The quirky way I learned about a writers conference and became a writer — again.

Image via Flickr

Your next step in building your writing career may start in an unlikely place.

That’s what happened to me.

I’m sharing my story now because it relates to an annual writers conference that I regularly attend.

The Triangle Association of Freelancers (TAF), a regional writers group, hosts its annual conference, called Write Now!, in Raleigh, N.C.

The conference provides lots of valuable advice, resources and networking opportunities for non-fiction and fiction writers. The sessions usually different styles, including fiction writing as well as writing for magazines and businesses. 

How did I find out about this conference and Triangle Association of Freelancers?

I learned about the group and the conference in the same place where most writers start their careers – while sitting in an auto mechanic shop’s waiting room.

About five years ago, I visited my local mechanic for a routine oil change. I had the day off from my “meh” job, so I figured I would get a few errands done. I was also thinking about how to restart my writing career, but I didn’t know where to begin.

Then, two casually dressed men holding brochures walked into the mechanic shop.

“These guys are either selling something or they’re from a local church,” I thought.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Those two guys were TAF founder Don Vaughan and longtime TAF member Mark Cantrell. The brochures were for TAF’s annual Write Now! writers conference.

Don asked the man sitting at the waiting room’s desk if it was okay to leave some conference brochures in the shop.

“Writers need to have their cars repaired, too,” Don said.

The man at the desk said, “Sure.”

I sat in the waiting room, speechless.

It has been said, by more than one rapper, that you need to chase your dreams, because your dreams won’t chase you.

But this felt like my writing dreams were chasing me.

“Um, wait,” I finally said as the two men were leaving the shop. “I’ll take a brochure.”

Don handed me a brochure. Don and Mark also talked to me briefly about TAF being a local writers group and about their writers conference.

So, I attended that year’s Write Now! Conference about two months later. I met a lot of nice writers and later joined the Triangle Association of Freelancers. Since then, I have:

• become the president of Triangle Association of Freelancers,
• become a business copywriter by creating documents for local and regional organizations,
• written published magazine articles,
• and started this blog.

So, that’s how I restarted my writing career.

Now, it’s your turn.

Maybe you’re ready to write, but you’re having trouble finding readers for your blog or your next book. 

If that sounds like you, then grab your FREE writers’ checklist called “How to Find Your Ideal Reader in Less than an Hour“ to help you connect with your readers!

Ready to write better blog posts? The “Creating Awesome Blog Posts” course is now open.
Click Here to get started!