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Regular news and insight from our many poets, writers, educators and facilitators

13 March 2026

Posted by Susan L. Edser

Colour

There are various ways colour can be used in creative writing, and today’s session focused on using it to tell a story through colour associations. Inspiration came from South Korean writer and Nobel Prize in Literature winner Han Kang and her 2016 novel The White Book. She used short passages to explore the colour white, offering a meditative reflection on mourning, rebirth and the tenacity of the human spirit.

We began by choosing a Starburst or Extra Strong Mint (any excuse for some sweets!), and the group spontaneously shared memories, such as a family member who always had mints, or, as children, squishing Opal Fruits (as they were then) together. I explained Kang’s book and gave examples of the 65 white objects on which she wrote one or two-minute vignettes. I shared an excerpt that included ‘Small White Pills’, ‘Sugar Cubes’, ‘Lights’ and ‘A Thousand Points of Silver’. 

I encouraged the women to choose one colour each, perhaps from the Starburst they chose, or the colour of the pen they used to write their name label. They then wrote down everything that came to mind, including shades, sensations, events, and connotations. The group shared these and offered suggestions to one another. Following the example in The White Book, they then wrote short passages about the items that resonated most, honing them with attention to the five senses. The writers were then asked whether there was a common theme linking the paragraphs, or whether one could be expanded into a story.

The second part of the workshop focused on developing and supporting each other with their writing. They first reflected individually on what they were trying to achieve with their piece, what felt strongest, and what they were stuck on. They then shared their work with one or two others and offered support to develop the passages. It was so joyful to hear the women read out and talk about their work. I offered additional ways they could enhance their writing, such as reducing the word count by 10% without losing meaning or telling the same story from a different perspective. We concluded by noting other ways colour can be used in creative writing, from creating atmosphere to developing characters.

Does this blog inspire you to use colour as an entry point to write your story? Simply start with a mind map and see what builds from there. Enjoy!

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