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I have a special place in my heart for the Erma Bombeck conference. This was really the place where I got my humor writing start. Well, actually, sitting at my desk in front of my computer was where I got my start, but the Erma conference was the place where I found the courage to turn my passion for writing into a career.

I started writing my humor column for one local newspaper back in 2001, and five years later, decided that I wanted to be the next Erma Bombeck. Where better to learn how to do that than at the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop? I remember being incredibly nervous and in awe of the other writers who seemed like they were so much further along in their journey than I was. On the first night, I noticed a syndicated Canadian columnist surrounded by attendees. I thought, "Gee, if I can get to know him, maybe he can show me the ropes and help me achieve my dream." So I introduced myself and he invited me to sit next to him at dinner.

Being the cool New Jersey girl that I am, I tried to entertain him with funny stories, and in the process, accidentally knocked an entire glass of wine into his lap.

Then I tried to wipe it off.

Although this was not the impression I was looking to make, it was AN impression, and not one I thought he would forget too quickly. Being a humor writer, though, he could see the funny in the situation and invited me to sit with him at dinner again the next night.

Dinner with Tracy: Take 2

We made it through almost the entire meal without incident. And then while we were having dessert, he made a joke, and I laughed. Unfortunately it was while I had a large wad of partially chewed strawberry cheesecake in my mouth. Did you know that when you laugh with strawberry cheesecake in your mouth, it sprays out in a million little tiny yellow and red spots all over whatever or whoever is directly in front of you?

Now you know.

My dinner companion assured me that he would not hold my dual dinner faux pas against me and would most likely make sure to wear a raincoat for all future meals together.

I actually learned two important lessons from that experience.

The first is an equation that has served me well throughout my career. It goes, Tragedy+Time=Comedy. As bad as something seems at the time, in the hands of a great writer it can become excellent fodder for a humor column.

The second thing I learned was that humor writers, especially those who attend the Erma Bombeck conference, are an incredibly supportive community of people who are just as thrilled for your success as they are for their own. Many of the people I met at my first conference are my biggest supporters, my most trusted editors and some of my closest friends. This is not to say that given the chance they wouldn't try to bump me off and take over my newspapers contracts, or run away with my Erma Bombeck Writing Competition award, but I know that they would do that in the most loving and supportive way.

Many humor writers today would be surprised to know that Erma Bombeck was almost 38 when she started writing her humor column for the Dayton Journal Herald. By today's work standards, that is practically old enough to retire to a senior community called "Journey's End" in Florida and start stealing dinner rolls at the Early Bird Special. Like Erma, I was also in my 30s when I started writing my column. And, also like Erma, my column grew out of the experience of becoming a mother. It was not something I could have written in my 20s. I actually don't even think I really hit my writing stride until my 40s. With age, they say comes wisdom…but also, sometimes, children. So, you know, that kind of blows that whole wisdom theory. But with children come hemorrhoids. And with children and hemorrhoids come a humor column.

At my first conference, Dave Barry was the keynote speaker and he was asked the question: "How do you come up with your material?" Dave responded, "You got kids. You got a dog? You got a column." Since I was in awe of Dave Barry and his success, I immediately went home, popped out a few kids and got a dog and I have been successful ever since. Eventually, of course, the kids leave home and the dog dies, so it's good to have a couple more tricks up your humor sleeve…

or at least get another dog.

- Tracy Beckerman

Tracy Beckerman, who's on the faculty at the 2014 EBWW, writes the syndicated humor column and blog, "Lost in Suburbia," which is carried by more than 400 newspapers in 25 states and on 250 websites to approximately 10 million readers. She's also the author of Lost in Suburbia: A Momoir and Rebel Without a Minivan: Observations on Life in the 'Burbs. In 2014, she was the global humor winner in the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition sponsored by the Washington-Centerville Public Library in Centerville, Ohio.