www.marilynbrant.com

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Are You Pinteresting?

Because I needed a new social network like I needed cement boots and a push into a very deep lake, I avoided Pinterest for months. I'd heard excited rumblings about it being "so fun," "so cool" and, worst of all, "so addictive but you'll love it"... I wisely stayed away.

Well, I'm wise no longer. Curiosity of this online bulletin-board-like site got the better of me this weekend, and I signed up: www.pinterest.com/marilynbrant

I've only just begun pinning, but two hours of searching through awesome photos and other people's interesting pages was, clearly, insufficient to satisfy me today. I want to create more boards! I want to start labeling the ones I've already begun! I want to sift through more, more, more pictures of Nutella brownies and Budapest and glass necklaces and pasta and adorable raccoons! SO MUCH VISUAL COOLNESS IN ONE PLACE!!!

I know. This will lead to no good for me. It hasn't even been 6 hours and I already love it too much. I think I'm going to have to treat Pinterest like dessert -- something I get to enjoy only after I've finished my main meal or, in my case, my main writing tasks for the day. But...I justify my involvement (because I have a background in psychology as well as art) by telling myself that it will be HELPFUL for my writing because I can make up special bulletin boards for each of my books. And include recipes, where applicable. And favorite lines. And images of Jane Austen...and European sites...and fancy coffee drinks...and ice cream sundaes...and...and...and...ohhhh, I wanna go do it again RIGHT NOW!!!

(*Forcing self away from keyboard*)

So, are any of you Pinteresting already? Hmm?? If so, what do you think of it? If not, are you tempted?!

11 comments:

Candy @ So little time... said...

I don't pin a lot, but recently I have found it a little more useful than I thought. I found a recipe that I wanted so I printed it out but I alway lose those print outs, I didn't want to bookmark so I pinned it! That works fantastic! Plus recently I was fooling around and pinned some books I had just reviewed on my blog. Well, I notice I got some traffic from pinterest to my blog! I need to pin more books! :)

(I'm tired so I hope this makes sense! ;) )

Jill Thomas said...

As I already told you, Marilyn, I LOVE it! I have boards for my girls, inspirational sayings, I just started boards for my books and of course, RECIPES!! :) Can't wait to follow your pins!

Marilyn Brant said...

Candy, you made total sense! What a smart idea to store some of your recipes right there. I often lose printed out pages, too, so I can see how that would help (and now I know I should check out your page for great recipes ;). And YAY on getting more blog interest as a result of posting!! That's wonderful for both you and for all the authors whose books you reviewed!!

Jill, oh, good!!! MORE delicious recipes -- I love it!! I'm going to have to (a) set a timer for myself (!!) then (b) check out your page and Candy's this week ;). Not that I need to be tempted by more food...but at least trying out new recipes will force me away from the computer to go grocery shopping and to cook, LOL.

Hugs to you both and wishes for a wonderful week ahead! xox

Robin Bielman said...

Oh my gosh! I've been hearing SO much about this site lately! How in world does everyone have time for all this? I'm overwhelmed. BUT, I'm thinking I'll get over there eventually too because it sounds like so much fun and a great way to visually promote your favorite things.

Happy pinteresting! I'm going to check out our page now...

Maureen McGowan said...

I signed up too. :) I thought I'd use it to gather images that reminded me of the book I'm working on... But started to get frustrated trying to find the original sources of some of them because I knew the places I'd found them weren't the originals...

But hoping to play some more!

I'm thinking a board of friends' book covers is in order. :)

Pamela Cayne said...

I've just dipped my toe in, figuring I can make a page/chart/section for each of my books (in case anybody ever wonders who my inspirations for characters are) and I'm taking it nice and slow. So much to do, so little time!!

Marilyn Brant said...

Robin, I *don't* have time for all of this online stuff, but it manages to suck me in anyway ;). Today, the only reason I got anything done at all was because I stayed offline for most of the day. I'm too easily tempted...

Maureen, I love your idea!! I should do that as well for friends' books. I know you were very involved with art, so I'm sure you're drawn to all the cool images. I've been repinning only, not finding photos of my own yet, so I hadn't thought about tracking down the original sources. I'll need to remember that.

Pam, that's a great thing to do with it because, YES, someday (probably very soon!) your fans are going to be clamoring for details like that...and you'll be able to refer them to your book boards with a nod and a link :).

Hope you all have a fabulous Valentine's Day!!

Nicole Basaraba said...

I've been avoiding Pinterest too for the same reasons. Since I've been hearing so much about it and I really like photos, it might be inevitable that I join soon too...

Pamala Knight said...

Oh dear. Yet another place for me to spend time when I should be doing something else? I'm trying hard to get over myself so that I get things done but this does sound very interesting. So I guess the answer to your question, Marilyn my sweet, is yes I am Pinterested ;-). I'll take a look. Thanks for the tip.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Caryn Caldwell said...

Ha! That was absolutely hilarious! And no, I'm not using Pinterest yet, but I've heard it's wonderful. I'm afraid of exactly the experience you've had: Starting it and not being able to stop. But I'm tempted, especially on my weaker days or on the ones where I'm actually searching for ways to procrastinate.

Marilyn Brant said...

Nicole, as someone who takes photos as beautifully as you do, I think you're in great danger of getting hooked on all the pretty visuals ;). Stay away, my friend! Stay far away!!

Pamala, LOL! I know you've got much to keep you busy, too, and don't need another diversion, but if you find yourself there, look me up. You will have a friend waiting for you :).

Caryn, I've had TOO many days this winter when I've hunted for a reason to procrastinate (my current WIP is driving me insane :) and Pinterest will help me with that objective -- no doubt about it! So will all the leftover Valentine's Day chocolate I still have in the house...

Hope you all had a fun (and romantic) week!