Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Time: The Energized Life of a Yellow Writer
How These Idea-Driven Writers Light Up the Room, Stay Inspired, and (Sometimes) Finish Their Stories
Picture this: Writers’ Workshop is buzzing. Everyone is chatting—excited voices overlapping, ideas bouncing around like a game of verbal ping-pong. You can feel the energy, the creativity sparking between writers, but let’s be real—no one is really listening. It’s chaos, but it’s also magic. “Wow,” I find myself saying, “we’ve got a lot of yellow energy in this room today.”
Yellow-energy (or "I") writers thrive in connection and creativity. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and their ideas flow faster than they can grab a pen. But here’s the catch: sometimes, that vibrant energy needs a little guidance to turn inspiration into progress.
In the world of writers, there’s a distinct shift between those driven by tasks and those inspired by connection. Our red and blue writers live for structure, focus, and tangible goals to fuel their creativity. But now, we’re moving to the other side of the spectrum—where people take center stage. Yellow writers thrive on relationships, collaboration, and the pure joy of shared ideas.
Curious about the task-focused writers? Check out my posts on red-dominant writers and blue-conscientious writers to see how they bring their unique strengths to the page!
Yellow writers are the social butterflies of the writing world. They’re outgoing, enthusiastic, and practically radiate creative energy. You’ll recognize them by their endless stream of ideas and their love for sharing every single one. These kids live for brainstorming sessions and thrive on creative games that light up their imagination. Their fast-paced communication can sometimes make them seem more red-energy, but here’s the difference: while red writers focus on solutions and outcomes, yellow writers are all about expansive, big-picture thinking and the sheer joy of exploring possibilities.
For instance, I’m working with a yellow writer with an ambitious goal: finish his novel by the end of the year. But every time we check in, he’s buzzing about a new idea or project. In our last session, I asked him, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how motivated are you to hit your deadline? How likely are you to meet your goal? What evidence tells you that to be true?” His answers were glowing—full of optimism and energy—but nothing was concrete.
So, we decided to get specific. “If you want to finish your novel by June, how many chapters would you need to write each week?” I asked. With a little help from ChatGPT, we calculated the numbers, and suddenly, everything clicked. He mapped out a plan—and more importantly, we met this week and he stuck to it!
Yellow writers are brimming with potential but often need tools like goal-setting or a touch of structure to channel their creativity into something tangible. These writers shine in the spotlight of connection, but they’ll thrive even more when that energy is given direction. Let’s dive into what makes these vibrant creators tick.
How to Tell if Your Writer Has Yellow Energy
Wondering if your child leans toward a yellow-energy writing style? Here are some telltale signs:
Chatty Connectors: When they walk into a room, they light it up with conversation. The first thing they do in workshop is catch up with everyone—sharing what they did over the weekend and learning about others’ adventures.
Collaboration Enthusiast: They love working with others, brainstorming, and bouncing ideas around.
Big Picture Dreamers: Their optimism fuels boundless creativity. It’s like blue-sky thinking all the time—there are no limiting factors or obstacles, just exciting possibilities.Emotionally Driven: They focus on the heart of the story—the feelings and connections—rather than the technical details.
Natural at Character Development: They inherently understand that people and relationships drive stories. Their love for connection makes them masters of character arcs and emotional depth. We spend a lot less time on character development and more time on structuring and plot.
Always Brimming with New Ideas: Their creativity is boundless, and they’re constantly coming up with fresh, exciting concepts. While this means they may leave projects behind, it also keeps their imagination flowing and their energy high.
Shines with Praise: Yellow writers flourish when their work is celebrated. Positive reinforcement and acknowledgment of their efforts inspire them to keep going.
If you’re noticing these traits, chances are you’ve got a yellow-energy writer on your hands!
I know I’ve said this a lot, but it’s worth repeating: your child’s personality is not set in stone. While they might show a strong preference for yellow energy right now, they’re learning, growing, and evolving. Their style will shift as they gain new experiences and explore different aspects of themselves.
It’s also important to remember that no one is 100% yellow (and it might even be impossible!). Most writers, and people in general, have a mix of styles. Your child might lean heavily into their yellow traits, but they’re also using other “colors” in their personality all the time. Part of their growth as a writer—and as a person—is learning how to tap into those other strengths when they need them.
What Motivates Yellow Writers?
Yellow writers thrive on connection, collaboration, and creative freedom. Here’s what fuels their fire:
Social Interaction: They draw inspiration from working alongside others, even if they’re not directly collaborating. Yellow writers are energized by the buzz of a shared space and often find focus in the presence of others.
Playfulness: Games, prompts, and activities that let them explore ideas in a fun, low-pressure way keep them engaged. Timed games or “Yes, and…” exercises work wonders for tapping into their fast, creative energy.
Sharing Their Work: They love to tell their stories—reflection and sharing time are like therapy for yellow writers. This is where they shine, getting their ideas out into the world and hearing how others respond.
