distinctive

[truepenny]

I'm, um, done.

Provisionally speaking, since my director has the Hamlet chapter and may want more things to happen to it.

But everything I said I was going to do in various recent to-do lists is done.

No, really.

Except for the part where I'm suddenly consumed with the guilty belief that I haven't done enough and I'm a slacker and a loser, and the Secret Police of Academia are going to come and drag me away for being a fake and a fraud (they lock you in a room that contains every book Harold Bloom has ever written or edited, and nothing else). But aside from that, I'm done.

Criminy.

Which means it's time to ask a question. For years now, I've been saying that when I got my Ph.D., I was going to mark the occasion by getting a tattoo. And it's really reaching the point where I'm going to have to put my money where my mouth is.

So, the question is: what should I get a tattoo of? (I don't promise to take anyone's advice on the subject, but I'm curious to see what y'all say.)

Also, anyone who wants to tell me about their tattoos, or about their experience of being tattooed, or anything of the sort, should feel free to do so, and to go on at as much length as they like. Because I'd love to hear people talk about it.

Comments

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

really, it's far too late to develop Imposter Syndrome *now* ;) Congratulations!!!

[larryhammer]

I've always said that, if I ever get a tattoo, it'd be e^iΠ + 1 = 0 (unless I went for Maxwell's equations). But that doesn't exactly make sense for a lit'ry doctorate.

---L.

tatoo suggestion

[lisajulie.livejournal.com]

a wreath of laurel leaves? or possibly a spiral arm wrap of some poisonous leafy plant mentioned in an obscure tragedy?

re: your accomplishment of learned wordsmithing, I offer nearly nonverbal congratulatory sentiment:

[renenet.livejournal.com]

Ohmygodnoway! No, way! Awesome!

p.s. the spellchecker wants to make "Ohmygodnoway" into "Armageddon."

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

Shakespeare, of course. The Droueshout engraving. :)

And congratulations on finishing the dis!

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

A scarlet pimpernel?

[pameladean]

Whoop! Congratulations!

Pamela

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

I was going to say Hamlet.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_swallow/]

<dances>

[janni.livejournal.com]

Except for the part where I'm suddenly consumed with the guilty belief that I haven't done enough and I'm a slacker and a loser, and the Secret Police of Academia are going to come and drag me away for being a fake and a fraud

I thought the Secret Imposter Police only came after fiction writers.

[kate_nepveu]

Congratulations! I have no tattoo, but I've read that tattoos over bony areas hurt more but distort less. That is the sum of my knowledge.

[magentamn.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!!

Perhaps a tatt of a book, or scroll? If you've never had one, the advice I've always heard is to start with something small and inconspicuous.

I still don't have one; the needle phobia is too strong.

[heresluck]

...I'm suddenly consumed with the guilty belief that I haven't done enough and I'm a slacker and a loser...

As the person who has arguably seen more of the process than anybody but mirrorthaw and the director, I am here to tell you that you are neither, that you have done plenty, that you are, in fact, done. Stop with the overachiever flailings and start revelling in the done-ness.

As for the tattoo -- I suggest cute talpidae, but mostly just to make you smirk. I think the most important thing is to get it, whatever it turns out to be, somewhere *you* can see it -- ankle, arm, wrist, etc.

[redbird]

You are not an impostor.

Furthermore, since you have no desire for an academic job, they have nothing to threaten you with.

I have no specific tattoo suggestions, only the general thought that if you haven't already settled on something, take some time to think on it and be sure you get the right thing.

[redbird]

Conversely, the advice I've heard is to make the first one bigger, that many people regret how small their first tattoos are.

If one is worried about being conspicuous, there are plenty of places for ink that will be covered by clothing most of the time.

[menin-aeide.livejournal.com]

the Secret Police of Academia are going to come and drag me away for being a fake and a fraud (they lock you in a room that contains every book Harold Bloom has ever written or edited, and nothing else).

Could be worse, though: a room that contains every book written by Naomi Wolf...

But anyhow, congratulations. You have no idea how much I envy you.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

I saw that and it's gorgeous.

I guess one question is: how do/did you choose what images to use? Do you pick things with particular significance, or just things that are lovely?

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Oh hell no.

I mean, I get them over on the fiction side, but nowhere near as bad. Not sure whether that's because I'm simply more arrogant about my fiction-writing abilities, or because grad school grinds up egos like the giant in "Jack and the Beanstalk."

[eeyorerin]

I felt that way too and I still feel that way (especially at night), but they haven't come and taken the degree back yet. I'm hoping it's just something one gets over, like a bad cold.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

As the person who has arguably seen more of the process than anybody but mirrorthaw and the director

You've actually seen more of the process than Mirrorthaw has. He hasn't read any of it.

The poor lamb just has to live with me, is all.

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the done-ness! ::confetti::

[janni.livejournal.com]

And I find the fiction-side imposter voices far louder than the web design and nonfiction writer voices. Or maybe I don't care as much there--it's okay if I fool people in that realm, so long as it helps me make a living and support the fiction side ...

[elisem.livejournal.com]

Yes, there are indeed plenty of places. (As you know, truepenny, and you too, redbird, I have a lot of ink on me, but it's pretty easy for friends never to know that unless I say something about it.)

If you just want a tattoo as an occasion-marking event, and are more into it as, well, punctuation of the ordeal than as a piece of art that becomes part of you, I'd suggest something small and coverable but displayable in public if you wish to do so.

If it were a publication celebration, I'd suggest a tiny copyright symbol somewhere. For this, though... a tiny quill pen keeps coming to mind. With an inkwell. Either that, or a manuscript representing the project, tied and sealed with wax. But the pen seems more appropriate.

P.S.

[elisem.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!
Woo-hoo!
And many big yays of yayfulness!

[ex-greythist387.livejournal.com]

Well done! You seem very much not to be a slacker re: dissertating, from afar at least.

they lock you in a room that contains every book Harold Bloom has ever written or edited, and nothing else

Eeeek.
There'd be a bit of interesting stuff in there, but probably anyone who set up such a room would require that his introduction be reread each time one cracked a volume.