 | A while ago, I wrote about the benefits of using Pinterest in promoting your writing and subsequently your business. This part of social media has the ability to let you gather research material from hundreds if not thousands of topics and people. Yes, it’s also a place to add to your recipe collection, collect gardening and quilting thoughts and plan an event. But let’s have a look at what Pinterest can do for you as a writer. Keep in mind, I use the term writer in a broad context, encompassing those who prepare manuscripts for novels to those looking for new blog subject matter. |
Consider Pinterest as your very own research tribe. They are busy day in and day out collecting pictures, articles and how to’s in one place for you to pursue at your leisure. They are hard at work for you 24/7/365.
So how is this helping my writing if I am spending hours looking through Pinterest posts?
Humans are visual by nature, and Pinterest is most obliging in this area. We imagine things in our mind, but when we see it for real, right there in front of us, the details are sparked to life.
Take the visualization one step further. Planning and plotting scenes for a novel can be taxing on the thought process as well as time consuming.
You want a castle, green grass, blue sky with wispy clouds and a 1930’ish car driving up to its gates. This pretty much sums up the scene, however, you still need/want details to make the scene come alive. To make it memorable.
A click, click, click of your computer mouse takes you to the enthralling world of Pinterest where the search box is the place to start. Entering words such as castle will get you 1000’s of pins from around the world. Not necessarily a good thing if your book is set in a particular country. The need to have believable architecture described within your writing requires a more defined search. Type in the country and the word castle. Voila, pictures, articles and blog links are now there to glean all the information you may need, and probably more.
Now you’re on a roll and loving Pinterest! Using it to bring to life the imaginative thoughts you aspire to write. It is a place to find fashion styles and food from the era you are writing about. Science fiction lovers will spend hours looking at futuristic and historic topics.
The downside of researching on Pinterest is the hours turning into days as you go in search for scenes, character profiles, attire, housing and transportation.
The upside? You have visual and written research available at your fingertips in one central location. And, you can add to your information at any time, day or night.
Set up Boards within your Pinterest account (which is free) to save your finds (pins) in. If you are not ready to share your research with the world, a private (only you see the board) setting is available by a following a few steps when setting up the board.
Do you already use Pinterest for research on your projects? Tell us how.
So how is this helping my writing if I am spending hours looking through Pinterest posts?
Humans are visual by nature, and Pinterest is most obliging in this area. We imagine things in our mind, but when we see it for real, right there in front of us, the details are sparked to life.
Take the visualization one step further. Planning and plotting scenes for a novel can be taxing on the thought process as well as time consuming.
You want a castle, green grass, blue sky with wispy clouds and a 1930’ish car driving up to its gates. This pretty much sums up the scene, however, you still need/want details to make the scene come alive. To make it memorable.
A click, click, click of your computer mouse takes you to the enthralling world of Pinterest where the search box is the place to start. Entering words such as castle will get you 1000’s of pins from around the world. Not necessarily a good thing if your book is set in a particular country. The need to have believable architecture described within your writing requires a more defined search. Type in the country and the word castle. Voila, pictures, articles and blog links are now there to glean all the information you may need, and probably more.
Now you’re on a roll and loving Pinterest! Using it to bring to life the imaginative thoughts you aspire to write. It is a place to find fashion styles and food from the era you are writing about. Science fiction lovers will spend hours looking at futuristic and historic topics.
The downside of researching on Pinterest is the hours turning into days as you go in search for scenes, character profiles, attire, housing and transportation.
The upside? You have visual and written research available at your fingertips in one central location. And, you can add to your information at any time, day or night.
Set up Boards within your Pinterest account (which is free) to save your finds (pins) in. If you are not ready to share your research with the world, a private (only you see the board) setting is available by a following a few steps when setting up the board.
Do you already use Pinterest for research on your projects? Tell us how.
Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life
"Capturing moments others may never get to experience."
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life
"Capturing moments others may never get to experience."
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