Writing Relatable or Accurate?

[Agentt]

So, I was writing, and I had to write about a shade of red.

Now there were 2 ways of doing this.

The correct way.
The way I did it.

The correct way is that I google "shades of red" and then look for the one I want.

The way I did it is
"You know that thing where you put your finger on a flashlight/ torch, and your finger glows red? It was that colour."


I did this because I felt this would resonate more with readers rather than something like, 'golden red' or 'bienge' or whatever other fancy colour names exist. My knowledge of them is quite limited.


So, what do you prioritize, relatibility, or accuracy?

 

[Draconite]

relatibility for readers, accuracy for background stuff （＾ω＾）

 

[LordJoyde]

I prefer drama.

"It was as if one would dare to gaze upon the sun until they are forced to look away; for that momentary flash of crimson and gold is exactly the colour I had seen."

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Relatable for men, accurate for women. After all, it is a scientific fact that men can't discern between shades of colors.

 

[LinXueLian]

Meanwhile I'm like, "It was red in color"

Yeah I'm a woman of simplicity

 

[Agentt]

Relatable for men, accurate for women. After all, it is a scientific fact that men can't discern between shades of colors.

Exactly my point

Meanwhile I'm like, "It was red in color"

Yeah I'm a woman of simplicity

I love you

 

[NotaNuffian]

I would spend one minute google, be proud of myself and write out the answer provided, then few hours later, come to hate the answer and google for another one.

To me, I would pick relatability than accuracy. It is the same as watching a movie, you go see cool shit, not exactly accurate shit. If the latter is there, ok, but if it is not and the scene is still okayish, meh.

 

[Echimera]

"You know that thing where you put your finger on a flashlight/ torch, and your finger glows red? It was that colour."

Is that a random example or what you actually wrote?

Either way, you can actually combine both methods, and drop both the name for the color you want and add a relateable example.
Not to mention that most color names are derived either from the source of the pigment (which often shares that color, mostly older named colors where natural pigments were used) or named after an object that has that color.
I mean, there are literally colors named Fire Engine Red and School Bus Yellow.

 

[Agentt]

Is that a random example or what you actually wrote?

Either way, you can actually combine both methods, and drop both the name for the color you want and add a relateable example.
Not to mention that most color names are derived either from the source of the pigment (which often shares that color, mostly older named colors where natural pigments were used) or named after an object that has that color.
I mean, there are literally colors named Fire Engine Red and School Bus Yellow.

It was exactly what I wrote. I am a comedy author, by the way, so its normal

 

[LinXueLian]

I love you

Who does not? I'm handsome!

At any rate I find simplicity both accurate and easy to relate to.... how do I put it, I like my readers to be able to imagine that shade of red themselves. I feel that each reader "sees" things differently in their mind. Gives them breathing space, so to speak.

The other thing is I don't bore them to death with unnecessary exposition. Forcing the reader to stop and look up a word simply kills immersion, imo.

 

[Agentt]

Who does not? I'm handsome!

At any rate I find simplicity both accurate and easy to relate to.... how do I put it, I like my readers to be able to imagine that shade of red themselves. I feel that each reader "sees" things differently in their mind. Gives them breathing space, so to speak.

The other thing is I don't bore them to death with unnecessary exposition. Forcing the reader to stop and look up a word simply kills immersion, imo.

I believe so too! Frick all the authors who use big words

 

[CupcakeNinja]

So, I was writing, and I had to write about a shade of red.

Now there were 2 ways of doing this.

The correct way.
The way I did it.

The correct way is that I google "shades of red" and then look for the one I want.

The way I did it is
"You know that thing where you put your finger on a flashlight/ torch, and your finger glows red? It was that colour."


I did this because I felt this would resonate more with readers rather than something like, 'golden red' or 'bienge' or whatever other fancy colour names exist. My knowledge of them is quite limited.


So, what do you prioritize, relatibility, or accuracy?

I prefer accuracy for anything descriptive relating to color. Relatability I'm not sure is even the right word. I mean maybe for your example, when I describe stuff I sometimes attach how it makes you feel instead of describing any physical attribute. I dunno, maybe flowery is the word I would use. I do it mainly for padding I guess.

Whatever. Anyway it's not like you have to use just one way of describing things. It'd be pretty boring if that's all you do every time. You could end up with the story becoming kinda vague, or bland, depending on which you choose to use all the time. A balanced mix is best.

 

[Agentt]

I prefer accuracy for anything descriptive relating to color. Relatability I'm not sure is even the right word. I mean maybe for your example, when I describe stuff I sometimes attach how it makes you feel instead of describing any physical attribute. I dunno, maybe flowery is the word I would use. I do it mainly for padding I guess.

Whatever. Anyway it's not like you have to use just one way of describing things. It'd be pretty boring if that's all you do every time. You could end up with the story becoming kinda vague, or bland, depending on which you choose to use all the time. A balanced mix is best.

Umu, also depends on the writing style and the atmosphere you want to create. Since I am a comedy writer, I write it like that

 

[Snusmumriken]

You can always use both - drop an accurate term only to elaborate on it a moment after. Thus not only you cover both camps you allow them to intermingle - and allow you to use established description and a name interchangeably later.

Relatable for men, accurate for women. After all, it is a scientific fact that men can't discern between shades of colors.

Women have a statistically higher chance to develop four separate colour sensing cones (tetrachromacy) compared to males because 2 separate pigment genes are encoded in the X chromosome. But both sexes can develop it. This condition allows much greater sensitivity to the different shades and the ability to distinguish (and correctly guess if it is lighter or brighter) between two nearly identical shades.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

You can always use both - drop an accurate term only to elaborate on it a moment after. Thus not only you cover both camps you allow them to intermingle - and allow you to use established description and a name interchangeable later.

Women have a statistically higher chance to develop four separate colour sensing cones (tetrachromacy) compared to males because 2 separate pigment genes are encoded in the X chromosome. But both sexes can develop it. This condition allows much greater sensitivity to the different shades and the ability to distinguish (and correctly guess if it is lighter or brighter) between two nearly identical shades.

It was a joke.

 

[Snusmumriken]

It has a grain of truth in it. After all, we are talking about at least three to more than five times difference between the sexes.

 

[Mechaphobic]

I often find that my favorite reaction from my readers is when they are left with mouths wide open, staring at the screen going "Wtf did I just read?!"

I usually try to make them laugh, I don't really like tragedy. I want some of my characters to be relatable, and others to be cartoons. What I won't do is write a character who has better luck than I do! I refuse to watch someone have it so good!

 

[Herz]

I'd google for a fancy word that fits my imagination. If I can't find one, I'd probably go for a metaphor.

 

[morhamza]

Depends for me. Either way is fine, it just depends on whether the color serves any other purpose than being a color. If I wanted it to be dramatic, I would be very descriptive. However, it it just a color that doesn't serve the plot in anyway, I'll just name it and move on.

 

[AliceShiki]

I google a lot of mostly pointless background details in order to decide how I'll portray some things in a medi-fantasy setting... Because I like being somewhat historically accurate.

But well, things like colors... I would either just say the plain color, or say it in an easily understandable way, like... "She had emerald green eyes" or something.

I definitely would never bother with specific names of specific tones of color.