Delaware State of the Arts Podcast
Delaware State of the Arts is a weekly podcast that presents interviews with arts organizations and leaders who contribute to the cultural vibrancy of communities throughout Delaware. Delaware State of the Arts is provided as a service of the Division of the Arts, in partnership with NEWSRADIO 1450 WILM and 1410 WDOV.
Delaware State of the Arts Podcast
S12 E50: Novelist Gina Wilson
What does it feel like when time slips away and creativity flows effortlessly? For Gina Wilson, this unexpected state of "flow" during writing became the bridge between her established career as an executive coach and her emerging identity as a novelist.
Wilson brings a unique perspective to her writing, grounded in her Master's degree in Cognitive Psychology and years of helping leaders overcome burnout and self-doubt. During our conversation, she reveals how she discovered writing induced a state of complete immersion and energy that contrasted sharply with the depleted feeling many experience in their professional lives. This revelation led her from non-fiction to her recent novel "Silicon Valley East," which follows a female protagonist navigating the male-dominated tech world of the 1980s.
The conversation explores the discipline behind creative work, with Wilson sharing her structured approach to writing—daily dedicated time blocks, character spreadsheets, and regular revision cycles. Her methods reflect her background in management consulting while allowing space for creative exploration. Most refreshing is Wilson's candid discussion of vulnerability in the creative process, particularly when sharing work with writing groups and beta readers. She credits these communities with providing crucial feedback while acknowledging how difficult it can be to open oneself to critique.
At its heart, Wilson's message centers on personal agency—the belief that we aren't victims of circumstance but can make meaningful choices that transform our lives. Whether through coaching or storytelling, she aims to help people recognize their power to pivot when one path doesn't work out. For writers still finding their voice, her advice resonates with authenticity: write in your own voice, because no one else shares your unique perspective and experiences. In a world increasingly populated by AI-generated content, Wilson's emphasis on genuine human expression feels both timely and essential.
Ready to discover how your creative pursuits might transform your professional journey? Listen to this episode, then reflect on when you last experienced true flow in your own life—that magical state where time disappears and energy abounds.
The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is committed to supporting the arts and cultivating creativity to enhance the quality of life in Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Learn more at Arts.Delaware.Gov.
Delaware State of the Arts is a weekly podcast that presents interviews with arts organizations and leaders who contribute to the cultural vibrancy of communities throughout Delaware. Delaware State of the Arts is provided as a service of the Division of the Arts, in partnership with NEWSRADIO 1450 WILM and 1410 WDOV.
For Delaware State of the Arts. I'm Andy Trescott. My guest today is Gina Wilson, a Delaware-based author, executive coach and public speaker whose work bridges the fields of psychology, leadership and personal development. With a Master of Science in Cognitive Psychology from Villanova University and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Delaware, gina brings a research-driven approach to her coaching and writing. Her latest novel, silicon Valley East, is an inspirational fiction debut that explores ambition and resilience in the tech world. Today, we'll speak about her journey in literature and hear more about her most recent book. Gina, welcome and, as we kick off here, take us back to when you first knew you wanted to be a writer and what sparked that desire at that age.
Speaker 2:Wow, thank you, andrew. Thanks for having me. I really didn't know I wanted to be a writer, although, anticipating this talk today, I was thinking I actually was the editor of a school newspaper at Shoe Middle School in Newark when I was, what you know sixth, seventh and eighth grade writer, and it really wasn't until maybe six or seven years ago. In my coaching practice, when I work with a lot of you know leaders who are stressed out, burnout, what have you?
Speaker 2:And we talk about the state of consciousness called flow. So the flow state is where you're really immersed in something that you love doing, something that you've chosen to do, really immersed in something that you love doing something that you've chosen to do. And you become so immersed you forget about time. Time passes, you may forget to eat lunch, you might, you know, look up and all of a sudden it's dark and time has gone by. You're applying your talents, your skills, but it's not draining. In fact, it's just the opposite. It's energizing, it rejuvenates you and you feel great when you're done, whatever you were doing. So we talk about that in coaching. It's a very big thing, particularly for those experiencing burnout, because, like, when did you last experience flow?
