Elane Johnson is one of HippoCamp’s biggest fans. She’s been to every event since 2015, and this year will be her second time speaking. Last year, her book proposal flash session was a hit, and this year she’ll bring her wisdom and special brand of humor to a session on creating dialogue that doesn’t suck. We asked Elane a few questions about her return to Lancaster.
HM: Tell us a little about your involvement in HippoCamp this year. What are you most excited to share during this session?
EJ: Well! If you are one of the two people who attend my break-out session, boy, are you going to get some special attention especially because the other attendee is going to be my husband. So. Talk about individualized information! Shew! You are going to have a 60-minute blast of learning, and it will not be all fun and games, either, Buddy. This is some serious shit. And, even though this won’t be a panel, I’m most excited to share how to punctuate your fabulous dialogue properly so that it won’t make agents’ and editors’ eyes bleed because that’s always so messy, and it’s not like it’s YOUR pussy blouse that’s going to get all ruined, now, is it?
Why do you love true stories?
True stories create bonds between people across time and space. What a marvel it is to experience life vicariously through another soul’s writing; or to find that someone else has shared the same heartaches, failures, delights, successes, and lessons; or, especially, to gain strength in witnessing how others have survived setbacks small and large so that we can believe in our own ability to make it too!
Attendees can learn more about you on our speaker’s page, of course, but there’s more to you than that bio! Share a fun fact with us, something we may be surprised to know.
In a former lifetime, I was a vocalist like my mother and brother, and man, I miss it. But, I’ve been progressively losing my hearing, which became initially noticeable when I was 17. Although I spent a couple of decades with severe hearing loss, two years ago, I woke up one morning to find that the rest of my hearing had fled in the night. I rely completely on lip-reading, which kind of sucks because A) most people speak too fast; B) most people move their heads/faces when they speak; and C) having to look at me for a prolonged period is like some kind of cruel, twisted, hideous torture the likes of which have not been inflicted since Medieval times. Or last night’s news.
Since you’ll also be attending the conference, what are you most looking forward to learning or doing when you’re not wearing your “speaker hat?”
I’m pretty gaga about everything that is HippoCamp, but one of the things I cherish most is that each year, some of my online students attend, and I get to meet them live and in person for the first time.
This year, I will finally get to meet my brilliant and beloved BOSS from Gotham Writers’ Workshop, Kelly Caldwell, who will be making her debut presentation at her very first HippoCamp! I apologize in advance for any damage to glasses or windows from all the high-pitched squeeeeeeeeeeeing that is going to ensue. Don’t say I didn’t warn you because I just did. Right there. (P.S.- My husband and I also adore seeing all of our HippoCamp friends each year because the H.C. community rocks.)
We love introducing Lancaster to attendees. What are you looking forward to about your visit or, since you’ve been here before, what would you recommend?
Well, I would strongly suggest that people try the heavenly cheese tray in the Marriott’s restaurant—the one I have to eat at least twice each year—but that might cause the kitchen to run out of the heavenly cheese tray, and then I would die.
What event that is new to HippoCamp 2018 has you giddy with anticipation?
Story slam! Story slam! Storeeeeeeeeeeee slaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmm!
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Elane, we’re so happy you’re coming back to Lancaster. We LOVE your enthusiasm for our community! And the cheese tray!
And, reader, register to reserve your place today.
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