Marion Roach Smith is the author of “The Memoir Project,” one of the best books I’ve read on the subject. I’ve started reading her website, too — it’s incredibly helpful if you’re a writer — and one of her blogs was entitled something like “Ten things I learned about memoir writing in 2017.” I thought it was a great idea, and it made me think about what I’d learned about memoir writing, too. Then it made me think about what else I might have learned that had nothing to do with writing. Looking back, here’s a few things 2017 taught me to do: [Read more…] about Three Things I Learned in 2017
storytelling
The Power of Storytelling
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.
Let’s Stay in Touch
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- Thanks for your support!
Big Risk, Big Reward
I’ve always wanted to be a country music singer. The trouble is, I don’t really have vocal range. I can sing about an octave, which limits my song selections but not my dream. So when I’m alone soaking in a tub or driving in my car, I belt out what I can — usually Tammy Wynette.
Friends in High Places
As it turns out, in the past several years I’ve reconnected with my dear friend Amy Grant, who knows a thing or two about music. And last weekend, I had the great pleasure of performing “How to Draw a Nekkid Man” and conducting storytelling workshops at a Creative Discovery event she hosted at the Ritz Carlton’s Reynold’s Plantation in Georgia. Veteran songwriter Leslie Satcher joined us and conducted songwriting workshops as well. Leslie’s written huge hits, including Martina McBride’s “When God Fearing Women Get the Blues” and Willie Nelson’s “You Remain,” which Willie told her was his favorite song he’d ever recorded. Basically, I was running with the singer/songwriter big dogs. And as long as I stayed securely in my storytelling world, I felt like a big dog, too.
We spent the day telling workshop participants — many of whom were not artists — to get out of their comfort zone, take creative risks, and be vulnerable; to not worry about being perfect. They fearlessly plunged in, having already shown tremendous courage by just showing up. After two days with these incredible people, their bravery started to rub off.
No Time to be Timid
At the concert Saturday evening, Amy stopped her set to invite several special guests on stage to sing. I was the first one. I said, “I’ve been asking y’all to take creative risks all day; it’s time for me to take one, too.” Frankly, I was a wreck. Then, with Leslie accompanying me, and Amy’s band joining in, I sang Tammy Wynette’s “I Don’t Want to Play House.”
Now, I’m not sure it was well thought out to make my country music debut with a six-time Grammy award-winner and Willie Nelson’s best friend, but I decided either to go big or go home.
I wasn’t terrible.
Without the support of Amy and Leslie, who rehearsed with me and literally talked me through the performance, I could have never taken that risk. I couldn’t have done it without the workshop participants either, who gave me inspiration, and bless their hearts, a standing ovation (for effort, not talent). Two days later, I woke up with a host of new storytelling ideas rolling around in my head and later that week, I faced a first-time work challenge with a newfound confidence. Apparently, stepping out of my comfort zone and scaring myself to death has jumpstarted my creative juices and helped me confront other fears as well.
Note to self: take a big risk, get a big reward.
For now, balance has been restored and I’m back to singing in the tub and in the car. Just in case, I’m going to start working on a new song. And I’m happy to take requests — but only if it’s in the octave I can sing.
Photo credits: Matt Huesmann
Let’s Stay in Touch
- Share this blog with your friends — just use the icons below.
- Leave a comment. Feedback is great.
- Want to receive these blogs in your email inbox? Please register at the top right of this page. While you’re there, you can like my artist’s Facebook page and follow me on Twitter.
- Spread the word — your voice is invaluable in bringing my work to new audiences.
- Thanks for your support!
From the Stage to the Page
Lucky for me, I was asked by The Moth to help them promote their bestselling new book, The Moth: 50 True Stories at Boston’s Trident Bookstore last week. There were about 100 people in the sold-out venue, with 150 more people on the waiting list. The art of storytelling just keeps getting more popular and The Moth is leading the charge. [Read more…] about From the Stage to the Page
The Art of Letting Go
This week, I was laboring over a chapter from my memoir and it was still not coming together, even though (or because) I’d been working on it for several weeks. I kept revising and reworking and revising again, and still the chapter fell short, the words now a diluted version of what I’d originally written. Finally, I loosened my grip, put the chapter aside and moved on to another scene. And sure enough, the troublesome chapter began to take shape. [Read more…] about The Art of Letting Go