John Travolta inspired me when I saw his interview on Inside the Actors Studio. An acting student asked him where he goes for inspiration, internally or externally? Mr. Travolta’s answer was simple and brilliant. He said something to the effect that every person is interesting, you just have to figure out the right questions to ask. This of course makes sense for actors in figuring out character, but it also applies to writing fiction, when an author is trying to figure out a character. Ask the right questions. So simple. It was like I knew this once, but had forgotten.

So, two nights ago I sat down to begin a story, and I recalled a conversation I had with a friend from my first go around at college. I wrote the conversation down as best as I could remember. It was brief and filled about a page. It wasn’t a story and I couldn’t think of anything to do with it. I had changed the names around for myself and the two men involved in the discussion, and I liked the woman’s name so much, I thought, this isn’t a story, but what could she be doing that might start a story? And suddenly, she was running. Why was she running? Was she running from someone? To someone or something? Did she enjoy running or was it a labor? And suddenly, I knew she was a teenager in high school, and she had problems at home, and more and more until there was a full story ready for the printer.

Now, that was a rush. So, thank you, Mr. Travolta. Not only did you make me wish I was Olivia Newton-John all those years ago, but you’ve reminded me what that creative spark feels like and how to work in order to achieve it.