Kory Wells brings a unique balance of analytical thought and creativity to her workshops and lectures. Consider her as a speaker for your next program or conference.

Kory is passionate about a number of topics across a diverse spectrum. She's available to speak or conduct a variety of workshops for different audiences.  Some of her standard programs include: Really Good for a Girl Really Good for a Nerd How to Win at Writing Competitions, Even When You Don't Place Creative Peace Stewardship of Our Tennessee Mountains
Kory also has a poetry workshop in development and encourages you to contact her if you have specific needs in mind.  She hasn't been shy about public speaking since she was a little girl, when her Mama handed her a jump rope and said, "Here, this is a microphone."  She'd be glad to hear from you. Please contact Kory to discuss her availability and details of speaking to your group or conference.

• "Really Good for a Girl" - In this program, Kory uses her essay and other writing in the She's Such a Geek book to highlight the challenges that women have faced and continue to face when they pursue education, careers, or hobbies that are typically male.
  
  Now, if this is sounding like a feminist message, Kory assures you that it is - but more importantly, it's about NO ONE, male or female, losing their interests to any kind of stereotyping. With that in mind, she also offers:
   

• "Really Good for a Nerd" - American young people, both male and female, are entering technical careers at a reduced rate.  This concerns Kory as both an IT professional and as a mother.  She's helped with math teams, school math nights, and homework that the math teacher at school couldn't always do.  In this program, she tailors her  "Really Good for a Girl" comments to the importance of encouraging math and science education for everyone.
  
  The target audience for these programs includes women's technical organizations, other women's groups, educators, general technical organizations, and any other group interested in the welfare of America's position in science and math-related careers.  Which ought to be everybody.
   

• "How to Win at Writing Competitions, Even When You Don't Place" - Kory's been entering and placing in writing contests for a number of years, but she thinks that the reasons to enter aren't just about winning.  In this program, for writers who have limited contest or submission experience, Kory discusses

  • The advantages of submitting to contests

  • The disadvantages of submitting to contests

  • How to identify good contests and avoid scams

  • How to decide which contests are for you

  • How to prepare a submission

  • What to do when you win

  • What to do when you don't win

  Kory's been a preliminary reader or final judge for various contests throughout the Southeast, so she also brings that experience to this program.  Consider it for your writers conference!
   

• "Creative Peace" - Kory strongly believes that a lot of folks are discontent because they lack any creative outlets, or have somehow blocked any creative urges they might've had over the years.  Stuff - that is, material possessions - does not fill this void, entertainment does not fill this void, work does not fill this void, other people do not fill this void, and even church-going may not feel this void. Kory's found in her own life that creativity - whether it's through writing, art, music, woodworking, or anything else - brings a huge sense of contentment to life.
  
  This seminar explores tools and exercises to help you grow your creativity to the next level while at the same time honoring your commitments to your "real" job, family, and other activities. You'll learn to loosen up (which sometimes goes back to busting stereotypes!) and at the same time hammer down some commitment to the time it takes to explore your creativity.
  
  Depending on the group, Kory can emphasize or deemphasize the spiritual component of this workshop.  She considers creativity to be both a spiritual gift and practice.  She's been a Methodist Sunday school teacher for many years, so her perspective is Christian but welcomes other religious perspectives.
   

• “Stewardship of Our Tennessee Mountains” – Kory is a supporter of LEAF, a Tennessee organization dedicated to protecting the environment as a matter of Christian stewardship. Tennessee’s mountains are threatened by mountaintop removal (MTR), also called cross-ridge mining, a method of mining that literally destroys mountains to get to the coal in them.  MTR in states such as Kentucky and West Virginia has resulted in disfiguring the landscape, tainting water supplies, and adversely impacting the health and lifestyles of the area’s people. 
  
  Kory’s program on mountaintop removal and environmental stewardship is appropriate for churches and civic organizations and helps the audience to "make the connection" between turning on a light and burning coal whose retrieval may have irreparably disfigured the land.  The program can include any or all of the following components:
   

  • Viewing of the video Kilowatt Ours or Mountain Mourning

  • Presentation and photos about mountaintop removal that is occurring in Tennessee

  • Explanation of pending legislation called the Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection Act, and how you can help

Please contact Kory to discuss her availability and details of speaking to your group or conference.