Using Color in Your Writing

One of the five senses is sight. One way a writer can bring a visual image to readers is by the use of color. Years ago, all the movies were black and white. When color was first used in films, it was a glorious experience for those sitting in a darkened theater. 

We live with color. Some colors make us feel happy while others bring a bit of gloom. Take a look around the place where you are reading this post. How many different colors do you see? Which ones draw your eye first? Which do you like best? Which the least? 

When you're writing a story, a novel, a memoir, a personal essay or a poem, make use of color in the words you pen. Mention it. Describe it. Use it in the description of a person, place or thing (namely a noun!) Use the name of the color, one little word, to bring a visual to the reader. His blue eyes drew my attention. That's more interesting than if you merely said His eyes drew my attention. 

Or write about something like a dress a young woman was wearing. Her dress reminded me of sunflowers, the deep golden shade of their petals. It's a bit more interesting than saying She wore a yellow dress. In the first example, your mind immediately sees a field of sunflowers. In the second one, yellow could mean just about anything.

How about The geometric shape in the middle of his tie looked like an over-ripe tomato had fallen on it. In this one, the color name is not mentioned, but every person who reads the sentence knows that the shape on the man's tie is bright red. I'd rather read a sentence like this one than another that says There was a red geometric shape in the middle of his tie. Both used color, but isn't the first one more interesting?

Color lends itself to similes. Red as a ripe cherry or white like a wedding gown  As an exercise, write a phrase or sentence using a simile for each color below:

• blue
• purple
• green
• mauve
• yellow
• white
• brown
• beige
• black
• gray
• orange
• peach
• pink