Finding My Voice

Growing up I didn’t have a voice.

I observed the world around me and didn’t feel it would welcome what I had to say, so I stood silent, watching others be self expressed and wishing I had the courage (or at least an invitation) to belong and be heard.  I didn’t feel welcomed or valued or important enough to share everything that was going on inside of me or the insights I had about the world and life. And as an observer or people, I had a lot of insights.

First my diary and journal, then my writing became my only outlet for being heard. I believe that’s why I’m a writer today. However, if my passion is to inspire others in their writing dreams and to help others see the possibilities in their lives – possibilities beyond their wildest imaginations (and writers have big imaginations,) I couldn’t stay silent and hide behind a computer screen. I needed to get out with those I wanted to inspire. And speak.

Most of the time I feel inadequate when I stand before a group anxiously waiting to hear what words of wisdom I have to share to take their life and dreams to the next level. What could I possibly say when I’m on a similar journey? But when I lose myself and focus not on my fears and what I haven’t accomplished, but on what I have to offer, when I focus on why I’m speaking and who I’m speaking to, then all those worries go away, and I’m able to give my very best to those who are willing to receive it.

On this page you will find:

• Why I speak
• Where I’ve spoken
• Calendar of speaking engagements
• Most popular topics
• Endorsements 
• Listen to me speak
• Schedule me to speak

To schedule Gina to speak, email gina@ginaconroy.com

Where I’ve Spoken

• Tulsa Homeschool Convention
• Successful Writer’s Conference
• FCW, Fellowship of Christian Writers
• WIN-Tulsa, Writers of Inspirational Novels
• DFW, Dallas Ready Writers
• ACFW, American Christian Fiction Writers National Chapter
• OKC Christian Fiction Writers

Speaking Topics

I speak on topics related to writing, pursuing your dream, and creating possibilities in life. I will design a presentation that meets your group’s specific needs. My goal is to deliver a talk that will touch, move, and inspire those listening to take action whether it’s to become a better writer or taking the next step in their dream. ct line, and we will design a program to meet your needs.

The following is a list of my most popular topics. Please note they can be customized from a 45 minute presentation to three hours and in some cases a half to full day seminar. Please click on the “More” link at the end of each topic description for more detail. If you don’t see a topic here that works for your event, email gina@ginaconroy.com and put “SPEAKING” in the subje

Writing

• Cutting the Fat From Your WIP: Editing for word count
• Common Mistakes New (or Teen) Writers Makes
• Sweet Emotions: How to Transport the Reader into the Story using Emotions
• Taking the Suspense Out of Mystery Writing

Encouragement

• 3 Secrets to Getting Published
• Fall in Love with Writing all Over Again
• Leave a Legacy Through Your Memoir
• Dare to Dream
• Love the Life You’re Living
• Your Life is Full of Possibilities: Finding the Purpose in Your Life

Homeschooling

• Release the Writing Teacher in You! From Tears to Cheers (for parents)
• Creative Writing for School and Life: The Whys and Hows of Making your Words Work for You

Topic Descriptions

Writing

Cutting the Fat from Your WIP

When I contracted my novella in January 2011 and had to cut 30,000 words off my WIP, I knew it was going to be hard. In fact, I almost bailed on submitting the anthology to Barbour because I knew that would mean cutting more than half of my story. The pain of deleting my brilliant prose aside, I knew it would be difficult to edit this mystery whose characters and clues were tightly woven together. But I signed that contract, took a deep breath, and said a prayer. I could do this..and I did! But it wasn’t easy.

In this workshop, I will teach you what I learned the hard way. We will work through some original scenes in my novella, Buried Deception, to see how I cut the fat without losing the story and turned it into a page turner. Bring a section of your WIP so you can apply the same techniques to your story in this workshop.

Sweet Emotions

Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, your readers want to be touched, moved, and inspired by your story. Readers want to escape their reality and be transported into an imaginary world. They want to see the possibilities in transforming their lives, and being part of something bigger than themselves. But how do you give the reader a satisfying experience that delivers everything they’re expecting? How do you take your words and transport the reader into your experience so that they’re not just reading words on a page, but instead they feel as if they are part of your story. The key is through emotion.

Taking the Suspense Out of Mystery Writing

Ever wonder what the difference is between writing a mystery or suspense? What if you want a little bit of both, but are not sure how to balance them? In Taking the Suspense Out of Mystery Writing, Gina Conroy explains the differences between the two genres, what readers of each expect, and shows you how you can have elements of both in your story for a real page turner not matter what genre you write.

