Real World Comparisons:
Light:
Gray hair
Ashes
Fog
Cobwebs
Brain
Smoke…
Medium:
Wolves
Cement
Pewter
Metals (mercury, tin, etc)
Lemur
Sharks…
Dark:
Storm clouds
Streets
Pencil lead
Elephants
Charcoal
Cavities…
Shades of Gray:
Slate, dove gray, pewter, charcoal, ashy, ashen, iron gray…
Make every detail count
Colors are powerful descriptors, not fillers. Make sure that if you use a comparison or contrast to highlight a color, you choose the right one. Look at the setting and atmosphere you are working to create, then draw from the viewpoint character or narrator’s history, education and past experiences to find the right fit.
Colors not only paint a picture for readers; when used well, they can also create emotional and symbolic harmonies.
Looking to add vivid imagery to your character’s world? This thesaurus has been expanded and integrated into our online library at One Stop For Writers. There, entries have been enhanced to include symbolism opportunities, a wealth of real-world comparisons that can be woven into your writing, and examples of how to describe colors and patterns in ways that engage the reader’s imagination. This collection is also cross-referenced for easy searchability so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. Interested in seeing a sampling of the updated Color and Pattern Thesaurus and our other collections? Head on over and register for free at One Stop!
Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.
Dove gray eyes.
Bravo, love the part about kissing gravel.
What about a memory … clear as …?
Duct tape is the answer to everything!
Thanks guys–glad this helps!
I SOOOOOOOO glad Duct tape was included. Where would we be without it?
Oh! I love these! Thanks for putting them together.
Thanks for still being here and doing these!
Very nice…you always get my brain working!!