Tattoos as a Literary Device

post by Michelle Griep

When I was growing up, the only tattoos my peers sported were stupid little X's or poorly drawn hearts on their knuckles or the back of their hands. A needle, some ink, semi-clean hands. Yeah, this flings the door wide open for life-threatening infections, but if you're engaging in risky behavior, you're probably of the mindset that you're invincible (aka an idiot).

And lest you die of suspense, no, I don't have a tatt.

Even so, nowadays tattoos are trendy. All the cool kids have one, or two, or fifteen. The dude that pierced my tragus (I said I didn't have any tattoos, silly rabbit, not piercings) had his entire right arm tattooed black. Even in literature, tatts are trending. Tattooing is practically a non-human character in the YA dystopian DIVERGENT, which portrays tattoos as a mark of virtue.

But just because they're popular, that doesn't make marring your body the right thing to do. Many people still frown on those doggone-hippy-dippy marks, feeling sure it's a sign that you'll burn in the nether regions for damaging what God created.

Controversial or not, there's no getting around that tattoos are relevant to today's culture. And exploring current issues (even in historicals) is a great way to connect with readers. Here are a few ways to think about using tattoos in your WIP.

Top 3 Ways to use Tattoos in Your Story

Give a character a tatt.
Generally, tattoos emit a tough connotation. The two prime characters in the running for this aura is your hero or your villain. Give your antagonist a creepy reptilian tatt. How about a symbol of honor for your antagonist? But let's not forget the heroine. That could be a surprise for both the hero and the reader.

Make a tattoo artist a character.
Think about it. Tattoo artists are interesting characters even outside of a book. Why not stick one in your story with all his/her quirks on display? Might make for an unexpected plot turn.

Birthmarks: The natural tattoo.
If you're theologically opposed to tattoos or you're writing of a culture or time period that didn't use tattoos, here's a freebie for you. Birthmarks. They come in all shapes and sizes and can be anywhere on the body, just like a tattoo.

Why should you bother with marking up the body of one of your characters? Because it can open up a whole thematic discussion about:

• Discrimination
• Personal body image
• Consequences of choices
• Outward symbol of an inward drive (either good or bad)
• Self hatred / love

Personally, I'm not going to rush out to my nearest tattoo parlor and get "Mother" inscribed on my bicep. But, if you feel so inclined, HERE is a site that shows you the 33 perfect places on your body to get a tattoo.

And if you're interested in reading a fantastic novel that's about a man covered in tattoos, check out one of my all-time favorite Ray Bradbury books, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN.

Like what you read? There’s more. WRITER OFF THE LEASH: GROWING IN THE WRITING CRAFT is a kick in the pants for anyone who wants to write but is stymied by fear, doubt, or simply doesn’t know how to take their writing to the next level.

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. Follow her adventures and find out about upcoming new releases at her blog, Writer Off the Leash, or stop by her website. You can also find her at the usual haunts of Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

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How a Writer Weighs an Idea. Six Questions.

by Alton Ganksy @AltonGansky 

How a Writer Weighs an Idea

Benjamin Franklin used a simple technique to judge the value of an idea. When considering a decision, the founding father would draw a single line down the middle of a piece of paper. On the left side he’d mark a +; on the right side he put a - (minus sign). He would then make a list of the good points, and one for the negatives.

If the pluses outweighed the negatives, then he felt the idea was a good one. Too many negatives and he moved on to another idea.

I’ve always thought it was a great technique but it failed to weigh the pluses and minuses. For example a minus might be minor taking three or four to have more value than a single plus. Of course the same can be said in reverse. So my Ben Franklin lists included a value with each plus or minus. Maybe I really love the idea. I’m enthusiastic and have been for some time. That plus will out weigh several minuses.

Over the years I developed a different approach to evaluate an idea: a series of 6 questions. Not every idea that comes to mind is worthy of our time, efforts, and money. Some concepts arrive dressed in fancy clothes and blowing party whistles. We court them, chat them up, and then, over time, notice that the idea is hollow and only pretended to have value. I needed a way to apply a little logic to what is often an emotional process.

These six questions help me think about the concepts rolling around in my head and to gauge what I really think of it. This approach can be used in any form of decision making.

There are two steps.

First, I ask the following questions:

1. Is it satisfying?

Am I going to enjoy this? Staying focused and diligent requires either fear or enthusiasm.) 

2. Does it make a difference?

I’m one of those people things my work should leave a positive impact on my readers. If I didn’t believe that, I’d be churning out work that entertains for a few hours then evaporates.

3. Is it meaningful?

Related to #2 is meaningfulness. Meaningful means—wait for it—full of meaning. I don’t like to work on junk, fluff, or nonsense. My writing goal has always been to make the reader think. 

4. Is it profitable to others?

Am I chasing this idea because I think I might enjoy it? Nothing wrong with that but for me it needs a little more reason to exist. For many of us, writing is more than a hobby or art, it is a way to make a difference. A big difference? Sometimes. A small difference? Often. Still, making any kind of positive impact on the world is a good thing. The world needs it.

