This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest have been brilliant for book nerds. The social networks allow us fans a peek into favourite authors' writing lives (and even non-writing lives). We see their struggles and share their jubilations; we're even occasionally privy to extra information about beloved books – J K Rowling, for example, often answers queries about characters or the plot of Harry Potter on Twitter. On Pinterest, we get to see scene inspirations, pictures of characters, gardens, food and houses. This extra layer of fictional fun can be very exciting.
You wouldn't think Instagram would be popular with writers. After all, Instagram is for pictures and photographs. And writers, well, write.
But there are a number of authors using the network. Personally I love it and it is my favourite social media application. In my feed, (Helen on Instagram), I have pictures of dogs, chickens, books, food and lots and lots of cake. Eventually these images will seep into the writing of my own novel. But what published authors are on Instagram? Fancy checking them out? Here are five to begin with:
1. Jane Green – Jane's instagram feed sells you a lifestyle. Scroll through her lovely feed, instagram.com/janegreenauthor, for pictures of pretty houses, the New England island of Nantucket, Jane's travels, interiors and food. Oh, it is all so delicious. Speaking of Nantucket, the character of Cat, in Jane's latest novel, Summer Secrets, travels there to make amends with those she has hurt.
2. Rachael Lucas – Rachael's instagram feed, instagram.com/rachaellucas, is brilliant. A cross between puppy pictures, cups of tea, walks on the beach, scenery and her writing process I find it reassuring, as I battle away to write my own novel, and inspiring. Rachael's latest novel, Coming Up Roses, is about Daisy, a gardener, who is house-sitting for her parents who have gone off on their travels. Her parents' garden has been sorely neglected so Daisy has a fantastic project on her hands to distract her from a recent break-up.
3. Ali McNamara – Rather appropriately for a book about a flower shop, Ali McNamara's lovely instagram feed, instagram.com/alimcnamara, is filled with beautiful flowers. In The Little Flower Shop by the Sea Poppy has just been left her grandmother's beloved flower shop by the sea in St Felix, Cornwall. Only, Poppy doesn't want it. She doesn't even want to go back to St Felix, the place of her happy childhood and her grandmother's home. But she goes. And her life changes.4. Marian Keyes – Marian's instagram feed, instagram.com/marian_keyes, reflects her personality and writing style to a tee. See pictures of 'banjoed' furniture (furniture she has painted and pimped up!), her travels, knobs (of the cupboard variety) and ice-cream Magnums. In Marian's latest novel, The Woman Who Stole My Life, we meet normal Stella Sweeney. One day Stella, wanting to do a Good Deed, lets a Range Rover out into the traffic. This kind action causes a car crash. She meets the Range Rover driver again many months later, only this time under very different circumstances. Stella Sweeney's life is about to change forever.
5. Cesca Major – Cesca's feed, instagram.com/cescawrites, is filled with lovely scenery, the occasional chicken, food and her travels along with pictures of her book launch for The Silent Hours. In The Silent Hours there is a woman in a nunnery in South West France. Adeline is being looked after by the nuns; she can't speak, she has become mute, and no-one knows what has happened to her …
Other authors to check out include Kirsty Greenwood, Ali Harris, Lindsey Kelk and Rowan Coleman. Who is your favourite author to follow on Instagram?