I know I usually post things I love on Tuesdays, but I was on my way home from a Ray LaMontagne and Brandi Carlile concert on Tuesday and was way too excited about the Custom Pony Contest to remember (also, it felt like a Sunday to me). But I do want to tell you about something I love. Nay, something I’ve become a bit obsessed with. It’s called Pinterest.
Bruges, Belgium from The Mean Girl Diaries
Never heard of Pinterest? Neither had I before I started reading Amber West’s blog. Her Friday Inspiration posts always come with little photos from Pinterest. Not sure what the heck it is? I wasn’t either. Even when I first went to the website. It’s just a bunch of pictures. It’s kind of like a less-linear tumblr. But the more I looked through it the more I realized that it was the PERFECT tool for writers. You know how some people have those giant pin boards with things that remind them of their novels? There’s no way Hubs would ever allow me to do that in the house. But I can do it here. I’ve only just started that board, but already it’s filling up with photos and quotes that remind me of Fie Eoin. I’ve also got one for Book of Souls, although it’s mostly photos of Bruges, Belgium right now.
But Pinterest has become so much more awesome than just a place to keep story ideas. One of the first things I started collecting was colorful pictures that make me happy. I mean, how can you visit that page and NOT smile? It’s so bright and cheerful! I’ve got one for quotes that also make me feel better. One for house decorations. Hairstyles. Clothes that I want (the best part of the Pins? They link back to the original page they came from so you can always find out where that super cute skirt came from, or the directions to make a clementine candle). Some of the evil people that I follow have a whole page with nothing but photos of chocolate or coffee. It’s kind of like having a magazine delivered to you every day, with everything you could ever want in it (except porn. There’s no porn for you tumblr people).
If you find someone who always posts pins that you like you can start following them, so their pins show up on your home page and you don’t have to go searching for them. If you like their fantasy pins but can’t stand their sense of style and the ugly shoes they keep pinning you can chose to follow just their fantasy pinboard. Or follow just their ugly shoe pinboard, if that’s what you’re into. But beware, Pinterest is super addicting.
In fact, when I’m having a bad day at work I’ll take a five minute break and check out the Everything board, where the most recent pins show up. Find new people to follow, find some pins that I like, and go back to work feeling a little bit better.
Are you on Pinterest? What’s your favorite site for inspiration?
September 22, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Have I just found my new favorite thing? Why yes, I think I have
September 22, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Yes, you most certainly have!
September 22, 2011 at 9:22 pm
I love your page! So pretty.
Have you thought of making a book trailer? It looks like you have plenty of images to work with. 
September 22, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Not yet. I never watch them, so I’m not sure how I would do it?
And thank you
I’m thinking it’s about time to create a custom pony board on there….
September 22, 2011 at 10:39 pm
It just so happens one of my friends did a blog post recently on how to do them. http://mistressofthedarkpath.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/book-trailer-tips/ They look like so much fun, though I don’t think I’d have the patience to do one myself.
September 23, 2011 at 9:41 am
Yeah, I probably don’t either ;P Or the time!
September 23, 2011 at 1:45 am
Oh no! Another awesome site to peruse during my should-be editing time. Why do you do this to me, Rebecca?!
September 23, 2011 at 9:41 am
Don’t think of it as a time-waster. Think of it as inspiration and warm fuzzies!
September 23, 2011 at 6:08 am
[...] you know how I mentioned Pinterest the other day? Rebecca Enzor made a post all about the site here! (By the way, if you’re interested in giving Pinterest a try, let me know. Apparently, I can [...]
September 23, 2011 at 6:29 am
At the end, when you say you could find someone whose style you like to get inspiration, that makes it sound more interesting than if it only held photos you uploaded.
September 23, 2011 at 9:44 am
Oh yeah, it’s great for that
Unfortunately everyone’s style that I like is quite expensive 
And I haven’t even uploaded any photos. I’ve just found them online and pinned them there. You put a little link in your favorites folder and click “pin it” on any site your on, and it automatically puts it up with a link back to the page it came from! It’s quite cool.
September 23, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Wow! Thanks so much for the information! I’m SO visual, and I can see this tool helping me SO much! (Plus, it can probably help liven up my blog!)
Thank you (and Amber!) for sharing!
September 24, 2011 at 9:58 am
That’s the other great thing – finding lots of photos for blog use! ;P
You are welcome – go have fun and add me so I can see your beautiful pinboards!
September 24, 2011 at 11:41 am
sigh, I’m waitlisted, but having a TON of fun looking at pictures! Some are HI-LARIOUS!!! I’m dying laughing
September 24, 2011 at 12:22 pm
I’m sending you an invite! It should be there soon
September 24, 2011 at 8:26 pm
heehee, like, right after I commented, they invited me, but THANK YOU! I’m SO addicted to creating boards now!! ^_^
September 24, 2011 at 8:53 am
that sounds awesome. I seriously got excited just reading the post and I haven’t even popped over there to check it out yet. (which I’m off to go do right now) Thanks!! Love this.
September 24, 2011 at 10:00 am
Definitely go check it out! I love it!
September 26, 2011 at 8:02 am
[...] thanks to Rebecca Enzor (and indirectly, Amber West), I became thoroughly addicted to Pinterest this weekend. I loved creating my pretty vision boards, [...]
September 26, 2011 at 12:59 pm
I’ve heard of Pinterest before, but I was never all that tempted to check it out before your enthusiastic endorsement. The photos are gorgeous! I like the organizational aspect of it, too. Maybe I should give it a shot… thanks for the rec!
September 27, 2011 at 11:53 am
No problem
If you need an invite let me know! It’ll get there faster than being on the waitlist 
September 27, 2011 at 7:11 pm
I give in; send me an invite.
September 27, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Sent!
September 29, 2011 at 2:08 am
Oooh, I LOVE Pinterest! I’ve also been using it to post story inspiration photos — such a lovely way to see images that remind me of my various WIPs all in one spot.
September 29, 2011 at 9:48 am
Between Pinterest and my playlist I should never run out of inspiration again!
July 24, 2012 at 8:09 am
[...] of posts that have photos that weren’t mine* came from Pinterest (you may recall my post about my Pinterest obsession from last [...]