{So, I decided to start yet another series of posts for the best reasons of all: because this is my blog, and because I can. It’s simply titled, The Magic of Writing—that indefinable, ineffable relationship between the writer and the muse.}
A picture’s meaning can express ten thousand words.
So, thanks to Rebecca Enzor (and indirectly, Amber West), I became thoroughly addicted to Pinterest this weekend. I loved creating my pretty vision boards, hunting down beautiful images to “pin” to them. I’ve always wanted to create huge vision boards for my novels, and with Pinterest, I created one for each of my works in progress in a matter of hours.
The best part? Finding an image that resonated with a specific WIP so well, that new scenes and subplots emerged from seeing them. I also love that certain images captured a mood that I’ve tried to convey in the past, but couldn’t really grasp, and I’d end up losing that mood or forgetting what it was that I’d wanted to say. Now, I can just click on one of my boards, and relive the moment until I have the right words to express whatever scene I want to write.
(Sidenote: I love all my WIP boards, but the one that’s most precious to me is simply labeled “First,” with images that remind me of my first novel. It gives me hope that one day I’ll have the skill to execute WIP1.)
There are so many uses for Pinterest, and honestly, I have to be careful to remember that it’s a tool to support my writing, and shouldn’t take the place of my novel writing. (SO ADDICTIVE. Srsly.) But, I so enjoy being able to experience my works in progress in this way and keep my muses inspired to continue working (and by working, I mean playing ^_^).
Are you visual like me? Do you have other methods to keep your muses inspired?
(*If you want to see my vision board for my current work in progress, CLICK HERE.) 🙂
Liza Kane 
You’re very welcome!! and I know right? I just want to live in those images!
Hey! Thanks for being so supportive of my upcoming novel…so nice of you to tweet and visit my blog 🙂 I LOVE your vision board. Amazing pictures…wow.
Wow… This looks like something that I need to keep away from. I’ve been looking for artists for my web site, and I can just get lost in stuff like this. I’m addicted to looking at art. If this was all inspired by your WIP, it must be something else! Thanks for sharing!
Yes, it’s too strong for me to resist, so I *only* click on it at specified times! ^_^
Wow! I love the vision board for your WIP. What a fun project!
And it makes me REALLY curious about the book…
I myself am not terribly visual. I am auditory. I have a playlist for each WIP and listen to them quietly in the background as I write. They speak to me of the characters, of the relationships, the struggles, and even of the settings. I love my playlists!
Thanks Eve! And yes, oh so fun! My WIP isn’t really steam punk, but a lot of the “look” of my characters seem to fit a lot of steam punk models/ad campaigns ^_^
I think I’d be more playlist inclined if I had mp3s for me to arrange/make up. Right now, I’m Pandora dependent (though, my stations are set up to create mood, I still would prefer to recall certain songs on demand). My music helps me more in a workout sense: keeps the adrenaline up so I have the energy to push through my body’s pesky need to sleep 😉
Wow! Never heard of this, but I love the concept! Scared to look into it, I too get addicted to such things and I’m easily distracted. But it sounds so COOL! hmmm *ponders*
Full disclosure: it’s RIDICULOUSLY addictive! But, I think I’m to the point where I don’t need to be on it for hours at a time like I was over the weekend. My boards are pretty much set, and aside for my board labeled “Empire” (my WIP4), I haven’t really added many more images to them. Empire is my epic fantasy so LOTS of images remind me of it.
This is so cool. Music inspires me, helps me fill up plot holes and create a mood. I will have to check out this site.
If you decide to create boards, let me know! I’d love to follow you!
Your boards sound amazing, and I love the idea of Pinterest! I’m not as big on visuals and music to inspire writing (and I can only write to instrumental music), but I LOVE hearing about people who are creative in that way. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I *never* thought I would be inspired by music. NEVER. But, when I started branching out with my workout music at the gym, I realized that some songs gave me that second wind to keep on going. I tried that with my writing and my productivity definitely increased because I simply had more stamina/endurance to keep writing. Add in the beauty of Pandora radio, and I was golden!
I LOVE your boards! They are so pretty! I think I’m being too picky with mine and should expand to more mood-type images as well as photos of Bruges and wisteria 😛
Thanks Rebecca! You’ve created a monster in me, but I really don’t care! I feel like they’re pretty much set in terms of setting mood and inspiration anyway, that I’m sure I’ll be spending less time looking for new images, and just more time ooh and aahing! (And, I know what you mean about ha-has…I love seeing all the “Fail” images out there! I died laughing!)
and DUDE, I so need to read and edit the previous comments as I re-pin! (It’ll be a chore now since I’ve accrued so many images!) I didn’t even notice the lavendar-wisteria thing! Ha!