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From a Prison Cell to a Publishing Company: How Writing Changed My Game

Writer's picture: T.M JeffersonT.M Jefferson
“Most people think writing success stories start in MFA programs or New York publishing houses. Mine started in a prison cell at a New York State Correctional Facility…”

I remember standing in Westchester County court, listening to the judge hand down a 7-year sentence on a gun charge. At that moment, I didn't know I was about to stumble into my calling. I didn't know I was about to change my game.



Those first two weeks in the county, instead of just letting time pass, I started reading. Not legal books or self-help - I was devouring urban street fiction. Book after book, story after story, until one day I thought: "I could write something like this."


That thought changed everything.


With nothing but time, a pen, discipline and determination, I started writing "A Drug Dealer's Dream." No writing workshops. No fancy laptops. No Twitter following. Just raw storytelling straight from my experience to the page. Two years later, I had my first completed manuscript.


My first book; A Drug Dealer’s Dream

Here's what nobody tells you about writing from rock bottom:


1. Your limitations become your superpower. Without distractions, you focus purely on the craft.


2. Authenticity isn't a marketing strategy - it's your only option.


3. When you're writing to save your own life, writer's block isn't an option.


Today, 8 books later, I run TMJ BOOKS and write across multiple genres - historical fiction, thrillers, crime drama, self-help, and memoir. That first urban fiction novel didn't just open a door; it built a whole new house.


But the truth is: You don't need a prison cell to change your game. You just need:


- A story to tell

- The courage to tell it

- The dedication to master your craft

- The resilience to keep going


Writing isn't just about publishing books. It's about transforming your reality, one word at a time. Whether you're writing from a cell, a cubicle, or a coffee shop, every word you put on paper is a step toward changing your game.


That's why I created the CTG Writing Mastery Course. Because someone out there needs to know that their circumstances don't define their story - it just adds depth to their character arc.



What game are you ready to change? What story are you ready to tell?


Drop a comment below or visit www.tmjefferson.org to learn more about transforming your life through writing.


Remember: Every bestseller starts with a single word. Write yours today.


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