one. Call me chicken. Whatever. I've been called worse.
I've seen some beautifully done tattoos, and then some that look like the artist used a Sharpie marker and a safety pin after first polishing off a fifth of vodka...
Body art is interesting to look at, and I understand how it's used for self expression, but I hate needles.
Tattoos are not for me.
I'll just keep tattooing some of the people in my stories.
How about you?
I've not had any characters with tattoos. In a western, I would think it would be the bad guy or a reformed hero (oooo, I like that) who would have a tattoo. I'll have to check into the history of tattoos in the west.
I like a nicely placed, well defined tattoo to look at. I've flirted with the idea of getting one. My husband just rolls his eyes when I comment on wanting one. My cousin has a beautiful, large butterfly tattoo on her left shoulder blade area. It has always looked nice. But I don't like people with so much they look like a 4 year-olds drawing gone amuck!LOL
My dad, who was in the Marines, has a devil dog on his forearm. It's the ugly green-black thing. He always told us don't get a tattoo unless you are proud to wear it the rest of your life. (Can you tell he's a marine!)
These kids who feel desecrating their body is a show of power or disrespect are only disrespecting their bodies and no one else. I think it's sad.
But the little I read about your character, Danita, I was interested and it sounds like you've broadened her role in this story. As I've said before, can't wait to read the whole thing!
Interesting Blog!
I like admiring tattoos on others (particularly men), but no tattoos for me! I'm leery of doing anything permanent. I enjoy a pretty fake one every couple of years at a fair or something, but I'm always really happy when it finally washes away--I guess I get bored quick. Plus, tattoos aren't DH's thing.
Which is probably why I like the idea of writing a hero who finds tattoos sexy--I like getting into different male heads :)
In my WIP, a secondary character has many tattoos and piercings that reveal her personality. The hero has a rather sexy tattoo too. Other books waiting in the wings also feature tattoos. I've got a bit of a crush going on Wentworth Miller from Prison Break, so I think that's why tattoos keep cropping up in my work.
Interesting, Danita. I like your use of tattoos and piercing as a way for your female character to shout her anger to the world.
My last bad guy had a tattoo. He had a non consequential one at first and then I realized I could change it to a symbol he's used as a trademark and make it work as an aha moment and so I did that. I've never given them to heroes or heroines, though I wouldn't not do it--it just never occurred to me.
In my own family--no tattoos anywhere until my kids. My son has many, some of them quite involved and colorful. I'm not all together certain why, but they mean a lot to him. He was terrified of needles as a kid. Obviously got over it. He bought my daughter a tattoo high up on her back, right below her neck. Hers is nice, too. Those of you with little kids will soon discover what everyone one of us knew as young adults growing up but which passed from our consciousness as we became parents of helpless little babies who needed us 24/7: grown kids are people who make their own decisions.
We saw lots of women in Hawaii with tattoos right at the base of their spine. My daughter mentioned they wouldn't be getting an epidural (sp) in the future as the needle for that procedure pushes the ink into a vein as it passes through and that is dangerous. I think I have that right.
Thanks, Danita,
Alice
Okay, can we talk?
Paty and Wavy -- if you were to bite the bullet and get tattoos, where would you get them placed, and what would they be of?
And you, Alice? Play along with me here.
And Paty, thanks for the comment on my tattooed cashier character. She does have an actual role in the story, besides just being a sullen store clerk. I knew she was important when I invented her, but it was one of those Aha! moments that made her part really clear to me.
Man, don't we love those Ahas? Ha!
Karen, where are you? Did you say you have a tattoo?
Eli, aren't you thinking about getting one?
Jen? Hello Jen? I know you've got at least two, don't you?
I don't have a tattoo. But I plan to get one as a reward for getting my body in better shape. I had wanted to get the family crest of my maiden name tattood, probably on my lower stomach to the side, or lower back to the side. But, I'm wary that the graphic I have for the crest is not "real" and that would be a bit frustrating. So I may get something else to represent my family.
I also like gardenias and the color pink, so I've tossed around a few ideas.
As far as for characters I don't recall putting a tattoo on a character. Well actually I think I did in a paranormal short story I wrote, an arm band or something.
Lisa, I could see you with a pink gardenia. Sounds pretty.
I can see your hesitation on the family crest -- kinda like speaking in tongues -- who knows for sure what they're saying? Maybe you can find an authority to verify the crest....
Alice,
You're welcome. For whatever it is you thanked me for. Ha!
Becky, what about you, girl?
Where would you have a tattoo inked? Maybe a dragon on your tush? Ha! Kidding. I'm thinking you're not a tattoo kinda kid, but I could be wrong.
