How Hey Honey Encourages Problem-Solving in Children
Where Stories Begin
I rarely begin writing with a clear boundary between imagination and reality. Instead, I begin with something that feels in-between. A moment, a feeling, or an observation that does not fully belong to either side. It is in this space that stories begin to take shape.
Imagination is often described as something separate from reality. But in my experience, it is more like an extension of it. It takes something real and allows it to move into a different form. That movement is where storytelling begins for me.
The Fluid Nature of Story Thinking
Children naturally move between imagination and reality without separating the two. They can believe in a story while also understanding it as a story. There is a fluidity in that thinking that I find very close to how stories themselves are formed.
When I write, I try not to interrupt that fluidity too early. If I define everything too clearly, I lose the natural movement between thought and feeling. Instead, I allow the idea to remain open for as long as possible.
Emotional Translation of Experience
Most of what I write begins as something emotional rather than visual. A feeling of curiosity, uncertainty, warmth, or distance often comes before any narrative structure. That feeling then begins to translate itself into characters and situations.
This translation is not direct. It is not a one-to-one representation. It is more layered. A single emotion can become a character, a moment, or even an entire story environment.
Holding Both Worlds at Once
In the writing process, I do not choose between imagination and reality. I hold both at the same time. This allows the story to feel grounded while still remaining open. It also allows readers to find their own connection to it, regardless of how they interpret that balance.
The space between the two is where the story feels most alive. It is not fixed. It shifts depending on the reader, the moment, and the emotional context in which the story is experienced.
