This month’s theme is St Patrick’s Day, or whatever we want to talk about that can relate back to St Paddy’s Day. I considered tackling writer/author jealousy, but I’m not in the mood for something so serious, then mulled over the meanings of the color green but at 9am on a Monday morning this didn’t appeal to me either. So decided to have a bit of fun with it.
Last Thursday I emailed a couple of my writer friend and asked them the following question:
What is the first thing that jumps to mind when you think about the color green?
I had some delightful responses and I still stand by my statement that some of the best people I know are writers. We have the best conversations, online and off, and it’s mostly a bunch of nonsense. But nonsense is good for the soul.
Green represents a lot of different things for me. It signals the start of something new. New beginnings, now hopes, new dreams, new ideas. I’m a winter person through and through and believe summer was created to punish me for crimes I haven’t committed, so summer green does not count. Winter is my reward for making it through the heat. Feel free to argue, I know most people are summer inclined. Spring I love for its show of promise and potential, and Autumn I adore for all the stunning colors and what it leads to. It’s like the world goes into hibernation for a few months. I do too. I write more. I read more. So I guess you can say that green leads me to some of the things I love the most. Green is turning into a pretty awesome color. How have I missed this all these years? Funny how you can sometimes discover something’s true, and undiscovered, worth when you write down the things you appreciate about it.
Here’s what some of my writer friends had to say. I love all the different answers.
Juliana said it reminded her of lush gardens and money. I probably would have mentioned money as well, I didn’t because here in SA each of our notes are a different color. Her husband was nice enough to contribute and his answer was the Green Lantern. You can’t go wrong with superheroes.
Ladonna thinks of envy(we think alike, see first paragraph). Here’s something interesting for those who didn’t know: apparently, in either Chicago or Pittsburg, there’s a lake that turns green during the day. I’d love to see that.
I love Jocelyn’s answer, it’s so very writer like: “I know this is so predictable and boring, but I always think of grass when I think about the color green. The springy blades that tickle the back of my legs when I sit in it. The crisp scent of a fresh cut lawn which just smells green to me. I also think of a “game” we used to play when I was young, where we would hold out our arms, look down at the grass, and spin and spin and spin – the whole world would become one big green blur until we’d fall down laughing ourselves silly.”
My good friend Tracy had the following to say: “The very first thing that came to mind was the bright brilliant green that’s typically used by the dept of transportation for highway markings and exits, even on stop lights. It makes me think “proceed, go, continue, carry-on”. It’s this inviting, warm color that tells me to “keep going, the path is clear”. Maybe that’s why green is one of my favorite colors? Because it’s been instilled in me from an early age to associate it with these moving forward actions. I hadn’t really given it much thought before now. I like it.” I like it too! This is such a positive answer. How can you now look at anything green and not think optimistic thoughts.
Beth doesn’t know i
t but she’s one of my Megans: “The color green reminds me of Spring. The season when England starts to get some color again from the dull, lifeless, grey winter. It reminds me of the grass of the fields with baby lambs and the leaves that start growing on the trees once again. The flower shoots poking up through the soil and buds appearing on trees and hedges. It also reminds me of my childhood and Orville the duck, but you’ll have no idea why I’m going on about.” You’re right, I have no idea. So I Googled. I have to say I’m a little disturbed. Orville would have given me nightmares if I had to watch him while younger. That’s really creepy, Beth. It’s a green duck wearing a diaper. I still like you though.
Craig: “When I think of green I think of rolling green hills, Julie Andrews, and Slimer from Ghost Busters chasing her down and giving her massive sloppy kisses, but seriously my first thoughts were the Green Goblin and the Hulk. They would make a pretty decent super villain duo wouldn’t they?” More superheroes/villains! I approve of this.
Your turn. Have some fun with it. What do you associate green with? Anything goes.
Courtney Koschel has been writing since she could hold a crayon. She has worked as a journalist, editor, technical writer, and technical editor. Young adult fiction is near and dear to her heart, which is why she writes YA and all of its glorious sub-genres.
Tonia Marie Houston is a mother, writer, poet, bookworm, and blogger. When sheís not chasing her three spider monkeys, she spends her time revising a young adult novel about life after death and second chances. Though she began to pursue her career later in life, she hopes to inspire and motivate other writers to put their best book forward.
This native Texan now lives with her Scottish hubby in North Ayrshire, Scotland, where she wanders the moors in search of William Wallace. She has been a guest blogger on Writer Unboxed and is currently working on the sequel to her YA supernatural novel, Touched by Darkness.