Speaker 2:And many times my clients have to go back in time and figure out well, what was you know, what did I used to do for that sort of experience? Maybe they had a hobby or what have you? So we talk about flow, and around the same time, I started writing my book Skills that Build, and I discovered for myself, and much to my amazement, that I experienced flow when writing and I thought, well, this is incredible, because I really like this and I can marry it with my coaching work and, you know, bring more coaching to more people. So that's really how it came about Initially. Just, you know, get the one book out. I was trying to coach, reach a broader audience, let's say, with coaching, and so I thought writing would be a good way to do that. But I went on to write another book and now, here it is, my third book just published, and I'm writing more and more. So that's how I got into it, through the back door.
Speaker 1:I was gonna say for many they may just think you know, a book is a book, not realizing that there's nonfiction, fiction for lack of a better term self-help. So clearly, you know, you started in the world of nonfiction and or kind of coaching based writing and then found your way, kind of bridging over, into the fiction world. Was that a nature of your own personal flow or was that something that, as you were kind of moving along in your craft, you felt like, oh, let me dip my toe into kind of what it means to be a fiction writer?
Speaker 2:Well, I had planned on writing another nonfiction book and you know, all along, I've been a member of the Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild for a few years and they offered this novel group that was starting up and I thought, well, you know, I'm going to you know, participate.
Speaker 2:I want to see what writing a novel is about, and so it was in the back of my mind that eventually I might write a novel, maybe when I retire or something like that, and but in the meantime I wanted to write this book about imposter syndrome, workplace issues and the tech industry and what have you.
Speaker 2:And I realized and this is really going back to my, my background of cognitive psychology that stories have a much more powerful impact in conveying a message.
Speaker 2:And I know this, I know, you know, I've studied learning and memory and and I thought what, what if I could, you know, weave these themes into a story? And so I kind of played with that for a little while. But so what had started as a nonfiction idea ended up being, you know, the basis of a novel, and I really wanted to make it kind of fun and upbeat, inspirational, not so much spewing facts, but you see through the character development that you know she's having these issues, she's, you know, thinking, having self-doubt, she's also battling some stereotypes and anxiety and so forth. So all these themes are woven into the story, but alongside it it's a romp through the 80s which is kind of fun, and there's also travel and adventure along the way. So all of this is woven into the story. So I've become a fiction writer and I really enjoyed it. I found it a lot more challenging than writing nonfiction, but I also enjoyed it immensely, and I'm actually starting another.
Speaker 1:As you think about your own personal writing process, talk to us about what that looks like for you individually. I've spoken with a number of writers and so you can imagine everyone's got their own kind of workflow or kind of what they do to get back into that creative mode or flow. In your case, what does that look like for you? Do you feel like you're more of a structured writer or someone who writes more kind of when the inspiration strikes?
Speaker 2:I have a discipline of writing. If not every day, I'm doing something regarding writing every day, and that might mean doing research for a short time or jotting down ideas, and then other days I have blocks of time where I just write and I plan to write.
Speaker 2:And I think it does take a discipline, otherwise you never get through it. I mean, this book was 102,000 words, you know. So like you can't just do that haphazardly, and you know I have a background in management, consulting and project management and all of that, so I use some of those tools. I mean, I keep spreadsheets of my characters and my chapters. I'm very organized, which helps and keep track of things.
Speaker 2:You know, like you have a story line that didn't go anywhere, you know, or you have a character they haven't talked about in 50 pages or something like that. So it really helps to be disciplined. But I like to have, you know, blocks of time to get something done. So I, you know, look at two, three hours at a time just to block out enough to really immerse myself in the process. And you know, I take breaks, I get up and get a drink or walk around or whatever, but I really am dedicated during the time and I can focus my energies. But, yeah, almost every day, if not every day, and of course I still have my regular work, you know. So I have to plan it and it's in my calendar and so that's how I was able to stick with it. And I have an office here in Hockessin, where I am now, and I also have a place in Fenwick Island where I can look at the bay when I'm writing.
Speaker 2:So my writing room there is really inspirational. I can look out and I see, you know, just a beautiful setting. So it really helps me to just kind of get in the groove.
Speaker 1:As other writers who might be listening to this maybe struggle with this idea to talk to us about for you how you know when a story is ready to be shared with the world. Right, because I imagine that you might have a small group of people that you trust to kind of like, do a copy, edit on or kind of share their thoughts, but when do you individually feel like you're ready to kind of let your baby out on the world and kind of allow it to breathe?
