How I Know When a TJKidz Story Is Truly Impactful

By TJKidz • Super Fun Stories

Well… I don’t. Not really.

But what I do know is how a story makes me feel when I write it. And over time, I’ve learned that this feeling — that little emotional ping inside my gut — is the closest thing I have to knowing whether a TJKidz story will truly matter to someone else.

Every story I write is designed to appeal to emotion. Sometimes that emotion is laughter — the kind that comes from silly characters, ridiculous situations, or pure kid‑friendly chaos. Sometimes it’s curiosity, sometimes inspiration, and sometimes that quiet, relatable moment where a character feels something real.

But no matter the tone, every TJKidz story has one thing in common: A meaningful takeaway built in on purpose — not in a preachy way, not in a “sit down and learn this lesson” way, but in a natural, I’ve felt that too way.

That’s the heart of it.

Where the emotion comes from

When I write, I draw from my own life — funny family moments, childhood memories, emotional experiences, or even random ideas that suddenly pop in my head on a whim. Sometimes I’ll be writing a scene and get hit with a wave of emotion out of nowhere. A gut feeling or chills. That's the moment where the story suddenly feels alive.

That’s usually when I know I’m onto something.

Take Hoppy the Three‑Legged Horse, for example. There were so many moments in that story that made me feel genuine emotion. When I came up with the idea of Hoppy winning the Kentucky Derby, my eyes actually welled up. Not because it’s realistic — a three‑legged horse winning the Derby is obviously fantasy — but because the hope behind it is real. The feeling of “nothing is impossible” is real. That’s the kind of emotion that gives us chills.

Or take the story I’m working on right now: The Never Ending Birthday. It’s about a girl whose birthday goes terribly wrong, and she wishes every day could be her birthday so she can get everything she wants. When that wish comes true, she discovers that getting everything isn’t what brings happiness. What she really wants — what she needed — was to appreciate her family, their thoughtfulness, and the love behind their imperfect gifts.

That’s something we can all relate to. And when I wrote that moment, I felt it. That’s the ping.

So how do I know if a story is impactful?

Honestly… I don’t.

I don’t know how each story will land with every listener. I don’t know which moments will make someone laugh, or which moments will make someone feel seen, or which moments will stick with a kid long after the story ends.

But I do know how the story impacts me.

I know when a story comes from my heart. I know when a character feels real. I know when a moment hits me emotionally — even in a fantasy adventure or a slapstick comedy.

And I trust that if a story is built from real feelings, real memories, real humor, and real hope… then someone out there will connect with it in the way it was intended.

Maybe to laugh. Maybe to feel understood. Maybe to learn something meaningful in a fun, gentle way.

That’s the magic of storytelling. You don’t always know who it will reach — but you know when it’s honest and from the heart. 

And that’s how I know when a TJKidz story is truly impactful.