Episode 241. Angela Burton – Founder, Feet-to-the-Fire Writer’s Workshops
Angela has been a devoted teacher of writing to adults for more than 20 years, and even briefly taught rambunctious 5th graders for three years! She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts & excels at providing expert facilitation, energetic encouragement, an infectious laugh & a love of words.
So much so, in 2014, she founded Feet to the Fire Writers’ Workshops, and in 2015, launched a specially-designed workshop-called Feet to the Fire Writers’ Workshops for Seniors, which engages elders in a stimulating writing/reminiscing workshop for those 65 & up! So far, her oldest student was an impressive 104!
To date, she has really grown the program, offering more than 80 workshops to 450 elders in Louisville alone! Going forward she has plans to launch a workshop trainer program so others – as she puts it can spread the fire even more throughout the USA! Starting at the age of 10, Angela knew she wanted to be a writer. She well remembers lying underneath a pink Dogwood tree in her front yard, scribbling & making up stories and her large family of brothers & sisters were willing to listen and encouraged her to write even more!
Later, in the 8th grade, she had a story of hers published and with the help of her teacher, was paid the modest sum of $25. She was hooked! It had nothing to do with the money or publishing, BUT everything to do with the magic of words!
Today, a childhood talent has continued well into her adult life as she continues to write fiction, poetry, memoirs & has studied with some of the greats, including Abigail Thomas, Ellen Lesser, Sena Jeter Naslund, & Antonya Nelson. Not to mention she reads like a mad woman and after prompting 100’s of people to write their life stories, she believes firsthand in the benefits of engaging the memory & the connection it provides with others, all the while savoring life’s moments in a very permanent way!
As she puts it, “The Spark” at age ten has grown into a glowing fire that promises to never die!