Create a Vision Board for Your Book Using Canva
Authors often find themselves lost in the vast expanse of their imagination, grappling with the challenge of bringing their ideas to life on the page. Whether it’s a bad case of writer’s block or the struggle to creatively articulate certain literary elements, getting passed the outlining phase and onto writing out that killer book idea is not always a Live, Laugh, Love kind of journey.
This is where a vision board can be a powerful tool. A vision board is a visual representation of your goals, ideas, and aspirations. You can think of it as a visual book outline. It offers a focal point for the vision of what you want to create, do, or achieve. As an author, you can use a vision board to help map and plan your book’s narrative arc, get ideas for the type of setting and tone you want for your book, visualize your characters, or help you get inspired to write.
Canva is a versatile platform to create various types of vision boards. It’s user-friendly with extensive design resources, making it easy for you to bring your vision to life and stay inspired throughout your writing journey.
In this blog, we’re going over:
Why authors should create a vision board
How to make a vision board for your book using canva
What to include in a book vision board for authors
Why Should Authors Use Vision Boards?
A vision board, also known as a dream board, mood board, or goal board, is a collage of images, words, and affirmations that represent your goals and desires. It's a tangible manifestation of your aspirations that helps you clarify your vision and stay focused on bringing it to fruition. By surrounding yourself with images and words that resonate with your book project, you can tap into your creative potential more easily.
Generate New Ideas
Vision boards can help you visualize the themes, characters, settings, and emotions you want to convey in your book. By creating a visual representation of your story elements, you can gain clarity for your writing process. Consider the aspects of the book you’re struggling with most. Perhaps you’re having a difficult time articulating the overarching mood of the book. Maybe you’re unsure of how to create a diverse cast of characters. Or, it could be that you want to tangibly see all the major plot points of your story before you write them out. Whatever it is, a vision board gives you a unique opportunity to connect with your story and enhance the writing experience.
Stay Motivated
A vision board also serves as a source of motivation. Whenever you feel stuck, you can refer to your vision board (or create a new one) to reignite your creative spark and stay on track. Sometimes the purpose gets lost, the writing becomes less dynamic, and you just can’t get in a groove with the work. An exercise like this takes you away from the writing (we all need a break) but keeps you engrossed in the project so your mind is still in creation mode.
Displaying your vision board in your writing space, home, or office acts as a reminder of your writing goals. It can help overcome procrastination and self-doubt by providing tangible evidence of your plan and commitment to your writing project.
Manifest That Sh*t
Plus, we’re manifestin’ girlies around here. The act of creating a vision board will help you channel your intentions and energy towards manifesting your literary dreams. By surrounding yourself with images and words that reflect the desired outcome for your book and authorial journey, you can align your thoughts and actions with your goals. All the spiritual TikTok queens (and me) will tell you the process of visual manifestation can increase confidence, self-belief, and ultimately, the likelihood of success.
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How Do You Make a Vision Board for a Book in Canva?
Creating a vision board for your book is a creative and easy process that can be an asset in helping you bring your stories to life with passion and purpose. Canva is an all-in-one solution for anything related to visual content, especially for those of you who are not Adobe-savvy. (We’re writers, not graphic designers, amiright?)
If you’re thinking about leveraging Canva's creative tools for your vision board, here are my top tips for doing so effectively.
Start with a Clear Vision: Before diving into Canva, take some time to clarify your goals for creating one. You might be doing it to visualize plot points, character arcs, general book vibes, or to help you manifest your authorial goals.
Choose the Right Template: Canva has a variety of templates suitable for vision boards. Look for ones with ample space for images and text. I recommend using an 8.5X11 template, as it offers the most room for creating. You can simply type in “mood boards” or “inspiration boards” and they’ll give you templates to customize. Or, start with a blank canvas if you prefer full creative control.
Curate Inspiring Images and Words: Select images, quotes, and words that resonate with your story and writing aspirations. This could include images related to your story's genre, character profiles, book covers, quotes, or anything else that resonates with your vision. Use Canva's extensive library of stock photos, illustrations, and text options to find the perfect elements for your vision board, or upload your own.
Organize and Arrange Thoughtfully: Arrange your selected images and words in a visually appealing and coherent manner. Consider grouping related elements together, such as character images with their respective quotes or scenes with corresponding settings. Experiment with different layouts, colors, and fonts to create a cohesive and engaging design. Remember, this is a visual process, and you want it to be something you enjoy viewing.
Personalize and Reflect: Make your vision board uniquely yours by adding personal touches and reflections. Incorporate elements that hold special meaning or significance to you and your writing journey. Include affirmations, goals, and intentions that align with your aspirations as an author. Remember, your vision board should inspire and motivate you throughout your writing.
Save it Everywhere: Save and download your vision board from Canva as a PNG or PDF depending on what you’re doing with it next. You can print them out, make them the home screen on your phone or computer, or even post them to your social media feeds or website to share with friends and future readers.
Consider a Binder: A great, convenient way to refer to your vision boards without hanging them all over your walls is to print them and put them in a binder. Like creating a book for the book, so to speak. You can hold it in your hand and peruse the pages whenever you need a pick-me-up or added inspo.
What Should Be Included in a Vision Board for Authors?
Your vision board can include several elements depending on the type of board you’re creating. (Head here for seven types of vision boards authors can create.)
An author vision board should include elements that inspire, motivate, and support you in achieving your aspirations and enhancing the quality of your storytelling. Though the process and design is unique to your experience, here are some components that you may consider including in your vision board:
Writing Goals: This could include completing a manuscript, securing a publishing deal, or reaching a certain number of book sales. Write these goals in a positive and affirming language to reinforce their importance and attainability.
Visual Representations: Include images, illustrations, or photographs that symbolize the characters, setting, or tone of your book. If you’re making a manifestation board solely for your authorial journey, you could include pictures of bestselling books, authors you admire at book signings, motivational quotes by your favorite writers, or serene writing spaces to evoke your desired outcome.
Character Profiles: Visual representations of the main characters and key supporting characters to develop and flesh out their personas. This may include images of people who resemble the characters, along with descriptions of their personalities, motivations, and relationships.
Setting Inspiration: Images or descriptions of the story's setting, whether it's a specific location, time period, or fantastical realm. This may involve photographs of landscapes, buildings, or cultural artifacts that evoke the desired atmosphere and mood.
Plot Outlines and Key Events: Visual representations of the story's plot structure, including key events, plot twists, and turning points could help you map out the narrative arc. This may involve timelines, flowcharts, or storyboards illustrating the sequence of events and character arcs.
Theme Exploration: Images, quotes, or symbols that reflect the central themes and motifs of the book can deepen your connection with the story. This may include visual representations of concepts such as love, betrayal, redemption, or identity, as well as quotes from literature or philosophy that resonate with the book's themes.
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