H IS FOR HARMONICA!

H is for Harmonica.

Harmonica is for Romance, because a harmonica can make the music needed to capture the attention of the woman with the arresting blue eyes, the director of the show. Mr. Wright isn’t interested in winning the competition–he can’t play a single note on any instrument–but he’s willing to put himself out there, to humiliate himself and offer an audience a laugh, just for the chance to get this woman’s undivided attention for one single moment, even if initially unfavorably. That’s all he needs, one shining moment to let her know how far he will go for the woman he loves.

Now for the Mystery writer, Ted couldn’t sleep well in the less-than-inviting motel room last night, so he stared at the ceiling and attempted wishing himself to sleep. All the while, soft lyrical notes from what he assumed was a harmonica came through the thin walls from the room next door. His grandfather used to play a harmonica, and he wasn’t bad. But who is playing these tunes now? Connie, his coworker, was renting that room. He never knew she could play an instrument. The sound became so comforting that Ted finally dozed off. He woke feeling somewhat refreshed, until he learned that Connie, who was to accompany him to a conference, had been murdered. No musical instruments were found, not even a harmonica. Maybe the killer had been playing a last song to her… That’s what Ted was thinking until a detective turned to him. “And what were you doing last night?”

Music has complemented Literary stories for ages. Well, it complements other stories, too, but the movement in music, the rhythm, often mimics the lyrical tone in literary voices. Literary stories are generally more a reflection of what’s going on in a person’s mind, rather than a fast-paced action adventure, and so it’s not without reason that some musical instrument could symbolically reflect a time period in a specific character’s life. There were times of high notes, times of very deep and low notes that seemed to go on forever… Consider, what is the shape of that harmonica and how well is its music received or given in the ending? Then decide what led to that point.

Children’s stories are such fun to create, and kids love music. I can see a strange looking dude with bony elbows and a large Adam’s apple dancing in the park as he hums away on a harmonica.  But the squirrels think the noise is chatter and they scold the musician until he moves to a new spot. A mother bunny is sure he’s interfering with the needed rest for her babies, and she, too, lets it be known that the musician’s gifts are not welcome. The same with the loud squawking bird above his head. It seems everywhere he goes, no one appreciates his music but him. So what does he do about it?

Choose an idea and get started writing! Or, share your own idea in one of these genres or in one I didn’t mention, such as sci-fi or fantasy. Thanks!

Happy writing!