Before I begin writing any manuscript, I create a visual. A lot of writers I know do this as well. Plenty have their favorite process and favorite app for creating an aesthetic. If you’ve never made one and you’re interested in doing so, you might want to try a couple different apps before you land on your favorite.
The method to my aesthetic madness goes something like this: I create a board on *Pinterest first, pulling photos of inspiration of characters, settings, and other plot points. Let’s say my character suffers from an anxiety disorder and visits a therapist, I can add pins on anxiety and what to expect when seeing a licensed therapist. Then I choose 5-9 or so photos and create a collage on Canva. Sometimes I find quotes on Pinterest that fit my story, so I may use those. Or, if I have my own line or quote already floating around in my mind I’ll use that. In the past, I’ve also tried using the Picollage app. It works well too but I like the clean lines, the ability to add typing, and the filter options on Canva. They also have their own photo stocks that you can use.
There are other websites that have free stock photos like, Unsplash, Pixababy, and Stock Snap. I like grabbing my photos from Pinterest because I can create an entire board there. Creating a Pinterest board and/or an aesthetic can help if I’m feeling uninspired, stuck on my plot or helping with writer’s block.
If you create aesthetics, what’s your favorite app or website to use? If you’ve never created one and do so after reading this post, I’d love to hear about your experience.
*Be sure to always credit the artist/author/photographer/creator when using their work and not using it at all if they specifically state not to.