creative writing on a sunny day

12 Sun, Sunrise & Sunset Metaphors for Writers

The sun is one of the most common contextual features of a setting that we write about. But it’s hard to come up with creative new ways to talk about something that has been discussed in countless books over Millenia. Below, I’ve compiled some creative sun metaphors that can help you break through that writer’s block and find the perfect setting description in your story.

After exploring metaphors for the sun, I’ll also provide some further adjectives and color descriptions that can help add flair to your writing, and create the perfect image in your reader’s mind.

Sun Metaphors and Similes

1. It Slipped through my Fingers

You can picture in your mind sunrays on your hand and, with your fingers outstretched, some of them passing through the gaps in your fingers to lay on the ground below. To say it slipped through your fingers is metaphorical because it didn’t literally slip through anything. It didn’t slide or bounce or refract off your fingers at all. In fact, the it is a long, long way away. Rather, it’s the sunrays that pass between the fingers. But we can be much more creative and visual in our description than to say “the sun rays passed between my fingers” – so we say “it slipped through”.

2. The Blazing Sun Mocked Me

This is an example of personification of the sun. In this metaphor, the sun isn’t a friend but a tormentor. An example of a time when it might mock a protagonist is when they’re out on a hike through the desert. The protagonist is exhausted and dehydrated, with a long way to walk in the heat of the day. Here, we might imagine the protagonist being along and feeling as if the sun is their only company. But the heat means it isn’t a friend but an enemy, mocking you as you try to escape its heat.

Related: A List of Summer Metaphors, Similes and Idioms

3. It Peeked Through the Clouds

We use this metaphor for the moon as well. Imagine the clouds obscuring the sun’s view, but as the clouds part, it seems like it “peeks out” at you to take a look. This is another example of personification. Of course, an object without personality or a brain can’t take a peek at anything. But this personification helps us to create an image in our minds.

This metaphor can be used at the end of a storm to show the end of the storm and the return to better weather.

4. It is a Golden Coin

When I took college classes in creative writing, my professor shared a book he wrote, and it opened with the line: “the sun flipped a golden coin”. I’ve always remembered it and banked this in my mind as a great way to start a story. Others have had their own adaptations of this, such as calling the sun a golden orb or medallion in the sky ( See Also: Sky Metaphors ).

5. The Sun Chased away the Clouds

Here again we have personification. Of course an inanimate object can’t chase anything or anyone! But what is happening here is the description of the changes in the weather as a battle between different elements. The clouds are being chased like a sheepdog chases sheep, to return to its rightful position as the top dog in the skies.

6. It Stood Watch over its Realm / Looked over You

We can imagine the sun being the ruler over us. It sits so far overhead and is visible from just about anywhere you are (so long as you’re outside). It almost feels like it’s watching us constantly, standing guard. Again, this is of course personification – it doesn’t really do any watching at all! If we were to consider it to be like a god , we can imagine it’s watching us and passing judgement on us all day long.

7. It Smiled Upon Me

This one is another more positive, upbeat metaphor. The idea that you are being smiled at from above gives you a sense that you’re blessed and cared for throughout your day. This might be a metaphor you use if you feel as if you’ve had a lucky day or got some good news today. You can’t imagine using this metaphor when you’re going through hardship or feeling the punishing heat of rays on your skin.

8. The Sun’s Yolk

This metaphor calls the sun an egg! It may sound absurd, but if you look at it, it looks like a yolk from the inside of an egg. You might write “the yolk of the sun” as a metaphor to describe it, for example. This is your classic straight-up metaphor where you are directly calling one thing something else.

Sunrise Metaphors and Similes

9. God’s Morning Star

This is a metaphor you might want to use if you’re writing a story from a religious perspective. To wake to “God’s morning star” is to see God in nature – be it a Christian, Muslim or Buddhist God, or even simply a pantheist . It might be seen as a moment to reflect on God, the beauty of the world, or even a moment for quiet prayer before eating.

