Symbols in narrative or life can reflect and contain the unknown qualities of our psyche and experiences. Relating to symbols, becoming conscious of their meaning can add an extra dimension to the human condition.
Part 1
- Close your eyes. Think of a tattoo. Imagine where it is on the person’s body, and what it depicts. Imagine its colours, how it sits on the skin. Consider whether it signifies membership of a particular group, or has some other meaning, or is it simply decorative.
Spend around 5 – 10 minutes describing all of the above.
- Now describe the person who has this tattoo. At this stage it can be notes. Bearing in mind what you said previously, give as many details as possible about who they are – age, ethnicity, job, role, when they had the tattoo – why they had it, what they feel about it, the circumstances in which they had it, anything you can think of that gives information about this person and the tattoo you described first.
Spend 5 – 10 minutes on these notes
- Now imagine the same tattoo in completely different circumstances. Aim to be as polar opposite from the last exercise as possible.
Part 2
Choose one or more of the next items and write at more length, shaping the narrative into something meaningful. Write for 30 minutes.
A tattoo may:
- Represent or reveal theme
- Be used to evoke a concept or mood
- Reveal character/serve as characterisation
- Convey abstract concepts/morals/ideals
- Contain the seed of character transformation
- Help you find story energy or inspiration
- Reveal mystical, poetic, symbolic vision
- Evoke magical, mythological meaning
- Be a clue or otherwise pertain to a plot point
- Imagine a scene from your story where there will be a revelation involving the symbol, the tattoo. The revelation may cause strong emotion, embarrassment, or something else, for one or more characters.
- If your story is speculative fiction, fantasy, or incorporates mystical or mythical elements, the tattoo might become something different in the course of narrative events, and thereby change the character in some profound way.
- Tattoos may wear away, a tattooed body part might be lost, or a character’s tattoo symbol might be inked over with a new tattoo. A character may have a tattoo that has deep meaning to them or others, yet they may be the only person who knows about it.
- It may be about someone who does not yet have a tattoo. Do they want a tattoo? Are they being tattooed against their will? Has a character been marked or branded in some way?
- Imagine the tattoo as a character or symbol of something profound. What does it mean? What is happening to the symbol? How is the symbol changing the wearer, and how might the wearer change the tattoo?
Sara O’Mara – June 2025
Huddersfield Authors Circle 
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