Real World Comparisons:
Clouds
Milk
Cottage Cheese
Sour Cream
Egg whites
Whipped cream
Coffee creamer
Pearl
Snow
Frost
Bone
Rice
Daisy
Swan
Cabbage moth
Maggots
Dandelion fluff
Cotton
Teeth
Toilet Paper…
Shades of white: Ivory, milky, snowy, alabaster, lily-white, frosty…
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.
Anita beat me to it. (She must be a teacher too…?)
Now, why am I craving marshmallows?
Love it!
Haha, I knew someone would pick up on the maggots. Still, it’s all about the comparisons, right? If you’re describing a corpse, saying the skin was as white as a daisy just isn’t going to cut it. 🙂
Thanks for all the comments, everyone!
This post made me think of the white out conditions that happen in Antarctica (not that I’ve been there!) where the ground, horizon and sky all become white, nothing else to oriente people.
Love these great words and examples you put here.
I like your strong example!
Your list is so yummy and fluffy til I got to maggots. 🙂
Your color entries are by far my favorite ones. Love the shapes, too, but colors are such a great way to capture detail!
Good one!
chalk