The character might be waking feeling blessed, or even, feeling as if they’re downtrodden but continue to sustain their faith in their religion.

The sun is quite literally a star , so this is borderline figurative or literal (also depending on you believe in God!).

Related: A List of 19 Light Metaphors

10. The Sunrise Greeted me in the Morning

I love this metaphor. I can imagine someone pulling open the curtains and feeling joyful about their day ahead. When the curtains open, the sun is revealed – shining big and bright right back at the protagonist. The sun is a symbol of the person’s mood and greets or “welcomes” you to a day you’re looking forward. Here, it is being personified, which means you’re giving human features to non-human things.

   Related Sun, Moon, Sky and Stars Articles:

• Red Sky Symbolism
• Sunrise Symbolism
• Sunset Symbolism
• Morning Symbolism
• Harvest Moon Symbolism
• Orange Sky Symbolism
• Sun and Sunrise Sayings
• Morning Star Symbolism
• Symbolism of the Sun
• Night Symbolism
• Darkness Symbolism

Sunset Metaphors and Similes

11. The Sun Succumbed to the Moon

This is a description you might use at the end of the day as night falls. Here, we can imagine the sun and moon taking shifts (there’s another metaphor for you!). They swap each 12 hours, almost like they’re in an unending battle. Here, the sun is the loser, succumbing to the moon (or night), to “retreat” through night.

12. It went to Bed

This is a metaphor to explain the coming of the night. Just as we go to bed, we can also imagine that orb in the sky going to sleep for the night. We shape the patterns of our lives around the night and day, so it makes sense for us to project some of our behaviors back onto the sun itself. This, again, is a form of personification where it’s being given the trait of an animal or human – the idea of going to bed!

Read Also: A List of Nature Idioms and Nature Metaphors

Colors to Describe the Sun

• Yellow – This is probably the most common color that comes to mind. On a clear day in the middle of the day, we’d expect its color to be yellow.
• Amber – This is the color you might expect to see during dusk or early in the morning.
• Copper – We’ll often use “copper” as an adjective in creative descriptions, such as “the scorching copper sun”.
• Honeycomb – This is the color you might experience in a certain ambiance, such as in a forest where the rays slip through the leaves and spot the forest surface with honeycomb colors and patterns.
• Golden – Like Amber, we might use this descriptive color when the atmosphere is thick at dawn or dusk.

Adjectives to Describe the Sun

• Blazing – A term you might use on a particularly hot day.
• Flaming – Similar to blazing – for hot days.
• Glowing – A good term for sunrise or sunset when there is a golden color in the air.
• Shining – A good term for the middle of the day.
• Scorching – Another one for hot days.
• Scolding – Again, this adjective describes the heat of the day.
• Licking – When you can feel rays dancing on your skin.
• Tickling  – Similar to licking.

Sun metaphors can help enhance your writing and make it more descriptive. Aim to create an image in your reader’s mind by using adjectives and colors that match the mood you are trying to set. You can use different metaphors or idioms for different times of day or moods of your protagonists.

Other metaphors you can use in your writing to enrich it include happiness metaphors and fear metaphors.

I’m Chris and I run this website – a resource about symbolism, metaphors, idioms, and a whole lot more! Thanks for dropping by.

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10 Words to Describe the Feeling of the Sun

By Rebecca Parpworth-Reynolds

Write the perfect sunny scene in your novel by using the following 10 words to describe the feeling of the sun.

Pleasantly  warm .

“The  balmy  rays of the sun caressed her skin.”

“The weather was  balmy , and the warm sunshine not only put him in a good mood but the garden flowers, too.”

How it Adds Description

When the sun feels nicely warm on your skin, it can be described as “balmy”. Not only that, but the word conjures up images of medicine balms or ointments, helping to show the healing and therapeutic nature of the sun on your setting and characters.

• Bright and  hot .
• Powerful or impressive.

“While the  blazing  sun is good news for some, redheads need to beware.”

“The  blazing  sun beat down on them, making the journey across the desert even harder.”

