Writing for twenty years, Gina Conroy’s credits include over 300 articles in the United States and abroad in Nigeria, Africa where she spent over six months. Her first co-authored book, Reach for your Dreams, Graduate, was released in April 2005. Her second book Anytime Prayers for Everyday Moms is a devotion book released in 2006. Her Biblical Fiction, Journey to Jerusalem, finaled in the top ten of the ACFW 2005 Noble Theme contest as did her adult Suspense, The Dark Room. She is a member of Writers of Inspirational Novels and American Christian Fiction Writers, and founder of Writer…Interrupted a groupblog and webring for writers interrupted by life. She enjoys mentoring new writers and shares her writing, parenting and homeschool journey on Portrait of a Writer…Interrupted.
Okay, enough formality, now here’s the rest of the story.
Writing became a passion of mine at an early age. It started with my first diary and grew to international pen pals, creative writing and poetry. Putting my thoughts down on paper came easy. I felt comfort and power in the written word. My thoughts and words flowed freely when I wrote, unlike my awkward and shy speech. Writing later became a way I could connect to God. His wisdom flowed from my pen. His love spoke back to me through the words I wrote. I dabbled in fiction as a child and loved creating stories and characters.
As an adolescent, writing poetry released my emotions. In high school, I loved studying the classics and when assigned essays, my page count always exceeded the requirements. I had so much to say and by my grades, my professor seemed to enjoy what I wrote. My first published work appeared in my high school newspaper. In college, I majored in telecommunications with a journalism minor and wrote for the weekly newspaper. I also learned to play the guitar and to put my words to melodies. By my senior year I had become the news editor. Though stressful, working on a newspaper taught me the importance of meeting deadlines, good interviewing skills and tight writing. I know I am a better writer because of that experience. From my first article as a teenager writing for my high school paper, to ten years later finally getting paid in a small market, writing not only became a career path, but a way of life.
Then one day sitting in church a seed of an idea was planted, and I couldn’t get the thought out of my head. I ran with my Biblical story idea knowing nothing about writing a novel, and thankfully, I didn’t know Biblical fiction was a tough market or I might have abandoned the book of my heart.
Though I knew nothing of the mechanics of writing a novel, I pounded out the story, engrossed in my research and enthralled by the Spirit of the Lord which I felt when I typed. After my first son was born, I had little time to write and I had to shelve my book for years, sometimes pulling it out to dust it off, but mostly I was too busy and tired to write.
Several years ago, I finally finished my Biblical novel only to learn it would probably never sell. Though through the process, I learned several important lessons, and my writing improved. I attended writing conferences, and over zealously pitched my completed novel and a couple of new ideas. To my thrill, editors requested my proposals, only I couldn’t deliver a quality product, and my writing was rejected.
Today I am learning to wait on God and follow his direction for my writing journey. It isn’t always easy because I tend to take off on my own at times, but I always find my way back on the path. Over a year ago God taught me a valuable lesson about writing, family and balance. I no longer am driven to publish, only to grow and learn and produce the best work I can. Everything else I leave up to the One who has called me on this journey.