diff --git a/src/class_todo.py b/src/class_todo.py
index 290eb3d..11e9c05 100644
--- a/src/class_todo.py
+++ b/src/class_todo.py
@@ -56,10 +56,12 @@ def _init_box_char(self, pointer: int) -> tuple[BoxChar, int]:
     def _init_color(self, pointer: int) -> tuple[Color, int]:
         if (
             len(self.text) > pointer + 1
-            and self.text[pointer].isdigit()
             and self.text[pointer + 1] == " "
         ):
-            return Color(int(self.text[pointer])), pointer + 2
+            if self.text[pointer].isdigit():
+                return Color(int(self.text[pointer])), pointer + 2
+            if self.text[pointer] in "rgybmcw":
+                return Color.from_first_char(self.text[pointer]), pointer + 2
         return Color.WHITE, pointer
 
     def _init_attrs(self) -> tuple[BoxChar, Color, str]:
@@ -167,7 +169,7 @@ def __repr__(self) -> str:
                 self.box_char != BoxChar.NONE and not self.is_empty(),
                 str(self.box_char),
             ),
-            Chunk(self.color != Color.WHITE, str(self.color.as_int())),
+            Chunk(self.color != Color.WHITE, str(self.color.as_char())),
             Chunk(
                 (self.box_char != BoxChar.NONE and not self.is_empty())
                 or self.color != Color.WHITE,
diff --git a/src/utils.py b/src/utils.py
index e84b1c3..529380f 100644
--- a/src/utils.py
+++ b/src/utils.py
@@ -41,6 +41,23 @@ def as_int(self) -> int:
         """
         return self.value
 
+    def as_char(self) -> str:
+        """Get lowercase first letter of color"""
+        return self.name[0].lower()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def from_first_char(char: str) -> "Color":
+        """Return the color corresponding to its first character"""
+        return {
+            "r": Color.RED,
+            "g": Color.GREEN,
+            "y": Color.YELLOW,
+            "b": Color.BLUE,
+            "m": Color.MAGENTA,
+            "c": Color.CYAN,
+            "w": Color.WHITE,
+        }[char]
+
     @staticmethod
     def as_dict() -> dict[str, int]:
         """
diff --git a/todo.txt b/todo.txt
index 3410a93..16994bc 100644
--- a/todo.txt
+++ b/todo.txt
@@ -1,17 +1,16 @@
--1 fix strikethrough
-  -1 fix long lines (longer than width // 2 - 1)
-  -1 fix moving down onto a toggled line
--4 implement multiline todos
-  -4 allow multiline paste
-  -4 allow multiline print
--5 make startup faster
--1 fix silence if dependencies are not installed
--2 add unit tests?
--2 use color names first letter rather than number (rgybmcw)
--3 add docstrings to `public` functions
-  -3 clipboard
-  -3 get_todo
-  -3 todo.py
--3 migrate from sometimes using `int` as cursor, to always using `Cursor`s
--3 migrate from `win: Any` to `win: curses.window`
+-r fix strikethrough
+  -r fix long lines (longer than width // 2 - 1)
+  -r fix moving down onto a toggled line
+-b implement multiline todos
+  -b allow multiline paste
+  -b allow multiline print
+-m make startup faster
+-r fix silence if dependencies are not installed
+-g add unit tests?
+-y add docstrings to `public` functions
+  -y clipboard
+  -y get_todo
+  -y todo.py
+-y migrate from sometimes using `int` as cursor, to always using `Cursor`s
+-y migrate from `win: Any` to `win: curses.window`
 - fix gui support
\ No newline at end of file