Marketing

Out of the Box Marketing

With brick and mortar bookstores going the way of extinction and epublishers on the rise, writers have exciting options in publishing. Whether authors are assisted by a marketing team, or you’re going the DIY route, we all face the same problem. How to get our book noticed amongthe masses? Gina Conroy will show how the 3 Rs of relationships building can not only help build your platform, but can lead to more sales.

Encouragement

3 Secrets to Getting Published

You’ve heard it before, there are no overnight successes. Well, there are a couple I know of, but thankfully we’ve remained friends to this day. For the rest of us publication takes three things. Sweat, tears, and perseverance.

Fall in Love with Writing all Over Again

Do you remember when you fell in love… with your words? It was new and fresh and exciting. You didn’t have to be told to sit in front of the computer. You wanted to and the words came naturally. Maybe you even neglected chores, responsibilities, and family, to be with the one you loved. There was no doubt. You were head over heals.

But somewhere along the way your love for writing got lost in the work. Instead of writing for thelove of it, you set goals. Word counts, publishing contracts, and financial goals. Soon it became a business, a chore. You may have even met those goals, or maybe you’re still faithful to the work, but something is missing. You’re not in love anymore! So what do you do when the thrill of writing is gone? In this workshop, Gina Conroy will share how to rekindle the romance with your words and fall in love all over again.

Leave a Legacy Through Your Memoir

Dare to Dream

What’s holding you back from pursuing your dreams? Fear of failure? Lack of direction? Passion without purpose? Defeat and envy? Disappointment in the process? Or the fact you don’t have the know-how to take the next leap towards your dreams? They can suck so much life out of your dreams, that you end up doubting more than yourself. In this workshop we explore our dreams, what kills them, and what will take to bring them back to life.

Love the Life You’re Living

Your Life is Full of Possibilities: Finding the Purpose in Your Life

Homeschooling

Release the Writing Teacher in You! From Tears to Cheers (for parents)

The signs are obvious: the crying, the whining, the frustration. And the kids are stressed out about writing too! If every time you sit down to write it feels more like a lose-lose battle, maybe it’s time you wave the white flag and surrender. In this workshop you will learn what you need to give up to usher in an era of peace and creativity in your student’s writing and your teaching. You will learn the skills to go from grammar nazi to writing coach, and you will feel confident in new writing mechanics as you encourage your writer to be self expressed and creative.

Creative Writing for School and Life: The Whys and Hows of Making your Words Work for You

Writing touches your everyday life. Whether writing a school essay or sending a text, to communicate effectively you have to know the relationship between words and be able to string them together in a way that says exactly what you mean. Unlike algebra, you will use writing everyday as a student and an adult. In this workshop we will explore different ways writing affects your life and future career. And we’ll learn techniques to communicate effectively which will give you the edge you need in school and life.

Endorsements

Gina Conroy is an excellent public speaker and highly knowledgeable in the area of online marketing. She does her homework and presents an interesting and practical program. – Vickie McDonough, best selling author

Gina Conroy brought a very interesting and helpful workshop about marketing to DFW Ready Writers. Several people mentioned how much it helped them. – Lena Nelson Dooley, best-selling author

Calendar

November 2021
Fellowship of Christian Writers
Parents on a Mission/SWAP meet with Fitness Coach Gina Conroy

OCTOBER 2016

Fellowship of Christian Writers
Tuesday, October 11th 7p

Tulsa Nightwriters
Tuesday, October 18th 7p

Write Well, Sell Well Conference
Teen Track featuring “Release the Novel in You!”
October 22, 2016
Crossings Community Center : 10255 N. Pennsylvania, The Village, OK 73120
http://writewellsellwellokc.com/

NOVEMBER 2016

1 Day Workshop Release the Novel in You! (Teens thru Adults)
November 12, 2016 10 am – 4p
The Phoenix Coffee House: 1302 E 6th St, Tulsa, OK 74120
Call The Phoenix (918) 728-7828 or gina(at)ginaconroy(dot)com to register 

The Tulsa Homeschool Expo 2016
June 24, 2:30p Release the Writing Teacher in You! From Tears to Cheers (for parents)
 June 25th, 10:30p  Creative Writing for School and Life: The Whys and Hows of Making your Words Work for You

Successful Writer Conference
September 23-24, 2016
Broken Arrow, OK