If you need to describe not only the sun’s might but also how hot it is, consider the word “blazing”. This not only conjures up images of a strong, intense fire but also gives it an air of majesty, too.

• Very hot or on fire.
• Providing a  sensation or pain  that is hot.

“As soon as she moved out of the shade, she could feel the  burning  sun prickling her skin.”

“The sunshine was one of the main reasons they had chosen this place for their vacation, but with two of them down with heatstroke, its  burning  power was just too much.”

Sometimes the sun isn’t so much of a welcome visitor when it comes to the sensation it gives us, and can often be more harmful than good. If it is very hot, your characters will need to watch out for the “burning” sun, and hope that they don’t cook!

• To enthusiastically accept something.
• To hold someone tightly in a  loving  way.

“As the sun poked its way through the clouds, it enveloped her in its warm  embrace .”

“After so many long and cold nights, the people of the North longed for the sun’s  embrace .”

Sometimes it can feel like the sun is physically hugging us, and its warm sensation can be incredibly comforting, almost like a loved one. As a result, you can liken the feeling of the sun to an “embrace”.

5. Invigorating

Filling someone with  energy  and vitality.

“The feeling of the sun and the slight breeze was  invigorating , helping to fuel her for her morning run.”

“There is something about spending time in sunnier climes that always leaves an  invigorating  feeling.”

The sun can often help to fill people with energy and optimism to start their day, or even fill them with hope after countless gray skies. To describe how the sun helps to revitalize, try using the word “invigorating”.

6. Oppressive

• Very hot, with little to no wind or relief.
• Making someone feel  uncomfortable .

“The  oppressive  heat of the sun bore down on them, turning their lungs to paper and their feet to lead.”

“Many people can struggle in the  oppressive  desert sun, and it can take a while to get used to.”

Sometimes the sun can be our worst  enemy , making us feel like there is no let up from the heat it provides. This can often stop people from being able to do things, such as sleep or move around, and is rather “oppressive” in this regard!

7. Overwhelming

• Difficult to fight against.
• Strong  or great in number or power.

“For someone who had grown up in a frozen wasteland, the sun here was  overwhelming .”

“The feeling of the sun on her skin gave her an  overwhelming  sense of hope. After so long in the darkness, things were finally going to be better than they were.”

The sun can be gentle, but sometimes it can seem “overwhelming”. Depending upon your character this might be a positive or a negative thing: they may find the sun to be too much, or they may find that it is able to fill them with powerful emotions to push them onwards.

8. Scorching

Very hot  to the point where it becomes uncomfortable.

“The  scorching  sun had turned the sand into hot coals under their feet, making them dance across the beach like clumsy ballerinas.”

“The sheer heat and power of the sun were  scorching  her skin within minutes of stepping out of the door.”

“Scorching” brings up images of putting something to the flame, and this is sometimes how the sun can feel! The incredibly hot temperatures can burn quickly, or cause pain, showing that even days of bright sunshine can have their dangers, or not be as pleasant as they seem.

9. Soothing

• Creating a feeling of  calm .
• Gently relieving pain.

“The feeling of the sun on her skin was always so  soothing , many said that the time she spent outside gardening in the sunshine was one of the true secrets to her sprightliness even at her grand old age.”

“The  soothing  sun was a great relief from the harsh lighting of the office.”

The sun can provide pleasant feelings and help people to feel at ease. Some even feel that the sun can help to heal their aches and pains, or at least make them easier to deal with. If the sun is a comfort to characters in your story, consider describing it as “soothing”.

10. Soporific

Making someone  fall asleep  or want to fall asleep.

“The  soporific  effect of the sun beaming through the window onto her desk made her wish for her bed. She couldn’t wait for this lesson to be over.”

“ Soporific  sunbeams streamed through the gossamer-thin curtains, making her appear for all intents and purposes to be some sort of sleeping beauty, albeit one whose snores could easily be mistaken for a rambunctious herd of elephants.”

