Not for me, I’m not brave enough, but for one of my characters. I’m thinking of an uber-uptight heroine who has a slinky little tat on her lower back–some artwork she had done in defiance of who and what she’d become and to symbolise a change in her life and direction. I’m thinking something along the lines of the one on the left…or even the one on the right here but not anything as intricate or dominating as this one here:
Actually, I’m rather in awe of the work and artistry involved in this last pic. Such intricate detail. Note to any kids out there…”See, we do have eyes in the back of our head!”
So what do you reckon? Would a discreetly tattoed heroine put you off, or not?
Yvonne,
I think giving your character a tattoo is a cool idea. I’ve done the same thing for some of my characters and it seems to complete them in some way and allows for some backstory.
The extreme example of the guy with the eyes in the back of his head is really something!
Comment by smpd — 19 May, 2008 @ 5:15 am
no a tattoo on a h would not be a put off. I recently read a book where the h had a butterfly tattoo right under the bellybutton. I may be a little bias when it comes to tattoos because I have two. Went in and had three done but only have two (You figure it out and didn’t have one removed or have one fade). Besides I like that line “He kissed the little heart shaped tattoo on he hip.”=P~
Comment by Christa — 19 May, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
Yay, thanks smpd and Christa for answering on the tattoo question. I’ve always been fascinated by them and frequently start to think I wouldn’t mind having one myself but then I continue to fence sit a while longer. At the rate I’m going I’ll be making up my mind by the time I’m 80!
So, Christa, did you have one of your tattoos altered or made bigger?
Comment by yvonnelindsay — 19 May, 2008 @ 8:01 pm
I had one covered up with another. My first one I got I wasn’t really knowledgable about tattoos. I few people I hung around with suggested this one shop. The tattoo was supposed to be of of heart with a rose through it but he rounded the bottom of the heart so it looked like I had a freakin apple with a rose going through it above my right breast. About 3 years later I found another shop that was very clean and sanitary(the guy brok the needle he was using on you in front of you when done. But he told me I needed something bigger and darker than what was there. So instead of going for the common snke or panther that everyone has I went for a killer whale and there are a few waves of water. Then I have a unicorn standing on a cliff on the left shoulder.
Comment by Christa — 20 May, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
crab says : I absolutely agree with this !
Comment by crab — 27 May, 2008 @ 1:31 pm
Hm, I think I’d have to “believe” the tattoo, if it makes sense. It has to fit the character’s personality… if I think it’s hokey it might bother me throughout the book.
And … it’s a tattoo. That’s forever. On the other hand, it’s just a tattoo. (Especially a small discrete one pretty much nary a soul will see.) Personally, a hidden tattoo isn’t much of an act of rebellion to me. As a representation of something, maybe, yes.
As to whether or not I’ll ever get a tattoo… no. Haha, pain and I are not friends. Needles are even less my friends. Then, aging - skin stretching, sagging, wrinkling - or even if you gain weight… nope. Although, if ever I were to get a tattoo, I’d be sure to maintain that weight forever! [Or do my darnedest.]
Comment by limecello — 27 May, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
Hi Crab, so glad you agree, and Limecello, yeah, this tatt is going to come as a surprise to the hero when he discovers it, because the heroine is so straightlaced and career focussed but the tattoo definitely represents a choice for the heroine.
Comment by yvonnelindsay — 27 May, 2008 @ 10:04 pm