Jamie Raintree writes what she likes to call everyday fairytale love stories, featuring the little moments in life that are truly magical. She lives in Arizona with her husband and daughter and is currently editing her second novel.
Jani Grey is a South African ambivert, writer, reader, optimist, and bacon enthusiast. When her boss isnít looking she writes, revises, or edits YA Urban Fantasies in between work. Sheís sneaky like that. Sheís a NaNoWriMo addict and is currently working on two NaNo novels.
Rebecca Fields is a modern gypsy, roaming from place to place in search of ñ well, sheíll let you know when she finds it. Writing has become a way for her to share her adventures, both real and imagined. Along with her on her journey are her son and an assortment of rescued animals.
Jamie Raintree
March 14, 2012 at 1:42 am
I’m now wondering how many other writers love winter too. I know it’s my favorite season! We should take a poll.
Jani
March 14, 2012 at 9:21 am
We should do a poll or two, I like that idea. Here winter’s on the way, I can feel it in the mornings, and I’m so glad.
Jamie Raintree
March 14, 2012 at 6:00 pm
We’re just transitioning into Spring. It’s been such a weird winter here, though. Barely cold at all. Not as many days snuggled up with a cup of coffee and a notebook as I would have liked!
Heather Reid
March 14, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Love your post, Jani. To me, green represents Scotland. It represents long walks through the forest, adventures in castle ruins, and picnics beneath the swaying trees. I used to love winter too, but over here, it’s so dark and dull! Scottish summers are amazing! I’m now a summer girl.
Jani
March 14, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Now green is leaning toward envy for me because I’m so jealous of what you just wrote! I need to visit Scotland as soon as possible.
Leigh Ann
March 14, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Green is actually big on my mind now, because it’s an important color in my WiP! The main character has never seen anything green and living before the inciting incident, and it’s symbolic for how things are changing for her.
I’ve started to see green as a very WARM color for this reason.
Very cool post, Jani. <3
Jani
March 14, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Very cool that it plays such an important part, I love knowing details like this and the symbolism it carries. It already sounds like a great story.
Courtney Koschel
March 15, 2012 at 6:09 am
Love this post
I, too, love winter. I always feel guilty for being inside when it’s beautiful and sunny outside, lol.
Green is one of my favorite colors. My answer is a bit different. It makes me think of my family. Four out of five of us all have the same color green eyes (one of my sisters has the bluest eyes). So I think of home, comfort, smiles, familiarity.
Thank you for sharing
Jani
March 16, 2012 at 2:59 pm
I love what it represents for you. Family is so important to me and i like spending time with them. And yey for another winter lover.
Rebecca
March 15, 2012 at 3:59 pm
I’m the odd duck. Winter isn’t my favorite season. I love the newness of spring and the color that comes back into the world. I love the heat of summer and the ability to go swimming without freezing body parts, the smell of suntan oil and catching fireflies in the evening. I really love the crispness of fall, when air has the scent of change, meals are heartier and evenings chilly. I love the silence of winter though. As for green, I think of trees and lush forests, lizards and Elphaba from Wicked. Great post!!
Jani
March 16, 2012 at 3:16 pm
I can forgive you for not liking winter because your reasons are acceptable
Except for the heat, there’s nothing that irritates me more than being hot. I am a fan of forests.
nicolebates
March 16, 2012 at 8:22 am
For me green means trees. I grew up in a place full of forests and spent most of my young days in the woods surrounded by trees, all green in the summer, various vibrant colors in the fall, and evergreens covered with snow or Christmas lights in the winter. I love trees and therefore, I love green!
Jani
March 16, 2012 at 3:26 pm
I’m so jealous of this. I’ve mostly lived in cities and once next to a desert. From all these answers I’m coming to love green so much more.
Tonia Marie Houston
March 16, 2012 at 2:43 pm
I’m with Rebecca in that winter is my least favorite of seasons, though I appreciate what it offers. I love spring. My daughters and I watch every year for the tight green buds to appear on the trees. That is what green represents to me: new life, new promise, hope. I watched my son roll around in tender new grass today and smile up at the bright sky. This is a lovely post and I enjoyed reading the comments as well.
Jani
March 16, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Oh no. But think about hot chocolate, and sleeping in, and snow(for you guys), and scarves. But I have to agree with your reasoning. I do love the promise of spring and the beginnings of green poking up everywhere.
jocelynrish
March 18, 2012 at 3:04 am
Lots of fun answers to your green question – thanks for including me! And Slimer from Ghostbusters – awesome! I’d totally forgotten about him, but love that slimy guy.