Harris was born in Sherman, Texas and grew up in Joliet, Illinois. He attended high school at Singapore American School before moving to Venezuela and graduating from Colegio Internacional de Carabobo. He attended St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas and California State University in Bakersfield. He received his MA in American Literature from San Diego State University in 1993. In 2002 he was awarded an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting for a western titled Moon of Popping Trees.