All clothed in blue

Weekly Writing Prompt No. 64

Hello everyone, and welcome to the weekly writing prompt.

For those new to The Writing Shed, the weekly writing prompt is the core of my activity here on Substack. Paid members can find an archive of courses I’ve created and access all past writing prompts, flash fiction and essays in The Index.

So have fun, enjoy the process, and write heaps.

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Last week, I was flicking through my wardrobe for something to wear and having one of those moments where, despite the plethora of garments, there was absolutely nothing that suited the occasion, when I realised most of my choices were in various shades of blue.

To say I was surprised was an understatement. I’d never noticed just how much that colour dominates how I dress. If I were asked my favourite colour I’d probably say pink or red, orange perhaps or maybe green - it all depends on how I’m feeling at the time of asking. The one colour I would never say is blue, and I became curious about why it is so dominant in a small wardrobe in Dorset.

According to Joe Hallock who submitted an undergraduate thesis on Colour Assignment in 2003¹, 35% of women and 57% of men prefer blue. His study also suggested that blue is the colour most closely associated with the following core characteristics:

• Trust 34%

• Security 28%

• Dependability 42%

• Favourite colour overall 43%

• Favourite colour by age group.

As with all research studies, readers need to exercise a little caution. Joe’s study was a self-selected survey attracting 232 participants and 79% of participants were from the United States. The study’s purpose was to correlate the results with online activities, such as shopping, and help website designers choose colour combinations more likely to result in users taking the desired action.

However, despite the obvious issues with Joe Hallock’s study, it does confirm a trend preference for blue over time. According to researchers based at the Slovenian Research Agency², between 1893 and 2020 the most preferred colour is blue followed by red and green. 15 studies since 1893 have confirmed this bias.

Given a near-universal bias towards blue through the ages and with its ability to be casual (as in blue jeans) and formal (as in suits); it’s not surprising that my wardrobe comprises mainly blue clothing. Next time I go shopping though, I’ll be more mindful about the colours of clothes I choose.

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The Prompt

Characters are defined by many things in the stories we tell and it’s common to use descriptive language to colour them in for readers, create depth and add nuance. Their clothes are often used as a subtext to represent or illustrate their personalities.

With this in mind, today’s writing prompt challenges you to put your own colour bias to one side and create a colourful, or colourless character using the opposite colour to those we might normally associate with their personality. For example, we might describe the poppy red dress the quiet woman in the corner wears.

Please share your poetry or prose in the comments below, I love to see how differently each prompt is approached, and a wide variety of responses demonstrates possibilities to the rest of us we might not have thought of.

Remember, you never know where today’s prompt may take you in the future!

Reflect

I include a reflection opportunity with every writing prompt. I find it helps to write longhand in my bullet journal, as moving my hand across a page seems to create a deeper connection to my inner world. You might like to do the same to see how differently it feels, especially if you write predominantly with a device.

Do you have a favourite colour? Do you know why this one stands out for you? How frequently does it appear in your writing, if at all?

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As a coach, mentor, and counsellor I work with many people on very different journeys. Some hope to write a best-selling book, while others simply want to be healthier and happier. Each person has a unique way of starting the inner work this requires. If you’re a writer who wants to manifest your writing hopes and dreams from the practical and pragmatic to the esoteric and spiritual, or who would like to clear any subconscious self-sabotage you may be experiencing, why not work with me? To find out more head over to my website by clicking the button below.

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Missing in Action

This new section of the weekly newsletter is dedicated to all the words removed from dictionaries over the years. Words that define and describe our world, but which are deemed no longer necessary.

This edition is dedicated to the word ‘Ultracrepidarian’, identified by Mark Forsyth in his book ‘The Horologicon’.

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The Weekly Newsletter

Something to read …

You can still grab a free copy of my latest novel The Music Master, in exchange for a review, at BookSprout until the end of May. You have my deepest gratitude for helping out with the book launch. The publication date is 1st June.

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The Weekly Writing Competition

Orna Ross Green Stories Novel Prize

Although not quite launched, they expect to announce the details in June following confirmation of sponsorship. The entry fee is free and the theme will be something around sustainability. Check on the website for more info: https://www.greenstories.org.uk/upcoming-competitions/

With love, light, and laughter
Linda
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(Image by u_gjf111ktb1 from Pixabay)

1. Colour Assignment; Hallock. J. UoW. 2003.

2. Exploring color attractiveness and its relevance to fashion; Kodžoman. D. et al, Color Research and Application Vol. 47, Iss.1, 2021.