I’ve been saying it for years—Pinterest isn’t just for recipes and DIY hacks. It’s a powerful tool for book creators of all stripes: authors, illustrators, translators, booksellers, indie publishers, and even those still drafting their very first manuscript.
Recently, I got an email from a high-ranking member of SCBWI leadership (that’s the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for the uninitiated—the largest global community for children’s book creators, hands down). For context, SCBWI is the go-to hub for curated resources, expert guidance, and creative community. I had the honor of serving as the Regional Advisor for the Austin Chapter and loved every moment of it.
So, imagine my delight when this SCBWI leader shared two little gems with me:
“Pinterest just came up in a meeting the other day, when a staff member mentioned that some agents like to see Pinterest boards that represent a WIP along with query letters.”
And:
“Your marketing company is so interesting! I was an early user of Pinterest, then didn’t spend much time there for a few years, and lately I’ve been back for two main reasons—to help wean my addiction to Instagram, and to collect useful and inspiring pins while I worked on my first picture book (just finished!!)”
Friends, this is the moment. The conversations are happening. Agents are using Pinterest to get a visual sense of your work—your story’s tone, your characters, your settings, your aesthetic. And yes, Pinterest can absolutely play a role in getting you one step closer to your dream agent or publisher.
Best part? The strategy I’m about to share with you costs nothing. It’s simple, it’s smart, and it could become one of your most valuable tools for building a visual platform that speaks volumes about who you are and what you create.
Here’s how you do it. Let’s dive in.
Create a Pinterest Account — and Make It a Business One:
You can choose either a personal or business account on Pinterest, but I strongly recommend starting with a business account. Why? A personal account limits you to repinning content that already lives on Pinterest—you can’t post your own original pins. While that might work if you’re only curating inspiration or telling a visual story through others’ work, it’s a serious limitation if you want to showcase your own.
Illustrators especially may find a personal account too restrictive. You’ll want the freedom to post pins featuring your art, process, portfolio, and offerings—and a business account gives you that power.
You're here for a reason. Let’s do it right from the start.
Create a board. Label it with your project’s working title—whatever that may be. (Let’s be real: the editor’s probably going to change it before it hits the shelves anyway, right?)
Break your board into sections that showcase your story’s heart, your creative process, and the message you want to share—with readers and maybe a future editor or agent. (Wink.)
Illustrators, you might want to consider creating sections with titles like:
Medium & Materials (e.g., Watercolor, Gouache, Digital, Collage, Ink)
Character Design (Facial Expressions, Costuming, Age Range, Animals, Stylized vs. Realistic)
Color Studies (Mood Boards, Seasonal Palettes, Warm vs. Cool)
Process & Sketches (From Thumbnail to Final, Rough Sketches, Time-Lapse Videos)Inspiration & References
Typography & Hand Lettering
Interior Spreads
Authors, her are some Pinterest board section ideas you might consider using:
Character Inspiration (Protagonists, Antagonists, Sidekicks, Real People as Models)
World-Building Elements (Maps, Cultures, Magic Systems, Time Periods)
Mood & Tone Boards (Dark Academia, Lighthearted Humor, Cozy, Intense)
Symbolism & Motifs (Nature Themes, Objects of Meaning, Recurring Imagery)
Outfit & Wardrobe Ideas (for Historical, Fantasy, Contemporary Settings)
Books Like Mine (Comp Titles, Genre Neighbors)
Historical Sources
Curriculum Tie-ins
Explore what’s already on Pinterest by typing phrases into the search bar that reflect elements of your work in progress.
Try terms like “1920s baseball players,” “STEM bridge-building lessons for kids,” or “scary fog scenes.” Use whatever fits your story.
These searches help Pinterest’s algorithm surface pins already indexed with those keywords. From there, choose the ones that best represent your project and repin them into the section that fits. These curated visuals will begin to communicate the tone, setting, and heart of your work in progress—without you saying a word.
Use that board everywhere you promote your work in progress.
Drop the URL into every query letter you send.
Link it to a Pinterest icon on your website or tuck it neatly into your email signature.
Turn it into a QR code and pop it onto your illustrator postcards.
Tattoo it on your forehead, if you must! (Okay, maybe not that far… but you get the idea.)
Let your board do the talking—even when you’re not in the room.
Let’s Make This Happen—Together
I’ve been right where you are—dreaming big, hoping for that agent email, picturing your name on the cover. I know what it’s like to be in the pre-pubbed trenches. And I also know how powerful it can be to start building your platform now—with purpose, strategy, and vision.
Creating a Pinterest board that reflects your work in progress is just the beginning. Want a roadmap to make it all come together? That’s exactly what the Impact Map was built for—a clear, customized guide to help you showcase your story, your voice, and your goals.
Schedule a Pin Lit Fit Call, and let’s talk about how we can bring your project to life on Pinterest.
Then, together we’ll create an Impact Map to in which we’ll explore all things WIP to make Pinterest a key aspect of your book promotion process.
Here’s to achieving your publishing dreams. You’ve got this—and I’ve got you.
