Meet Deirdre Garr Johns | Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deirdre Garr Johns and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deirdre, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
When I feel like giving up, I usually think to myself, “It’s just not ready to happen yet.” But that doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t happen later. If I get to this point, I usually take some time away from whatever I am working on because the distance allows me to come back to the project with a fresh perspective. Our emotions – whether we are on a high or a low – cloud our judgment, so pausing a project and returning to it later can breathe new life into it. And we may find a better opportunity around the corner. I don’t put a time limit on stepping away from a project, either. I have a lot of writings that collect dust because I am not ready to go back to them, but I am also not ready to give up on them. When I do feel inspired to work on them – to keep going – I leave all of those old feelings behind, and then I am ready to work. I also seek advice from others whom I trust to point me in the right direction – or maybe just a new direction, a new way of thinking about what I’m working on. Having a good support system is important on days when you feel like giving up.
For my larger projects (books), there have been many rejections, all of which made me want to give up! I sent out my first chapbook for about two years before it was accepted for publication. It’s important to understand that success takes time, and it often happens in its own time. While I was waiting for responses from various publishers (on my chapbook), I was sending out individual poems – even though that would bring many more rejections! – because those individual publications would allow me to get my work out there on a smaller scale. Sometimes, when you are looking too hard at the bigger picture (like publishing a book), you can forget about the smaller accomplishments that will sustain you.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am most excited about my two upcoming publications and the fact that they are different genres – one is a poetry chapbook and the other is a children’s fiction book! I am a poet at heart, and it felt very natural for me to blend my passion for poetry into my children’s book.

I spent a lot of time revising and sending out my poetry chapbook (Fallen Love, published by Finishing Line Press), and it took about two years (and lots of rejections) before finding a home. This is one main challenge when it comes to publishing. It really is a waiting game and can take a long time to hear back about your work. And you have to be prepared for the rejections! This can all be very discouraging. I keep writing, anyway, and I keep sending out my work, because at the end of the day, I enjoy the ability to craft something beautiful out of words.

On the other hand, I wrote my children’s book (Weathering the Storm, published by Palmetto Publishing) on a whim. Honestly, I never really thought about writing children’s fiction. However, when my son was little, he always asked me to make up stories for him, so Weathering the Storm is really his story. I just wrote it down, and as they say, the rest is history! I have a few more stories planned, and I am looking forward to creating a series about Hank, the protagonist.

Having two publications simultaneously (which is a good problem to have!) is not without its challenges! I am new to the publishing world, and I have been learning a lot about the process, which is different for each publisher. There are also a lot of emotions that come as you get closer and closer to publication, and a lot of edits. I have never been one to shy away from revisions. In fact, I usually have trouble stopping myself from making one last edit. But, once the final proof is ready for review, that is the way the world will see it. That is my challenge – letting it go!

I also enjoy writing about other types of art. This is called ekphrastic writing. I created a “photo inspo” series, featured on my blog, and I asked people if I could write a poem about a photo they posted to their social media. I had such a strong, emotional response to one of my friend’s photos, and I thought to myself, “This is a poem.” A line came to me, and that was my starting point. This type of writing, for me, is not necessarily about capturing a moment – it is about capturing an emotion, which is part of our shared experience as people.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The Lowcountry has so much to offer, and I’d try to cover all of them if my best friend came for a visit! To start off with some history, we’d visit the Penn Center in Beaufort and take a Gullah tour on Hilton Head. Preserving history and sharing cultural values are really important, and there is so much to learn! We would also visit the Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort. Between Beaufort and Hilton Head, there are a lot of activities on the water, so we would likely go on a dolphin tour or a sunset cruise. Of course, we’d have to spend a day at the beach or go over to Daufuskie Island, and take another day for shopping. The Tanger Outlets in Bluffton are always a hit, but I prefer some of our smaller boutiques at Shelter Cove, the Village at Wexford, and Coligny Plaza. We have lots of restaurants to choose from, many of which have live music. No trip would be complete without visiting Harbour Town in Sea Pines and grabbing a bite to eat at The Salty Dog. And we would likely stop by my son’s two favorite places – Street Meet and Sno Cones by Chris!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I was a teacher for 18 years, and while I loved teaching, it did not give me a lot of time to pursue my own writing. I would always say, “I’ll get around to writing during breaks.” And those breaks would come and go, and I would have little to show for myself. Writing is not really like riding a bike, either. You can’t just get back on and expect to coast. Writing must be done each day, and it is a battle of wills sometimes to establish and maintain a routine – which is really what I felt I needed to do. I am still working out my routine, but I am thankful that I now have the opportunity to immerse myself into my passion. When I decided to leave my teaching job, I didn’t have any other job to help support my family at that point. But, my husband JJ and son Henry were supportive of my decision and said, “We’ll figure it out.” It is easy to remain with what is comfortable. The easier thing would have been to continue teaching. I may eventually return to the classroom, but, for now, I have the chance to focus on myself and pursue my dreams, which I wouldn’t be able to do without the support of my family.

Website: https://amuseofonesown.com

Instagram: @deirdregarrjohns

Facebook: Deirdre Garr Johns, Writer

Image Credits
Leah Andreczski