How are you feeling? Better than at the meeting, I hope. Maybe a dragon tattoo is just the thing to cheer you up! Ha!
Rhonda --
I know you're out there reading this. Join in. You don't have to be a writer. You have stuff to share on this subject. It's easy to comment. Just do it anonymously if you want and sign your name at the bottom.
Come on, sis, try it, it's fun.
See you this weekend! Hope it doesn't pour on us...
Here I am, Danita. 8^) I've been working since I got up this morning. In fact I'm still in my jammies. I have a couple of ads I need to finish before my client goes out of town on a camping trip.
Tats. Nope, don't have one, but if I did I'd get a spiral on the inside of my ankle. The spiral symbol is special to me and it's my logo for my business. I just looked it up to see if it means anything, and it does. Huh. Linked to the "circle". Ancient symbol of the goddess, the womb, fertility, feminine serpent force, continual change, and the evolution of the universe. Wow. I had no idea.
My daughter has a tattoo on her upper arm. It's one of those cool geometric tribal tattoos that go all the way around her arm. Looks good on her. My son has some kind of a dragon thing on his arm. Icky. And my exhusband has a big dragon on one arm and a griffon on the other. My now-husband's skin is clear and perfect. 8^)
Piercings. None for me, thank you very much. I tried my ears a couple of times, but the holes got infected a lot so I let them close up. I don't wear earrings. My son has an earing and a piercing just above his chin. My youngest daughter has the corner of her lip pierced. My oldest daughter's ears are pin cushions.
I like the idea of giving characters tattoos. Haven't done that yet. Scars, yes. And distinctive birthmarks. But no tattoos.
Karen
Fun topic, Danita. :)
Alice, I never knew that about lower-spine tattoos and epidurals. Interesting. Of course, reading that, I could only hear Vince Vaughn's voice from The Wedding Crashers when he saw a girl with a tattoo on her lower back: "Might as well be a bull's eye." LOL
Oh, and for the record...Alice agreed to get a tattoo in Dallas.
I've not yet written a character with a tattoo. Don't know why, it just hasn't come up. I have plans for one in the future, though hers will be more of a birthmark/tattoo than something she got in a shop.
No tattoos for me yet. Though I do want to get one. Actually, if my book ever sells I'd love to get a tattoo of a Fury to celebrate the sale of my first book, though I have no idea where I'd put it yet. My DH is less than thrilled with this idea as Furies are rather ugly-looking creatures (From Greek Mythology, the Furies were three winged females with hair made of snakes who tormented evil-doers). However, the tattoo would be symbolic for me and my journey as a writer. Of course, the book has to sell first. ;)
My neighbor has a pink starburst on the top of her foot that I just love. I think it looks fabulous, though I've heard that's a painful place to get a tattoo.
By the way, if you're a habitual blood donor (I used to be in Colorado, but not since I moved here), remember that you can't donate blood within a year after getting a tattoo. That's kind of scary, to think your blood could be tainted just from the tattoo artist's needle.
Alice and Karen, now you're making me wonder if I really want one!
I have thought about this for a while and would like a tiger on the curve above one of my butt cheeks. You know not quite the back but not the cheek. I figure there's enough padding there it shouldn't hurt as bad! LOL
I LOVE the comic strip in our paper called ROSE. It's a wife and mother with a small boy who changes into a long haired, short leather skirt, sassy biker mama with a tattoo when she wishes to be more forceful. I LOVE that image it is so me!
Love the meaning and symbolism behind the spiral, Karen.
Same with me and piercings. My ears were constantly infected. Let them grow shut, changed my mind, repierced them with myself with an ice cube and a safety pin -- can you say, "I'm feeling woozy now?" I could only wear pure gold, too expensive of earlobes, so let them grow shut again. I can't even wear clip ons because all the scar tissue gets infected from the metal. Ah well, I like bracelets. No problems there, unless you count copper turning your skin green...I still sometimes get pierced earrings as gifts from peopel who are sure I have pierced ears. Frustrating
Alice, I got an email video clip about lower back tattoos recently. It was a spoof, and hilarious. It showed the progression of how a tattoo would look as a woman aged -- not flattering! And then showed this roll on cream that would--Youch -- burn it off, leaving a big, nasty scar. Anyway, very humorous.
I didn't know that about epidurals and lower back tattoos either.
Eli,
You and your fury reminds me of something I meant to say in the blog portion of today's topic (and what really made the writer/tattoo connection pop in my head. How could I have forgotten? Duh.)
