A few days ago my dear friends, Jennifer Archer and Charlotte Goebel drove over from Amarillo for a visit and a writing retreat. Even a mini-retreat can ignite creative juices. We did several timed writings, discussed our current works, and shared titles of books about our craft.

Late in the afternoon we decided to take a break. We justified our getaway by turning the short journey into a writing exercise--find a person who inspires a new character. Instead of heading for our intended destination--Starbucks, we somehow ended up at a shop, tasting olive oils and vinegars. On the ride back home, we realized we'd been charmed by the same person. We made a pact to each include a character in an upcoming story loosely inspired by her. I can guarantee you our characters will be different. Because that's the way inspiration goes. We each filter what we experience through our own lenses.