Storystorm 2025 Day 28: Emily Peace Harrison Makes Music Her Muse

by Emily Peace Harrison

In the realm of children’s literature, rhyming picture books hold a special place in my heart. It is just something about the lyrical flow of rhymes that stimulates creativity and imagination. My mom loved Dr. Seuss, and she must have read every one of those books to me a hundred times. As a child, when I was having difficulty in school, my mom would make up rhymes and songs to help me learn. The repetition and rhythm helped me remember and retain the lesson—the melodies never failed to capture my attention. It is no surprise that my debut picture book, “I’d Rather Be Me”, is full of infectious rhyme and repetition.

In many ways, writing a rhyming picture book is similar to writing a song. You’re thinking about rhyme, rhythm, and lyricism. You’re imagining the artistic effect that you want the words to have—the way they’ll wash over the reader and evoke a certain feeling. So, naturally, the first step in my writing process is to turn to music. And for me, silence is distracting, which might also have something to do with growing up as the youngest of five children in a house full of glorious chaos; there was always some type of noise to compete with.

However, many authors struggle with rhyme and meter, and querying a rhyming manuscript is a difficult task. But whether you are writing a rhyming picture book, a YA manuscript, or a science fiction novel, music and rhythm can be the catalyst you need to jump start your writing.

For most of us, music evokes emotion. Old songs trigger personal memories, transporting us back to another place and time. I remember at my son’s wedding reception, the DJ played a song that sent me straight back to high school. At that moment I was 16 again; shopping for the perfect dress before the high school dance, making plans for a group dinner beforehand, and letting loose with the freedom that only a teenager experiences.

A teacher recently shared with me a technique she uses in the classroom to help her students find inspiration to write. The teacher selects music for the entire class to listen to and instructs the students to focus on the sounds the instruments are creating and the mood of the music. One of her favorites is the FANTASIA soundtrack. While listening, the students brainstorm adjectives and adverbs to describe the mood of the music. They then use that list of words in their stories. I immediately went home and listened to the FANTASIA soundtrack – great stuff for picture books!

Music has the ability to move us—our memories and our imaginations. Here’s how you can channel that power into inspiration for your writing:

PLAY A SONG. Turn on the music that you love. Listen carefully.

How does the song make you feel? Focus on the mood the song sets – joy, sadness, love, regret – write something that conveys that emotion.
What do the lyrics make you think about? Do the lyrics tell a story? Try to expand on that or give it a new twist. Perhaps the lyrics give you a portrait of a character. Maybe the lyrics take you back to a time in your past; write about that memory or experience.
What kind of story would use this song as a soundtrack? Imagine the story you are about to write will be made into a movie and this is the soundtrack. Use the song to envision a movie-worthy plot or character.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Play a song, any you choose.
Let the music be your muse.

Choose a song for inspiration. Listen from start to finish keeping the above questions in mind (play the song as many times as you need on repeat!)
Write for fifteen minutes about whatever the song inspires you to imagine.

Music is a universal language. No matter what mood you want to create, there is a melody out there that can inspire it!

Emily Peace Harrison is a children’s book author and has worked in higher education administration for nearly 20 years. Her award-winning, debut picture book, I’D RATHER BE ME, was published in September 2024 (Belle Isle Books). Emily’s picture books, filled with beautiful illustrations and heartfelt characters, aim to inspire confidence, foster empathy, and promote self-esteem in young readers. When she’s not at her day job or crafting rhymes for her stories, Emily likes nothing better than spending time with family and friends. Visit her at EmilyPeaceHarrison.com and follow her on Instagram @emilypeace50.