One of my CPs, who writes a light, humorous mystery series about a big, beaurifl heroine named Ivy for an e pub(the covers are adorable)is getting most of her next cartoon cover tattooed on the left side of her back.
Now there's true love for your character. Ha!
Okay, Paty, remember when Elizabeth Boyle was talking the other night about our own, or our character's self-image, and how important it is to each individual?
Well, hon, I want to break this to you gently, but you as a tattooed biker bit#$ in a leather mini-skirt is not the image I have regarding you....I mean, you wouldn't even wear the western chaps without jeans on underneath...Ha!
LOL!! That's why I write! MY characters can be my alter ego!
Wow. Tons of comments today. I have a hard time thinking of an image I'd like to have with me for 50 years+ But if you MADE me get one, I'd get a butterfly--a replica of a butterfly drawing that DH did that has lots of personal meaning for me--I'd get that exact butterfly done on . . . oh gee I don't know. I guess my hip. Nothing too visible, but there's not a whole lot of spots I'd like to call attention to.
I did see an awesome knitting tatoo a while back that was almost enough to make one want one---it was on a lady's ankle/calf!
A knitting tattoo, Wavy? You mean like knitting needles and a ball of yarn?
For the record, Miss Eli, I did not agree to getting a tattoo. What in the world are you talking about?
I kept imagining all those perfect bikini clad tattooed bodies sashaying around the beach 70 years in the future in a nursing home. Not good.
I would get a rose. A pink one (though I hear my son has a red rose tattoo symbolizing---me! Nice, huh?) Anyway I would get a small pink rose on the outside of my right ankle.
If I were to get one which I am NOT. Eli, stop spreading rumors. Fun blog Danita. Paty--I can totally see you as Rose's alter ego! Eli--the fury sounds neat--pinpoint a spot honey and when your book sells, we'll all go with you to lend moral support.
Karen--I love the symbolism of your spiral.
Alice
Whoa, whoa, whoa, Ms. Alice. Shoe-eating and tattoo-getting. That's what we agreed on. I think we'll know this week if you have to eat that loafer. ;)
And happy belated bday wishes to Becky! (Friday was her bday). She's been sick, so, Becky, I hope this weekend you're feeling better and are able to celebrate in style. :)
Oh, Becky, I didn't know you were sick. Do hope you are feeling better.
Happy B-day!
Eli--am I to understand that if I win/lose, I get a tattoo, and that if I lose/win I get to eat a shoe? Does this make any sense to anyone?
Alice
Fun blog topic Danita.
I love all these comments! You girls are so fun.
Okay, first off, I personally don't believe in permanently marking my body with a tattoo, but I suppose if I did, I would want a really cool dragonfly on a twisted vine of some kind high up on the inside of my thigh, you know, close to "my area". LOL And I wouldn't want it very big. It would have to be quite small. A really colorful, flowing faerie might be fun too.
Basically the only time it would be seen is if I had on a bathing suit or I was naked. But it will never happen.
I'd get a henna tattoo, and once I let a guy paint my right calf with a hummingbird and flowery vine scene. It was beautiful. So much color. Much nicer than a tattoo. It eventually washes off and there was no pain involved so that was really fun.
I would put a tattoo on my characters if it fit the character and story.
And Paty, think of the Chinese and all the tattooing they did way back when. They would have been able to do it for the cowboys and miners of the time in history you write about. There were a lot of Chinese laborers in this country then. Very cool idea to think about.
Thanks for the birthday wishes. :) I had a horrid birthday because I've been so sick, but I'm on the mend now.
Alice, please don't get drunk in Dallas and let Eli rope you into getting a tattoo. LOL Remember, alcohol shuts down the reasoning part of your brain!!! :)
Fun topic! Thanks Danita.
Don't listen to Piper. Alcohol makes some people more fun. :)
Alice said:
Eli--am I to understand that if I win/lose, I get a tattoo, and that if I lose/win I get to eat a shoe? Does this make any sense to anyone?
Makes perfect sense to me. Anyone else?
Piper --
Just back from a three-day camping trip at the coast with DH's family. Very fun.
Happy, happy birthday. So sorry to hear you were ill. But so happy to hear you're feeling better.
The dragonfly on the twisty vine sounds nice, except I'd probably get it on one my tush. But, not gonna happen either.
Okay Eli and Alice,
I don't want to take sides here because if I do one of you will call me a brown noser, and it won't be Alice, but the loafer eating/tattoo getting thing really doesn't make a whole lot of sense...but could just be me. Does it have anything to do with Alice entering her book in a contest? Just curious.
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