5. Is it doable?

Am I the one to do this job? I have many ideas that I have no training for. While I believe I can learn to do almost anything, I have to ask if the project is worth the time and effort.

6. Does it provide income?

We all have to eat and, as the Bible tells us, a workman is worthy of his hire (to be paid).

The next step is application.

So what does this look like in real life? On my desktop I have a series of digital sticky notes of things I want to do. The ones that I find myself looking at the most I run through the six questions. Here’s one I did for my Writer’s Talk podcast: 

WRITER'S TALK PODCAST

•    Is it satisfying? [3]

•    Does it make a difference? [2]

•    Is it meaningful? [2]

•    Is it profitable? [3]

•    Is it doable? [3]

•    Provide income? [1]

Total = 14/18

As you can see, I applied a numerical value to each question rating my confidence in  its possibility of success. So a question gets a 3 for “yes, I believe that strongly,” a 2 for “yep, I feel pretty confident in this element working out,” or a 1 for “I have reservations.”

In this example, I gave the first question a 3 because I enjoy doing the program. I love to talk to writers and learn about how they work. The second questions I assigned a 2 because the program helps some writers but not everyone. Is Writer’s Talk meaningful? I think so and gave it a 2. (There are many days when I would give it a 3.)

Is it profitable. I believe it can be of great use to writers and others in the publishing universe as well has help writers promote their work. 

Is it doable? Turns out it is. I’ve done 70 programs and will be doing more this year.

Does it provide income? No, not yet, and it may never do so. But if the program get’s a foothold, I believe people will support it.

Decision making can be confusing. Too many thoughts, ideas, and concepts make feel like we’re riding a runaway train. The key is to get our thoughts in order, taking one idea at a time, evaluate it, then move on.

How do you weigh your decisions?

Alton Gansky writes novels and nonfiction. He is the host of Writer's Talk and the director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. When not writing, editing, blogging, podcasting, and the such things he likes to eat and sleep. To get the real down-low on Al visit www.altongansky.com

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When Your Muse Takes a Spring Break

See if you can track with the following situation…

Your week is slammed—chock full of appointments and meetings and pulling together tax documents that you don’t want to pull together in the first place. But, dutiful writer that you are, you realize you must take time to write or it’s not going to happen. So you whip out a crowbar and pry open a block of precious hours to work on your bestseller. It’s hopeful. It’s a handhold on your rockslide of a schedule and you’re looking forward to it.

Fast forward. The blessed time has arrived for you to lose yourself in the muse and surge ahead in your WIP. Java in one hand, laptop in the other, you cozy up in your favorite chair, ready to write and…

Nothing flows. Not one word. Apparently your muse didn’t get the memo. Your mind is blank and you are exhausted. Panic sets in. This is your only chance to write for the week and you don’t want to blow it. So you sit there with a crazed look on your face, whimpering.

Any of this sounding familiar? It happens to me. Frequently. Take a few deep breaths and read on, because after all my experience, I’ve got a few tricks in my bag that are often helpful.

Shut Up & Listen

Close your eyes for a moment and listen to your characters. Just listen. Then open your eyes and write down what they’re saying. That’s right…I’m giving you permission to simply write dialogue. Don’t worry about the attributes or setting. You can go back and do that later. Simply start typing in a conversation between two of your characters (any two) and something cool will happen. You’ll get lost in the dialogue and pretty soon your word count will sky rocket.

Show & Tell

Open up to your collection of pictures that inspire your particular story. And if you don’t have any, then use this time to get some. What am I talking about? HERE’s a sample of one of mine on Pinterest. If you want to go old school, then cut out some magazine pictures and slap them on some cardboard. Sometimes all it takes to get you writing is to physically look into your hero or heroine’s eyes.

Slash & Burn

Go back to a previous chapter and edit. Even if your muse doesn’t happen to show up during your entire block of scheduled time, at least you’ll be making some kind of headway on your WIP, and you’ll feel a lot better about it.

Bend & Stretch

Release the pressure by telling yourself it’s quality not quantity that matters. Focus on writing a single paragraph of description, either describing a character, a setting, and object, whatever. Make it a game by throwing out convention and using prose that’s crazy. One of two things will happen. This exercise will either spur you into a creative new bent for the scene and you’ll move on in your story…or you’ll wonder what kind of drugs you’re on and snap out of it.

Chocolate & Chocolate

Honestly, is there any situation that chocolate doesn’t make better? Go for the biggest brownie in the batch and see if that doesn’t put you in a different frame of mind.

There you have it. Try one. Try them all. Or go ahead and share in the comment section other surefire ways you’ve pled with your muse to pack up the suntan lotion and get home.

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas…professionally, however, for the past 10 years. Her latest release, UNDERCURRENT, is available by Risen Books. You can find her at: Writer Off the Leash, www.mmgriep.com or on Twitter, Facebook, or 

Pinterest.

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