Speaker 2:world and kind of allow it to breathe. Well, I mean, it's a process. Of course I must have read it 100 times over the over the months. But I think that you know you have to decide when something is good enough. And I deal with this in my coaching clients all the time. You know this idea of perfectionism versus, you know, get it out there, get the product out there, get the report out there, get the book, in this case, out, get it out there, right, because you could be revising till the cows come home, and it's a never ending process, like even now, when I read through the book I think, oh, I should have said it this way, you know, so you can always refine, right. But you get to the point where the story is complete and and it may not be perfect, and I don't think any reader really expects it to be perfect, right, and so we're harder on ourselves than our readers might be. So, so I'm okay with that, and I've gotten to that point where I think it's good enough.
Speaker 2:Then it goes out to beta readers. I get some initial feedback. I get a manuscript review to make sure. I get some feedback from an editor who knows what they're talking about not just an everyday reader, but it's also important to revise and revise and revise and revise and polish right, and so that's probably takes more time than the writing the. You know the initial draft, but it's it's it's intuition really when is it ready? When, when you feel it's ready? And that was my process. I took a lot of feedback from my beta readers, all ages. I had experts on different parts of the book. Because there's a lot of technology in the book. I want to make sure that was accurate but not like so heavy that a layman couldn't understand. And I got experts and I got just general readers involved and took their feedback and made some changes and I think it ultimately made the book so much better.
Speaker 1:As you kind of know, you wear a lot of hats, right Coacher, speaker, writer. How do these roles feed into one another creatively, and do you feel like there's ever moments where you, in essence, are partnering with yourself? There's ever moments where you, in essence, are?
Speaker 2:partnering with yourself as you kind of pull out that creative product. Well, the coaching I also experienced flow and coaching. I love working with people. I really, you know, get energized by it and it's so. It helps me be a better writer and certainly experiencing life helps writers of all sorts, whatever genre you write in. Just experiencing other people, other situations, you know diverse environments all of that contributes to your writing, so they definitely feed off of each other. Speaking Also, I find very energizing. I do a lot of presentations and workshops and things like that um it, it kind of is something that builds me and that's important to recognize in your work, whatever your work is that you're doing something that builds you and doesn't drag you down. So between the two of them, I'm in a good spot now and so it hasn't always been that way, but I am now and I'm very happy with it, so it works together.
Speaker 1:I want to take just a quick minute to remind our listeners. You're listening to the Delaware State of the Arts on News Radio 1450 WILM and 1410 WDOV. Gina, as you think back about your time as a writer so far, what surprised you? Wdwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Writer today.
Speaker 2:Well, I feel like I'm constantly learning. It's a craft you never perfect, and that's probably true of so many endeavors. You know you're really never there, and if you are, then you have to find something else that you enjoy to get to that point right. So I'm enjoying the journey. I'm enjoying learning. I really learn a lot from my fellow authors. A lot of writers in the Writers Guild have been given me so much great advice, but I feel like it doesn't stop Right. So, no matter what I'm learning about writing, even if it's not about my genre, let's say it's still something you know I kind of file on the back of my mind and I put it to you someday I might put it to use Right and I put it to you someday I might put it to use right.
Speaker 2:Um, so that's, that's continuing journey and I don't look at it as something that's going to end. I feel like writing can be something I do until I can't write anymore. You know, either I'm ill or or gone, but, um, it's the kind of occupation that you can continue and I'm really looking forward to continuing it.
Speaker 1:A listener who maybe has never sat in a writer's guild or a writer's sharing room like you, have talk to us a little bit about what those events look like, kind of what the for lack of a better term ground rules are in a space like that, and what you feel like you might gain from situations like that, where you're maybe putting a piece that you're writing out into the world well before you feel maybe really comfortable doing so, but acknowledging that you know in doing so you're going to be able to grow that piece or modify that piece in a positive sense so I mean it's it's right.
Speaker 2:And when we open ourselves up to a vulnerability, it's hard, you know, especially the first time you read to a group or you have a critique partner who's looking at very supportive and a lot of writers they're in the same boat, right? They're all looking for someone to read their work, to get feedback, to help them improve and to improve their craft. So the Writers Guild offered that opportunity. I'm in some other writers groups informal and that's really what it's all about. It's a give and take. We learn from each other. I feel like it's something that unless you're willing to be vulnerable, you really can't improve. So you kind of have to take that first step and then it gets easier.
Speaker 1:Talk to me about what conversations you hope your work will spark, either in these book clubs or classrooms, or even someone's just living room, when they're reading one of your books or or listening to one of your your coaching sessions.
