Pinterest Tips for Authors, Part 1

So excited to have former Alleycat, Sarah Forgrave with us today talking about PINTEREST!!

Welcome SARAH!

 

I've recently jumped headfirst into the world of Pinterest and love it so much that Pepper invited me to share my enthusiasm here on the Alley. To which I said, “Of course!” J

Pinterest can be a fantastic tool for authors to create a human connection to their friends, readers, and fellow writers.

As I started mining this topic, I had so much to share, I’ve decided to split it into two parts. This post will focus on ideas of what authors can pin to enhance their presence and brand. Next week, I’ll talk about specific ways you can connect with the people you hope to find on Pinterest.

So let’s dive in with What to Pin:

1)      Research – Many authors create boards for a specific topic they’re researching for their books, such as historical events or setting details. Pinterest can be a great way to store all those resources in one place.

 

2)      Storyboards – I’ve done this for my Guideposts story that just released and also for a full-length book I’ve recently finished. These boards can include character photos, setting photos, sayings that relate to the book, or any other items that give your readers an overall sense of the story and ignite their interest.

 

One example of how this can increase reader engagement: When I was reading my friend Jody Hedlund’s book, Unending Devotion, I wanted to really picture what the hero looked like. So I looked up her Pinterest board and found the photo she’d posted of an actor who resembled her hero. The detailed visual made me dive in and love the book all the more!

 

3)      Any topics related to your books and/or writing themes – For me, this might be organ donation, since the heroine of my latest book is a heart transplant recipient. Or I also pin a lot of health and fitness information and motivators. Both of these topics are found in my books and are also things I’m deeply invested in in real life. Historical writers might post beautiful flowing dresses that relate to the time period they write. (Laura Frantz is famous for this.)

 

4)      Anything else that interests you – Even if it doesn’t relate specifically to your book, enjoy all the fun that Pinterest has to offer. By pinning the things that interest you personally, it will make you more human to your readers. For instance, I love to pin recipes, inspirational quotes, travel photos, reading and writing quotes, mom tips and encouragement, and more. Any time we connect with others on an organic level, the stronger that connection will be.

 

5)      Secret Boards – These are found at the bottom of your profile page and are only visible to you, meaning they don’t show up in anyone’s Pinterest feed and no one can see them when they view your profile. They can be a great tool for writers. For instance, I like to find intriguing photos of people that would make great future characters. I’ve created secret boards for future heroes/heroines where I store all these photos for possible use later, when I would then pin them to their official storyboard. Some authors choose to create future hero/heroine boards and make them public. Neither way is right or wrong. It’s just up to you to decide if you want all your writer friends to steal that one amazing character from under your nose. J

Of course, these are all suggestions to spark ideas, not black-and-white do’s and don’ts. Take what resonates with you and feel free to skip the rest. The most important thing is to have fun and post what interests you.

Have you joined the wonderful world of Pinterest yet? Why or why not? What are your favorite things to pin?

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Sarah Forgrave is a work-at-home mom who feels blessed to do what she loves – raise her two children while writing stories that inspire. Her work has been featured in Guideposts’ A Cup of Christmas Cheer, as well as the webzine Ungrind and the Pearl Girls™ book, Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith. When she’s not writing, she enjoys teaching fitness classes, shopping the produce section of her local grocery store, and hanging out with her family in their Midwest home. To connect with Sarah, you can find her online at her website, her Facebook page, and, of course, Pinterest.

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Research photo by audfriday13/FreeDigitalPhotos.net