Jewel of the Nile

I read about one lady who, in college, was wanting to go on a trip with the English class. (I can't remember where they were going. Over seas or something.) Only, a set number of students could go. Her professor told her ... well your writing is so bad that if you promise to never write again you can go. She promised and went. Several years later (several non-writing years) she met a man in a park who was writing. She said "I used to write". They spoke for a while about writing and about her promise to never write. He convinced her to bring him some of her work. A short time later her Romancing the Stone was published and movie rights were being discussed!!!!