Then about two months ago, I had a realization.
Pinterest isn't a tool for authors.
PINTEREST ISN'T A TOOL FOR AUTHORS.
I have another life outside of publishing. It's a good life too, where I make dinner and paint pumpkins and stuff.
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| Picture proof. All ideas from Pinterest! |
And that's what Pinterest is for! Suddenly, I've become addicted. And it has nothing to do with promoting my books, online interaction with fans, or anything writing related. Sure, it can be used for those purposes, but it wasn't designed as such.
So we shouldn't be trying to use it as such. And once I realized that, I fell in love with Pinterest.
Do you use Pinterest? Come follow me, and I'll follow you back so I can see what awesomeness you're doing in your real life!
No, I don't use Pinterest. I don't have time for another social media avenue though I'm seriously debating going on Twitter. I'm sure Pinterest is really good but I already spend too much time reading blogs.
ReplyDeleteI play around with Pinterest, but that's because I found it to be a great outlet for my photos. Plus, I love to use it to promote books and authors. I don't use it for my writing projects. I prefer to keep that info to myself.
ReplyDeleteI don't spend a lot of time on it. I'm trying to finish several projects first, then I can go back to playing around on it.
No interest in Pinterest.
ReplyDeleteHmm. Thanks for this. I've been considering Pinterest and talking about it with my other author friends so this really helps. One of the social workers at the school where I work has been trying to get me to join. She loves the funky crafts and recipes. She showed be a summer "wreathe" she made with a hot glue gun and flip flips. Just the sort of mindless diversion I could use between chapters:)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. It can be a bit of an escape from writing, highlighting my other likes in my life. However, I do use it for inspiration to write. Plus, I also collect images that lend visual clues to my stories. Helps me!
ReplyDeleteGlad to be pinning together & yeah, it's just a bit addictive.
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
I'm really in awe of how on top of social media you are. I barely keep up with blogs and twitter! I haven't dipped into pinterest because I'm afraid to get sucked in. It's tempting though :) Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteMartina
Sounds like fun! And it's so nice to have something outside of publishing sometimes, isn't it? (Love the pictures, too!)
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot about Pinterest, but I'm just not into starting up another social media right now. It does seems like a lot of people are having fun with it.
ReplyDeleteI just use it to keep track of the blogs I follow. lol
ReplyDeleteI've added a few things to my Pinterest account (animal pictures, book covers, books I've loved, etc.), but I haven't done much with it. I do like seeing the Pinterest pictures around. It's a very crafty site. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm resisting because there just aren't enough hours in the day!
ReplyDeleteI love Pinterest. I use Pinterest for many purposes because I'm such a visual person. But it makes me crazy to see companies use it for marketing instead of for building relationships with like-minded people. For example, I noticed my yogurt packages had a "P" on them right beside the F for facebook and the T for Twitter. That bothered me for some reason. You will not find my Greek yogurt "pinned" on any of my boards. I will head over to Pinterest now to find you Elana. :)
ReplyDeleteI felt like I had to come back and clarify something. I do think you can use Pinterest for marketing in clever ways. For example, I love seeing people's favorite books on a board. Or I actually have a board where I post "book inspiration" which is simply pictures that reminded me of some aspect of my current WIP. I just think Pinterest is mean to be a personal way of interacting with others and not a way to entice me to buy something. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteI set up an account months and months ago. At first I was in a surfing, pinning frenzy. But then I started reading all the thin ice of copyright information that is on there and the potential for liability. It also gave me the "thing" lusties-- I kept seeing bodies, clothing, hairstyles, vacations, homes, furniture,decadent food, that made me feel gluttonous for stuff I didn't have or need. I don't pin anymore and that's my Pin story.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter LOVES Pinterest - she's got hundreds and hundreds of pins. I'm not crafty enough to get addicted, but she is pinning all kinds of dream kitchen stuff for me!!
ReplyDeleteI adore Pinterest--it's a fun way to get inspired for my kitchen redo, travel ideas, food (even though I dislike cooking!), and, of course, story ideas and characters.
ReplyDeleteI'm MaryBrebner on it, if you're interested (I *think* I follow your boards...I'll have to look today).
It's relaxing to me, something I can do while watching the latest Supernatural or whatever.
I'm still on the fence about Pinterest. I may use it, soon, but I'm a little leery, still. If I do get on there, I will absolutely find you. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm deliberately avoiding it. Looks too addictive and I just don't need another time eater.
ReplyDeleteI totally adore Pinterest. I have a couple boards on there that are writing related but more for my own reference than to market or anything like that. (Not that I have anything to market. Sigh.) Love love love it.
ReplyDeleteThat's some awesome pumpkin painting going on! LOVE Pinterest!
ReplyDelete