Is Pinterest for Me?
The latest bit of social media I’ve been trying out is Pinterest. Here’s what Pinterest’s makers have to say about it:
“Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.”
I’m trying to find the best way to use Pinterest for A Life’s Work, but I must admit, I’m stumbling a bit. Is it just to collect Internet stuff that might be useful later? A glorified online bookmark with an image? With the added feature that other Pinterest users can follow my boards … because … they’re interested in stuff I pin to my board? Right now, I’m using it as a reminder for things to write about here (Billy Gibbons), a place to collect images and sites I want to use on the Facebook page (“All 786 Known Planets”), and a place to contain images that appear in some of my other work (“Words”). See the “Inspiration” board? There you’ll find Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling, a link to an article called “Six Filmmaking Tips from David Cronenberg,” and a recipe for chicken katsu don. What does that last one have to do with A Life’s Work? Not much, but I like chicken katsu don and that’s a good recipe.
If you’ve read this humble blog even sporadically, you probably know I have a semi-regular feature called “On the Corkboard,” so I feel like I’m already telling you about this stuff. Will I have to change that to “On My Pinterest Board”? Maybe. My physical corkboard is 5′ x 4′; my Pinterest boards can be significantly larger.
A Good Use
Robert David Sullivan, my fellow blogger at Extra Criticum, has found a great use for his Pinterest.
Robert writes, “Now I’m experimenting with Pinterest as another form of procrastination, but it’s actually helpful in arranging my posts so that they’re easier to browse. See the gallery of “Top 100 Sitcoms” here. ”
So, my question then: how do you use Pinterest? Or is this one you’re going to pass on? And do you have any ideas how I might make better use of it?
See also:
Jennifer Chen
I love Pinterest. I use my boards to post recipes, craft ideas, and fashion I like. Recently, I created a pinboard called Inspiration for my YA novel. I’m writing about characters who are into fashion so I pin jewelry, clothes, and accessories that I think my characters would wear or design. Then I write a little note to myself like “Abby would make jewelry like this.” It’s like a online character collage.
David Licata
Thanks for the comment, Jenn. That seems like a very good use of Pinterest.
Are your boards public?
Rita Flores
I like to use it for inspiration for my artwork. I have created boards around various themes like kitsch, tiki, comics and art. The creators of Pinterest discourage using it for self promotion so I pin my artwork on my boards where it fits the theme.
David Licata
Nice.
“… discourage using it for self promotion…”
Ha! I wish them good luck with that.
Good to see you around here again.
Jennifer Chen
Hey David, I think all the pinboards are public so yes mine is too. Here is my Pinterest page: http://pinterest.com/jchenwriter/.
I also like putting up quotes that inspire me. I think of it as a way to have a few virtual corkboards going of things that I love and since writing is part of that, I find it helpful.
David Licata
Nice, Jenn. I like what you’ve done. You and Rita have inspired me to get a move on and start pinning stuff.