I get it a lot. Maybe it’s the way I still insist on using a feather quill for my initial story sketches, or the fact that my office is arguably just a “fort” with better furniture. But the phrase “kid at heart” follows me around, and frankly, I wear it like a badge of honor—a shimmering, enchanted badge, naturally.

For a middle-grade fantasy writer like me (author of the Johnny Rikkens’ Fantastic Worlds series!), being a kid at heart isn’t just about being playful. It’s about maintaining the active mental state required to unlock portals and craft worlds. It is the secret ingredient in every story I write.

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The Three Spells of the Inner Child

If I had to break down this magical mindset, I’d say it comes down to three essential qualities that the best fantasy stories are built upon:

1. The Fearless What If?

A kid at heart, especially a writer, still asks the most important question in the universe: “What if?”

• What if the local pond was a passage to an underwater kingdom?
• What if my dog could talk, but only in riddles?
• What if a shadow could steal your memory of summer?

We don’t dismiss these ideas as silly; we treat them as plot hooks. The world is full of rules, but the inner child sees them as suggestions. This relentless curiosity is the key to creating unique magic systems and relatable, questing heroes. It’s the engine that powers every single adventure in the Johnny Rikkens’ Fantastic Worlds book!

2. The Total Immersion in Play

Think about a child playing make-believe. They aren’t just pretending to be a knight; for that hour, they are the knight. Their focus is absolute, and their emotional investment is 100%.

As an author, this translates to total immersion. Being a kid at heart means I can sit down and, for a few hours, genuinely believe in the grumpy, winged creature I’m writing about. I need that level of unfiltered, genuine emotion to make the peril feel real and the triumph feel earned. It’s the ability to “play” with words and concepts until the fantasy world is tangible enough to walk through.

3. Optimism and the Hero’s Code

Middle-grade fantasy, at its core, is hopeful. Despite the menacing villains, the terrifying landscapes, and the impossible odds, the hero must prevail.

Being a kid at heart means clinging to that unshakable optimism. It means believing in the power of friendship, the wisdom of the marginalized, and the triumph of a good heart over dark forces. When adult cynicism creeps in and tries to whisper that the quest is hopeless, the inner kid reminds me, “But wait, we haven’t tried the secret chant yet!” It’s the conviction that there’s always a way, which is why we keep turning the page.

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The Magic is Real

For me, being a kid at heart is my job description. It’s the permission slip I give myself every morning to ignore the boring parts of life and focus on where the real magic is hiding. It keeps my writing honest, exciting, and accessible to the incredible young readers who are themselves still masters of wonder.

So, if you catch me skipping down the grocery aisle or declaring a cardboard box to be a newly discovered teleportation device, you’ll know why. I’m just doing my research!

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I’m curious: What’s the most “kid at heart” thing you’ve done recently?