I love being an artist, even though the creative life can be challenging. The best ideas can take years to materialize (e.g., my book) and financial insecurity can almost wear me out (the sculptor Carol Bove said “Becoming an artist is not a good business plan.”). But the blessings far outweigh the stumbling blocks — especially when it comes to storytelling.
A Year of Amazing Stories
I heard at least a hundred stories this year, either while sharing a stage or conducting workshops with The Moth or for my own clients. The stories and storytellers ran the gamut:
- a WWII bomber pilot who was forced to crash land on D-Day, losing seven of his men, and finding God in the process
- a graphic designer who wet her pants in the parking lot just minutes before her first job interview in 30 years
- a former Leavenworth prison guard who now dedicates his life to keeping youth out of jail
- a woman, estranged from her older sister, who recounted the last special moment they had together
- a former Texas little league coach who helped his weakest team member finally get his first hit; years later, he received a note from the player, now entering NYC’s Julliard, thanking him for his encouragement
Again and again, as I helped people craft their stories, I saw what I already know — when we share our stories, we help heal ourselves and our world.
Join Me In the Cause
In 2010, I launched I Will Be Good Productions, a fiscally sponsored art project with Fractured Atlas, to raise funds for my one-woman show How to Draw a Nekkid Man. Since then, I’ve expanded my creative platforms to include the stage, the page (still in progress), digital recordings, and workshops. This year, more storytelling opportunities await, including one in the broadcast world — a podcast is on the horizon!
If you’re looking for a last-minute tax-deductible donation this calendar year, please consider contributing to I Will Be Good Productions. It’s been four years since I’ve launched a targeted fundraising campaign and there are new projects in the pipeline, development costs to recoup, and always more stories to tell.
There are two ways to donate: 1) Online or 2) By check, which must be made payable to Fractured Atlas with I Will Be Good Productions in the memo line. Please mail to Tricia Rose Burt, 1805 Graybar Lane, Nashville, TN 37215 (I’m in Nashville while my husband Eric rides his bike from New Hampshire to South America — as you do.).
Your donation is incredibly helpful and profoundly appreciated. Thank you for your ongoing support!
Wishing you a New Year filled with fabulous stories!
Tricia Rose Burt is a treasure, as a brilliant storyteller and a wise observer of life’s surprising and sometimes unexpected paths to our deepest satisfactions. She speaks from an intimate place where creativity and courage intersect. She’s also hilarious. What a combination. — Charles Kravetz, General Manager, WBUR Boston, the nation’s 5th largest NPR station
I Will Be Good Productions is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of I Will Be Good Productions must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and our tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
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