Carol McAdams Moore

A Note from Carol McAdams Moore

Do you remember the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words? Sometimes that is difficult for authors to embrace. We are used to painting pictures with our words. Using an actual picture to communicate an idea makes us stop and reroute our creative process.

If you are an author, or an aspiring author, it is important to take that “reroute” to capture the attention of your readers. Why? Pinterest is a growing avenue of social media. The savvy author will have a well-planned presence on Pinterest.

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is an online site. It allows individuals to gather and save pictures. The pictures are organized (or pinned) onto board. You can explore the introduction to Pinterest here. The beauty of Pinterest boards is that others can see individual pictures and click to a page that shows all of your boards. (I’ll write more about that next month.) They can also “click through” to your author website. Pinterest provides free, visual advertisement for your writing. It can get the word out that you are an author.

Does Pinterest cost money?

No. However, you do need to create an account to pin pictures. It is not that scary. Read on!

How do I get started?

This month, let’s begin with exploration.

First, take some time to explore the Pinterest site. Check out the boards of some of the CAN authors.

• Crystal Bowman is a children’s author. Look at Crystal’s Pinterest boards here.
• Jocelyn Green writes historical fiction. Here is the link to Jocelyn’s Pinterest boards.
• Georgia Shaffer writes about taking out emotional trash. Look at her Pinterest boards here.

Next, visit the Home Feed area of Pinterest. You will see pictures (pins) as other people pin them to their boards. It is a current, rolling display of new activity on Pinterest.

Finally, take some time to think about your own writing. Begin to make a list of things that describe you as an author and things that describe your work.

1. Who are your readers?
2. Do you write fiction or nonfiction? If you write fiction, in what genre is your work?
3. What are some topics related to your writing?

Next month, I will explore ways that authors can get actually establish Pinterest boards to effectively get the word out about their work. Remember, bring your list to the above questions. See you then!

Many blessings on you and your writing –

Carol