We are all guilty of having a bit of a doze in the sun, and if you need to describe the sleep-inducing effect of the sunshine, “soporific” makes for a great choice. Let’s hope your characters don’t end up sleeping through anything important!

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How to Describe a Sunny Day in Creative Writing

• April 4, 2023

A sunny day in winter can be captivating, inspiring, and even life-changing. You may feel inspired to write about your experience, as I did. Even if you don’t feel inspired to write about your day, you may feel inspired to write about a day that was similar to yours.

There are various ways that you can describe a sunny day. You could start by simply writing about the brightness of the sun or the warmth of the rays. You could also mention the soft caress of the wind on your cheeks or the smell of grass or leaves in the air.

You could, of course, focus on the positive aspects of a sunny day, such as the fact that it’s sunny, or that you’re feeling inspired, creative, or happy. Nevertheless, you could also note the downside of a sunny day, such as the fact that it can sometimes be rather cold or that you may suffer from vitamin D deficiency. These are all valid points, which you would certainly consider before taking a stroll outside, despite the fact that there are days when you really want to go outside and feel the wind on your cheeks and the sun beating down.

Take Advantage Of Varying Weather Conditions

If you live in a place where the weather is unpredictable, you’ll have to find a way to describe it. There’s no single word or phrase that can capture all the varying conditions that you encounter on a daily basis. For this reason, you may want to take advantage of the fact that it can sometimes be cold, wet, windy, or even muddy outside. You could utilize these elements in your writing to create a more immersive experience for your reader or listener. For instance, you may want to mention that it’s cold and that you are wearing multiple layers, or that it’s rainy but that you are nonetheless determined to carry on with your plans that day. An immersive experience like this, which comes from varying the writing style and words used to describe your character’s experience, can help to make your writing more realistic and vivid.

Consider The Weather Station

A good place to get a feel for the weather can be a weather station. These are often found in parks or other open spaces, and they are used to track local conditions and forecasts. You could use some of the information that they provide to give your writing more authenticity. For example, you may want to mention that the weather is rather cold and misty or that there are strong winds forecast for the next few days.

The Great British Weather Guide

For those who want to truly find out about the weather in Great Britain, the Great British Weather Guide is an essential resource. You may feel that you can get the general gist of what is happening from traditional newspapers or the television; however, a guide such as this will give you more in-depth information about local conditions. For example, you may want to flag up that it is rather cool and overcast this year compared to previous years. You could also note that there has been an increase in thunderstorms compared to usual, and that the water content of the soil has increased, too.

Use Metaphors And Similes

Metaphors and similes are two other words that you can use to describe the weather. A metaphor is when you compare one thing to another similar thing for similarity. A simile is when you compare one thing to another thing. For example, you may want to use the phrase ‘a blustery day’ instead of ‘sunny day’ to describe the weather, since the wind is a key factor in both instances. Metaphors and similes are good tools for describing weather, and you should consider using them in your writing to make it more realistic and vivid.

The Best Books About Weather

If you’re looking for some inspiration on what to write about, it’s always nice to read about other people’s experiences. Even better, you can find a wide range of books about the topic of weather, from humorous anecdotes to deeply researched studies. Here are some suggestions:

Storm Chasers

Storm Chasers is the true story of an American meteorologist who spent over a decade investigating and documenting extreme weather conditions. Even though he travelled to places such as India, China, and Japan to uncover the secrets of the weather, his greatest adventures happened right here in the UK. You may want to read this book if you’re interested in finding out more about the true nature of the British climate.

A Country View

Fitzroy Maclaurin’s A Country View is a collection of short stories about rural life in Scotland. The book was written in 1902, and many of the stories are still as interesting and relevant today as they were over a century ago. It’s a shame that so many of the rural industries have fallen by the wayside over the years, but it means that the people living in these communities still retain much of their charm and eccentricity. If you’re looking for somewhere warm to vacation this coming summer, why not visit one of Scotland’s beautiful countryside villages instead? You may want to consider buying A Country View as a present for yourself or someone you love.

