From the Ineradicable Stain that is Shelley Jackson's website:
Writer Shelley Jackson invites participants in a new work entitled "Skin." Each participant must agree to have one word of the story tattooed upon his or her body. The text will be published nowhere else, and the author will not permit it to be summarized, quoted, described, set to music, or adapted for film, theater, television or any other medium. The full text will be known only to participants, who may, but need not choose to establish communication with one another. In the event that insufficiant participants come forward to complete the first and only edition of the story, the incomplete version will be considered definitive. If no participants come forward, this call itself is the work.
I'm actually thinking about this, which may or may not have anything to do with the fact that it's 1:30 am.
Colin,
Sounds like an idea inspired by the movie "Memento." Do the participants get to choose where the tattoo goes? Does the author pay transportation costs? I've been thinking about getting a tattoo ever since my daughter had her daughter's name written on her arm. What do you think? Can a grey haired, over weight, fifty year old English teacher pull off that kind of image?
Nancy
I actually heard about this idea from one of the to-be participants. I betchya can't guess who...
Hi, Nancy!
My understanding is that the only rule is that the word, if it names a body part, cannot then be placed on the part of the body it names. Other than that, it can go anywhere. I think you're required to send photographic verification of the tat once you get it...