If my posts this week haven’t yet convinced you that you should attend writing conferences, check this out. During H. M. Cauley’s “Writing Naked” seminar, I nailed down an idea for a story to submit to – of all places – AARP Magazine, and since then I’ve been brainstorming ideas like crazy. In other words, Cauley’s seminar, while it also dealt with the basics of freelancing, opened my mind to new avenues in my freelancing career and I haven’t been able to latch it shut since.

Bash ideas with a trash can lid if you have to!

This was probably because she made submitting to magazines sound deceptively easy. Cauley writes for all kinds of publications, including The Sunday Paper, an Atlanta alt weekly where I’ve noticed her byline before. She writes all types of pieces, too, from food criticism to human interest pieces to travel guides. Her seminar reminded me of the reason why I wanted to be my own boss in the first place – control over my own work.

Cauley is also a hustler. (In a good way. Not in a Paul Newman way, or a corner of Peachtree & 8th way.) Many freelance writers have the luxury of a spouse to foot half the bills and, hopefully, snag the health insurance, but Cauley made a career all on her own as a single mom. Go girl!

My big takeaway from Cauley’s seminar was to stay constantly on the lookout for ideas, and wrestle them down when they come along. For example, she once saw a sign pointing to a chapel here in Atlanta at Hartsfield Jackson Airport. Her curiosity about a chapel in an airport turned into a story about the airport’s full time chaplain. Who knew they even existed? Few people. Which is why it was a great story.

So, follow in H. M. Cauley’s footsteps. You probably see and hear dozens of story ideas every day. When one pops up, knock its legs out from under it and take it down!