Speaker 2:I think perhaps the most important thing I'd like to get out. The idea that I'd like to get out is that we have agency, we're not the victim of circumstance, and that we can control things in our lives and help make our lives better for us. And it's going to look different for each of us and now it's up to us to really find what it is or what things are that cultivate a sense of well-being for us and grow it and really nurture that, because I feel like it's part of coaching, it's part of my nonfiction books, it's part of the fiction book, even that. You know, people can make choices for themselves that make a huge difference in their lives. Right, and you can go down a path and it doesn't work out, but that's when we pivot and we make a change and we start going in another direction. That could work out much more positively. So I think that message comes through. I'm hoping that comes through in all of my work. I know it comes through in my coaching. I'm hoping it's coming through in my writing.
Speaker 1:What role do you think the arts, and storytelling in particular, play in shaping someone's identity and maybe the community that they surround themselves with?
Speaker 2:Well, the arts certainly are an outlet where people can express themselves and appreciate others expressing themselves. I'm kind of into music, so more of a hobby, but it's the same sort of thing where something you can't necessarily verbalize you can express through a means of, through the arts. And so by being part of a group that has that similar interest whether it's writing or music or really any other arts endeavor we find our, we find our people Right.
Speaker 1:We find our community.
Speaker 2:We can support each other and I think it's especially important for young people and for marginalized folks to find their community and for marginalized folks to find their community. And sometimes that requires reading. Or you maybe don't know these people or you haven't found your community where you live, but you can vicariously live through these characters. So I'm hoping to do that through fiction, because a story is powerful and you can identify with a character and maybe learn from them. Yeah, it's fictionalized and maybe idealized and so forth, but the general ideas and the concepts or the emotions and the feelings come through and I think stories are so powerful in doing that and I hope we don't lose track of that. I love the written word. I love, you know, the actual feeling of reading a book. You know it's just something we can concrete, we can hold on to.
Speaker 1:Talk to me about a creative risk you've taken, either among your writing or in another avenue, that you feel like paid off or taught you something valuable that you've now been able to incorporate into your daily practice.
Speaker 2:A creative risk, I'd say, is sharing. You know what is different or what you want to do differently, or what I want to do differently. So we hear a lot, especially in the writers group, you know, about sticking to your genre, stay in your lane, kind of thing. Like I, I couldn't really necessarily write crime fiction because I don't know anything about it and and I don't have the interest on the passion for it. So I really found that when I was writing, particularly the fiction book, I wanted to experience and have my reader experience what it might be like in this workplace, in a different industry, maybe learn something and also be inspired. So I didn't find a lot of books that were like that when I started writing. Of course, every author writing a novel has to find comparable titles in order to pitch it to a publisher, let's say, or to even find their readers, find their audience, and if you can't find a similar one, it's very difficult. But I wanted to take that risk and I did that with Silicon Valley East.
Speaker 2:There aren't a lot of female tech leads, protagonists, in books. You don't see it. You see them in fantasy, you see them in romance. Perhaps you see a female protagonist, a strong lead. You see them in family sagas but you don't necessarily see them in the workplace. And so I felt like I was taking a risk with that. And some people said to me why don't you just stick with nonfiction? And then I went into my whole spiel about well, a story, a story we can identify with more than just you know the facts on a page. So I took a risk there. We'll see if it pays off. I mean, emotionally it's paid off. I've really enjoyed it. So there we go, but I hope other people find that as inspiring as I was hoping.
Speaker 1:What advice would you give to emerging writers who are trying to find their voice or tell their own story in their own lane?
Speaker 2:I think it's really important to write for yourself.
Speaker 2:I mean, unless you're really just trying to make a living and you don't care what to write, I mean, then people will tell you what they need and what you should write.
Speaker 2:But I think it's very, very important, if you have something to say, to say it in your voice, and particularly now you know we have the AI generated content that we have to be wary of. I think it's so, so important to stay in your voice and no one can write what you're going to write, because no one shares those same experiences that you have had. And even though I think I heard there's like 11 major story plots since the beginning of time right, 11 or 16, something ridiculously low and that same story could be told a thousand different ways, because whoever's writing it is bringing their self to it and their own experiences. So I remember that a lot because I'm like well, this has been said before. Sometimes, when I write something, I'm like, oh, somebody has said that already, but not in my voice. So that's what we have to stick to Stick to your own voice and make sure that comes out in your writing.
Speaker 1:Gina. Thank you so much for joining me this afternoon. As Gina mentioned, if you want to learn more about her, you can find her at.