If your day is rather warm and sunny, why not write about it in detail? You may want to consider using a narrative style, in which you start at the beginning and then continue through to the end, or you could create a character who is in the middle of the experience. For example, you may want to begin by describing the first few moments after waking up and the first cup of coffee you drink. You could continue by mentioning everyday things such as the heat that continues to build as you go about your daily routine. If you’re really feeling adventurous, you could even go for a swim or a walk in the afternoon. A bit of research could tell you the ideal time of day and temperature for walking or swimming in your area, so you can make the most of the weather while you’re there.

If you’re writing about a winter day, you may want to consider using a narrative style, in which you start at the beginning and then continue through to the end. Alternatively, you could create a character who is in the middle of the experience. For example, you may want to begin by mentioning that someone has broken an expensive vase, so you set off to find out who is responsible. You could continue by revealing that the culprit is one of your neighbors, and so you begin the process of uncovering the truth. You could mention that it’s rather cold and that there is snow on the ground, so you light a fire and sit down to write your story. If you’re feeling particularly creative, you could even start a snowball fight with your siblings or friends. An exciting and immersive experience, such as this, which comes from varying the writing style and words used to describe your character’s experience, can help to make your writing more realistic and vivid.

The weather can be rather moody, and you may want to write about that mood. If you’re feeling rather melancholy or upset, you could write about how you feel trapped inside due to the weather. You could mention that it’s rather dull and gray. These are all valid points, which you would certainly consider before taking a walk outside, despite the fact that there are days when you really want to go outside and feel the brightness of the sun on your cheeks and the wind making your hair fly about.

Hopefully, this post gave you some good ideas for writing about a sunny day. If you weren’t inspired to write about your day, you may feel inspired to write about a day that was similar to yours. Even if you don’t feel that you can use the things mentioned here to create an entire story, every bit of information and description will make your writing that little bit more real.

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20,101 quotes, descriptions and writing prompts, 4,968 themes

sunshine - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing

• dappled light
• first day of summer
• quote of the day
• winter sunset

Arrows of light met the ground that August day a few hours past noon. The mossy-grass beneath the grand oak became dappled, puddles of light playing happily with those of shadow. Alice reached out her hand, raising it to the sun. Warm. It felt so very warm. Filling her lungs with the air of evergreens, she closed her eyes to make a memory. On the cold winter days ahead she would want to remember this.

The sunshine has warmth in its brilliance, reflecting a shimmer from the ends of my eyelashes, deep brown though they are. It invites my eyes to rest, so that I may see the strong rays even when I appear to be sleeping. It's the kind of sunshine that comes at any time of year, illuminating summer meadows and alpine slopes all the same. I wish there was a word for the feeling it brings, for now I'm calling it "sunjoy."

In that moment we call "now" even the sunshine is as static as a photograph, the energy of the world in one place or another, yet in the series of moments we call the passage of time, everything flows. The sunshine on that spring day brought a glow to the foliage, the grass, to every garland of bloom. It shone from the insects who flew, as if each were a star of the daytime air. It brought a warm lightness to the heads of the birds, a shine to their feathers of all colours. And without it, what then? Without the warmth of sunshine, what would there be? And so in all seasons it is the way joy seeps into my skin, keeps my heart in ambient steady rhythm.

The bright sunshine brought us infinite hues of green, the palate of nature an abundance without frontier, each complimenting the other, more beautiful together than alone. It felt as if the light flowed, the energy within as the water in a river, kissing creation alive.

Under the sunshine every hue was kissed into brilliance, an art there for the seeing, for the willingness to pause and be with it in the moment. It brought every rose-hue from the bricks, every green nature bestowed, every tone of water and fire from petals evolved over eons. It made me shine too, the warmth around feeling as love within.

The sunshine was so sweet, a nectar bestowed to the bees by each fragrant bloom. It was the gift of sun that rendered each moment so rich, so buoyant, conjuring the wands of green to rise skyward. To me it was a symphony of colours, one that brought the sensation of dance to my bones.

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