Adding Color Descriptions to Writing Pieces Adds Feelings

Adding Color Descriptions to Writing Pieces Adds Feelings

Adding colors to writing pieces adds feelings otherwise not conveyed. What do we want in our published writing? Who, what, when, why, where, and how must be part of any writing piece. Beyond those having those basic questions answered for informational articles, the five senses must be woven into the story. Sight, sound, taste, smells, and feelings as in textures. Yes, even elementary students are able to have all this in written pieces. We can include colors as they influence our feelings. I'm sure you have heard of color theory, and there are many websites devoted to such information. While readers cannot see the colors in a text-only novel, they can nevertheless be influenced. Psychology Today explains how color influences mood in this article, which also discusses color in marketing. 

Gregory Clotti says:

"So the idea that colors such as yellow or purple are able to evoke some sort of hyper-specific emotion is about as accurate as your standard Tarot card reading."

Vanessa Van Edwards at Science of People has information about what colors you should wear and why in this blog post. She cautions:

"She cautions that there are no magic bullet answers, but there are generalities that can be gleaned from decades of research on the patterns of what people think about each color. Your personality can also change your opinions of colors."

However, also using text authors can evoke feelings in conjunction with colors. When would we want to include color? Character, room, item, and outdoor scene descriptions can help a reader "see" what is going on in the story. Ah, colors can help evoke emotions in readers. 

This month's prompts are about color to inspire writing. This idea began when a friend sent me an image she made just in passing. The mood it creates caused me to think just painted color could inspire a range of writing activities. She lives in Northern Ireland by the Irish Sea, which is moody. Having noticed many paintings in buildings and clinics that only hint at actual pictures, I thought that kind of image would make a good writing prompt. Perhaps you have noticed this trend, too, art that is not a picture but is posted to convey a feeling such as, "calm down."  Obviously, this is on purpose. 

In the free writing prompt PDF for this month, her painting is paired with a quote from The Hurricane Code by James Aura. Writers may be inspired to continue the thought, or start a new piece. 

“Dark clouds and smoke pressed down on people walking the streets of Regina as a gigantic wildfire raged north of Edmonton. The prevailing winds carried ash and soot that drifted down like gray snowflakes, settling on rooftops, gutters, and people. The fire was 500 miles away, but it felt as if the blaze was just outside the city limits.”

Aura, James. The Hurricane Code (p. 114). Amazon Publishing. Kindle Edition.

And from Deeper Into the Pond by Ball and Howard-Johnson, a swirl of colors is paired with a quote from one poem. 

For Carnival Lights by Chris Stark, a blur of some of the colors she mentions in the quote selected. 

 

See how Magdalena Ball uses colors in this part of her poem, Passerine. 

Passerine

Tall trunks, a rufous fantail

 song of silver shards

 it’s greening again

 after months of brown and black

 vines, grass, snake skin on the fence

 indications of life

Ball, Magdalena. The Density of Compact Bone (p. 60). Ginninderra Press. Kindle Edition. 

This is not an exact match for the poem colors, but perhaps one could see spring beginning after months of brown and black in this image. (Free from Deposit Photos) Spring will soon be popping up everywhere, can't you just see and write about it?

I Miss the Rain in Africa by Nancy Wesson is full of color, as you might imagine. The Peace Corps volunteers see many scenic locations. This quote may inspire some writing pieces. 

Although there are more images in this month's PDF, this is the final image I will share which has a quote from Night Ladies by Tess Thompson. Yes, that kind of night lady, but alluded to and not indecent, so I found this a great crime-fighting read. See chapter one at this blog post for further inspiration and information. 

Thank you for reading, Carolyn Wilhelm, the Wise Owl Factory LLC

The prompts are on Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Sharing with Writers and Readers Blog and post the 15th of each month. 

Adding Color Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Camping Writing Prompts  post and free instant download

Comedy Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Cyber Crime Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Fantasy Writing Prompts post and free instant download

February Days Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Halloween and October Writing Prompts  post and free instant download

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts  post and free instant download

January Any Year Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Magical and Magical Realism Writing Prompts post and free instant download

March Days Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Motherhood and May Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Music Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Mystery and Thriller Writing Prompts post and free instant download

November and Fall Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Pandemic People Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Road Trip Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Royals, Monarchs, Kings, and Queens Prompts post and free instant download

Social Media Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Summer Evenings Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Traveling Abroad Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Twitter Writing Prompts  post and free instant download

Western Romance Picture Only Writing Prompts post and free instant download

Women Theme Writing Prompts post and free instant download

What if? Writing Prompts post and free instant download

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (http://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. She has two booklets in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series, both in their second editions from Modern History Press. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (http://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and The Great First Impression Book Proposal (http://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. The Frugal Editor (http://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (http://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon at http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.