C. S. Lewis said a fairy tale, “far from dulling or emptying the actual world, gives it a new dimension of depth. He does not despise real woods because he has read of enchanted woods: The reading makes all real woods a little enchanted.” 

While researching for my current story, I pulled out notes taken back at uni from my dissertation, and this one always makes my heart happy.

Few things about the enormous power of storytelling strike me more than how they allow us to find magic in everyday situations. But woods especially. Escapism for the sake of it has its place, but true fairy tales should open your eyes to the world around you, not make you wish you weren’t in it.