Positive Reinforcement: While all writers benefit from encouragement, yellow writers thrive on praise. They light up when their creativity and ideas are recognized and celebrated.
Big Picture Thinking: Yellow writers often love dreaming up expansive worlds, sweeping plots, or characters with elaborate backstories. Their optimism means they see endless possibilities in every idea.
Peer pressure can actually be a powerful motivator for yellow writers—in the best way possible. I had one writer whose parents were concerned because he wasn’t a big reader, and they worried it might hold him back in workshop. But then something magical happened. Warrior Cats is a huge interest area in our group, and a few kids formed a Warrior Cats fanfiction club.
Not wanting to miss out on the fun, this writer decided to give the series a try. His parents later told me, “He’s hooked! He’s reading Warrior Cats and loving it!” That social spark—the pull of being part of the group—gave him the nudge to dive into a world of stories he might have otherwise skipped.
For yellow writers, connection and camaraderie aren’t just motivators—they’re gateways to growth. Whether it’s trying out a book, finishing a story, or sharing their work, being part of a community lights their creative fire.
How to Encourage and Support Them
Supporting yellow writers is all about balancing their excitement with the tools they need to stay on track:
Give Them Space to Share: Yellow writers love to talk through their ideas. Build in time for them to share their work and brainstorm with others.
Our sneak peeks and reflections are the perfect time for yellow writers to get their stories off their chests. It’s their chance to shine and feel seen.
Set Flexible Goals: Yellow writers don’t always stick to rigid plans. Instead, create flexible milestones that allow room for new ideas while keeping them focused.
Match Their Energy: Before I jump on a call with a yellow writer, I listen to pop music to get in the right mindset. You need to meet their enthusiasm with the same vibrant energy they bring.
Use Playful Tools: Games like Yes, And or Quick Writes are perfect for yellow writers. Timed activities can help them access their ideas while creating boundaries to keep their momentum.
Create Accountability: Yellow writers often need external motivation to stay on track. Partner them with a writing buddy or set up regular check-ins to help them stay focused.
One of my favorite moments in the workshop was a chat with a blue writer. She said, “You should ask the kids in the common room to split up—they’re so distracted.” It was a perfect chance to explain DISC. Blue writers thrive in quiet, focused environments, but yellow writers? They work best with others around.
It might look like they’re distracted, with their chatting and buzzing energy, but that social engagement is what actually fuels their creativity and focus. By the end of the session, that same “distracted” yellow writer shared two polished paragraphs during our sneak peek, leaving the blue writer surprised—and impressed!
This dynamic perfectly illustrates how yellow writers’ strengths—collaboration, connection, and enthusiasm—can sometimes be mistaken for challenges. But when we lean into what motivates them and offer the right support, they flourish.
Challenges to Watch For
Yellow writers bring boundless energy and creativity, but their strengths can sometimes create hurdles. Here are a few challenges to keep an eye on—and how to address them:
Starting Too Many Projects: Their heads are brimming with ideas, but finishing them? That’s another story.
I hear it all the time: “I have so many ideas, but I can never finish a story because I just keep getting better and better ideas!” Helping them focus and see projects through is key.Overcommitting: Yellow writers are eternal optimists, always eager to say “yes” to everything. Whether it’s a new project, a fun activity, or a challenge, they want to do it all—often at the expense of focus.
Difficulty with Structure: While they thrive on creative freedom, too much of it can overwhelm them. They need light structure and clear priorities to guide their energy.
Struggling to Listen: Yellow writers tend to talk more than they listen, which can make it difficult for them to absorb feedback or understand others’ needs. Here’s the thing: you can’t simply tell them—they need to come to realizations on their own. They’re more likely to take action if they believe it’s their idea. (Be ready to repeat yourself, though. Yellow writers need reminders—lots of them.)
Overpowering Others: Their enthusiasm can sometimes overwhelm quieter kids or those with different working styles. In Writers’ Workshop, one of our core values is protecting the flow—both their own and others’. For yellow writers, that means creating spaces where they can connect but also reminding them that some kids need quiet to thrive.
By understanding these challenges and providing the right balance of structure, encouragement, and space for self-discovery, you can help yellow writers harness their creativity without losing focus.
Yellow writers bring creativity, energy, and a spark of joy to everything they do. With the right tools and support, they can turn their endless ideas into amazing stories.
Curious about how DISC can help unlock your child’s writing potential? Let’s chat! A DISC survey and feedback session can provide personalized insights to help your yellow writer shine.
Check out my DISC guide for parents for more insights into how this tool can transform your approach. And if you’re curious about other DISC styles, don’t miss my blog on red-dominant writers for a deeper dive." Stay tuned for the next blog in this series, where I’ll be diving into green energy—the steady, loyal creators who thrive on harmony and consistency.