The Power of Conferences

Congratulations Johanna Harness!

This week on twitter I came across a very excited writer, Johanna Harness, who'd just signed with an agent. I was so happy for her, I visited her blog to tell her congratulations and realized where she'd met her agent--- in my backyard.

Reaching out to Johanna, I asked her to share her story.  And an amazing story it is.

 Johanna Harness

Holding two master's degrees, one in literature and the other in education, Johanna taught English for over ten years. But she didn't become involved in writing on a regular basis until a couple years ago. Every story has an inciting incident, and Johanna's was the death of her father.

"I realized very few of us have as much time as we think we do. If I wanted to fulfill this dream of being a writer, I had to put in the time. I started getting up in early mornings to write because that's when my house was quiet. People who've known me all my life are shocked when I started doing this because I've never been a morning person.

The first novel I wrote was all about getting words on the page. I didn't have a clue how to start, so I just sat and poured it all out. The book included some good scenes and dialog, but it was kind of a bring-your-own-plot kind of reading experience. Not good."

Johanna tells me that was the only book that she "deemed impossible to revise." What did she do? "I had no choice but to start over if I wanted to tell that story. So I applied lessons learned and read a lot about the craft, but I also knew I had to start reaching out to others. I didn't have to create the novel as if it were a brand new art form. I had the option of connecting with talented writers-- to learn from their experience as well as my own."

Where did she go? Twitter! She started with the #amwriting hashtag. Her teaching background, and years of lecturing college students, gave her the experience and comfort of knowing the "power of words and writing." But Johanna shares the wisdom when she says, "I know that writing can transform writers--- and very good writing can transform readers. The importance of individual voices and outlooks can't be overstated. As I was reaching out to learn from other writers, it only made sense to create a space where we could all learn from each other."

After meeting so many writers on Twitter, Johanna ventured out to the conference circuit. Her first: The local SCBWI conference--- close to home and reasonably priced. The next year (2010) she went to the PNWA, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, here in Seattle. My fellow Scribe sisters and I were at that conference as well.  This is where she learned to pitch and met her agent--- Carolyn Swayze. A couple weeks later, she ventured to the Willamette Writers Conference in Portland Oregon.

"The more I connect to other writers and attend workshops, the more ideas I have for developing my skills. The more support I have, the more support I'm able to give to other. There a wonderful synergy at work."

Johanna's time now is devoted to homeschooling her kids, and writing. She writes young adult and middle grade novels. Short stories from the world of her YA character, Claire Morgane, can be found by clicking Here.

You can also find Johanna at her Author Blog and she's developed the #amwriting website She can also be found on twitter @johannaharness

Thank you Johanna for sharing your incredible story of what it takes to become a writer. Your commitment and dedication is evident, and your continued success is your reward. I am so glad I have the opportunity to know you.

Conferences bring success. Writing. Learning. Connecting. The scribe sisters will be attending the SDSU writers' conference at the end of January. We hope to see all our readers there too!

~Enjoy the Journey!

Karlene