Lady Gaga, no stranger to press, made headlines in 2010 with her literary tattoo: a quote from poet Rainer Maria Rilke. Whether or not you respect the pop princess, follow in the footsteps of celebrities and celebrate your favorite author by donning your favorite quote. If you can't recall a favorite quote from memory, reread selected pieces by that author and highlight all of the passages you adore. At the end, select the words that you find most personal and relevant. (And for a conversation-inspiring extra, place an asterisk after the quote and tattoo the name of the author on your foot -- a literal footnote.)
When you get the quote tattoed, double and triple check that the tattoo artist spells all of the words correctly.
Tattooing a favorite character on your body allows you to carry him everywhere you go. If you have trouble narrowing down between multiple characters, choose the character who inspires you. Furthermore, if the tattoo is visible to the world, use a piece that "announces" you and your personality. For example: if you love Alice in Wonderland, think of which character properly represents your persona. A clever but helpful person should try the Cheshire Cat; an exploratory yet naive person may work best with Alice herself.
With major bookstores like Borders filing for bankruptcy or closing in the second decade of the 21st century, many see the paper novel as a dying breed. For those bibliophiles that love not only characters, plot and language, but hold the book itself in equally high regard, tattoo your favorite novel cover on a part of your body. This action celebrates and ensures the life of the art of bookmaking.
Because of the square face of a book-cover tattoo, place it somewhere resistant to stretching. If the location does stretch, you want it to stretch evenly with time.
Instead of expressing your admiration for a character or part of a novel, become part of a literary work by creating a tattoo that allows you to embody the story. For example, if you see an irony in your own vanity, embody Ozymandias and print the legendary quote on your back or chest: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" If you see yourself as a modern Achilles, tattoo slashes across the eponymous tendons to commemorate the great antihero of the Iliad.