Monday, April 9, 2007

Dear Diary

The very first day of VOICE 2007 was an incredible experience. Most of us spent all day wondering what it would be like when 200 voice actors from around the world sat in a single room together. Would the friendships that began in cyberspace hold up when standing face to face? Would I be judged on my appearance instead of just my voice? Would there be enormous ego filling the room? Would this change my career?

The meet and greet began at 6pm, so there were many hours to be filled prior. What most of my new friends did not realize is that I had been given an unusual task to fulfill in the 24 hours of March 27th, 2007. I was to write a diary of what it is like to be a female voice actor.

It is for a book coming out in 2008 called 'This Day In The Life of Working Women'. 500 women across America had been asked to write down their thoughts, job requirements, and each event that took place within those 24 hours. Only 30 diaries will be published, and a hundred or so more will have 'excerpts' published. I was one of the women asked to partake in this project. My diary filled 9 single spaced typed pages! Who knew I had so much to say? (please keep jokes to a minimum here)

It is so wonderful to have a detailed record of each of my thoughts on the first day of VOICE. I love looking back and realizing my own nerves and insecurities. Especially now that I know how kind, warm, and generous each of the people I met were!

For those that have read many of my blogs, or for those that once listened to me on the radio, you know that I have no shortage of wild imagination. I find parallels throughout my universe, and see things in my own little way.

What is funny about my account of March 27th is my absolute LACK of imagination! It is obvious to me that I was intensely focused on that day. I was ready to network and learn. I was taking my time in Vegas very seriously. Quite frankly...I was boring.

Needless to say, I have no expectation that my 24 hours on March 27th, 2007 will ever make it to the New York Times Best Seller list. In fact, I expect it will sit on my computer's hard drive never to see the light of day.

However, I will never regret the time I spent writing down every thought. I cherish having a full account of what it is like to be me and to work my job.

In fact, this is the reason for today's blog (yes, there is a purpose here). I challenge each of you to spend more time recording your own thoughts. You can do it on the This Day In The Life website, or you can write things down in your own diary. Take 24 hours of your life on an average day or an extraordinary day and record every thought you have. Trust me- you will be thankful to have it to look back on and share with your friends and family. We are each interesting- even on our boring days!

2 comments:

Peter O'Connell said...

"We are each interesting- even on our boring days!"

Are we?

Kara, I'll tell you why I ask that question based on what I consider to be a timely comment. While I've been blogging more frequently and subscribing a bit more aggressively to blogs and podcasts, I'm wondering both:

a) How are we all filtering what we read and listen to with the choices growing exponentially EVERY DAY (whew!)?

b) How we are all reading, listening and absorbing all this stuff in addition to our daily duties and responsibilities?

I too think we're all interesting but I think its going to be a trend (like on voice demos) that you've got to lead with your best 2 sentences or in the first 10 seconds or you'll lose your audience.

As blogging grows, where will the threshold come?

Wow, that’s too philosophical for a Tuesday ;)

Kara Edwards said...

Peter,

One thing is certain...you are 'exponentially' smarter than me! Let's see if I can craft a response here...

a) My pastor says, 'Garbage in, Garbage out'. We each have to be careful what is chosen to be absorbed on a daily basis. Difficult, yes...but possible!

b) There is so much information out there! I am careful to keep my 'incoming' to the items that will help me on a daily basis. I am a 'headline' kinda girl...give me the basics, the necessities to get through the day- and turn the rest off! After so many years in radio- I am careful not to fall into my old habits of needing to know everything.

I agree with you completely- we have a short amount of time to capture an audience. However, if the audience is 1- it's easier to hold them captive. I write for myself, and I thank God for those that might find anything I say interesting. At this point in my life- this is all just a 'bonus'!

Peter- thank you for your wise comments! For the rest- make sure to check out Peter's blog!

Kara