Diary of an Artist: Entry 48

October 21, 2008

Today I feel a little bit overwhelmed and definitely tired. I certainly did too much yesterday. I should have known better. But even if I'm exhausted, I think it was good that I pushed myself that hard. I feel like I truly accomplished something and am on my way to fulfilling some of my life goals and working toward my greater purpose. Oh, I suppose I should explain what I actually did yesterday instead of spawning all these generalities.

Well, first I shot a viral video with a local ad agency, Madison+Main, for Children's Inc. I played sort of an annoying, fawning character---I promise to include a link to the video in an upcoming post once it's completed. After that, I ate lunch and shot with Tim for a couple of hours, which was very productive. Now we're finished with all of one particular type of shot in a certain costume. Then I had to complete a couple of interviews for a story due in my newswriting class AND for Richmond.com. Somehow I still found time to write a post for "Give Me Paisley and Parasols!" (www.paisleyandparasols.com).

And that was just yesterday.

Since I last wrote, I participated in the Richmond 'Zine Fest on Oct. 11. Simply Lark Press did quite well; I sold many 'zines and arts & crafts, as well as handed out business cards and flyers. I'm going to bring some of the left-overs to the Really Really Free Market at Monroe Park this upcoming weekend. I won't make any money that way but I will get to distribute my work and get my name out there. It's like free advertising.

On Oct. 15, the first night of fall break, I tried out for Better Off, a Richmond-based a cappella group. Talk about a HORRIBLE performance! My throat was sore from over-practicing. The first song I sang came out decently but by the second one, I just didn't have the stamina left. I butchered Regina Spektor's "Samson," one of my very favorite songs. By the time the audition was over, I was blushing my trademark shade of magenta. Needless to say, I didn't make call-backs. In contrast, I auditioned for a skit with Haunts of Richmond at the Edgar Allen Poe museum on Sunday and nailed it. I was confident and felt that I did a good job. Obviously the casting director thought the same because he offered me the role right then and there.

Throughout fall break, I wrote a whole slew of how-to articles and submitted them to Associated Content. They're still in the process of being reviewed but I'm not complaining; I'll get paid for them and can also submit them to eHow.com. They should all go up on www.associatedcontent.com/christinestoddard within the next two weeks. I plan to write a lot more of them this week, too.

Speaking of writing, the more I intern, the surer I am that freelancing is the answer for me after I graduate from college. My internship at Richmond.com is pleasant but not invigorating. The assignments are generally interesting but I prefer writing my own work and then pitching it, as opposed to being assigned something. That way I can choose a subject and focus on exactly what matters to me; I have more creative control and a greater opportunity to insert opinion or flesh out my narrative voice. Hard news journalism done the old-fashioned way has never been for me. In fact, next semester, I have vowed not to intern at a news-related venue. I might intern anywhere at all until the summer (right now I'm considering the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, and Black Entertainment Television). I want more time to sit down and write without someone telling me what to do or fill part of my time with menial tasks.