What Tattoos Teaches Us About Writing Books

Getting a tattoo and writing a book have more in common than you might think. Here are just a few lessons writers can learn from getting a tattoo.

First things first, figure out what you really love. What really speaks to your soul.

In the case of tattoos, this might be geometric tribal swirls or cartoon cats or roses wrapped in thorns. In stories, it might be a hero’s tragic ascent to power where they lose themselves in pursuit of success or it might be a doomed romance between two lovers separated by an entire ocean.

Either way, you want to make sure that whatever you’re devoting your time to matches who you are and what you want to say to the world. Because it’s damn near impossible to take it back when it’s finished. Which brings me to my second point.

Do your research. A tattoo is permanent and so is your book. So do your research, whether that’s exploring the slang and idioms of 1850s Japan or figuring out how to hide a body and get away with it, any inaccuracies are sure to be pointed out by readers and rabid internet reviewers alike.

Best to take your time, do your research, and get it right. Because once it’s done, it’s done. There’s no going back.

Also, research should go beyond simply learning facts and trivia for your book just as…