Definitions

At every Children's Media Association event I attend, I introduce myself differently.  My name is always Tracy, but "what I do" changes pretty much every time.

When I first joined the group, I was still working at One Life to Live.  So, though I was aspiring to work in children's TV, I was very much working in soaps, so I was "Tracy--I'm an AD, Director, and Editor at One Life to Live but it won't last forever, and I'm trying to transition to children's media."

When One Life ended, it was "Tracy--worked as a director and Editor on soaps and sitcoms for a long time, and now that soaps have left New York, I am looking to work in kids' stuff."

After a while, the demise of One Life seemed like old news to be reporting, so I became "Tracy, looking for work in children's media."  And when I began spending many hours working on a children's book idea, I could actually introduce myself with something children-related, which was a relief. At least until reality editing came along and took the place of all the "alone-in-the-apartment" writing I'd been doing.

These days, there are times when Video Editor comes first--it seems to be the thing that people understand.  Last night, I think Writer may have come first (that's what happens when I'm writing my blog on the way).  And with my brain spinning about the sitcom pilot I'm frantically editing at home and the reality editing I'm returning to tomorrow, and the music video I'll be editing next, plus a new interest in my children's book idea, I suspect I came across either as someone who does it all, or as someone who has no idea what she wants to do.  Believe me, I heard lots of people with a variety of job titles at a variety of shows and networks, and a whole lot of people saying "writer wanting to work in children's television," but not many had a crazy list like mine.

So as I sit here today, editing the sitcom. and writing my blog, and looking over my children's stories in the precious moments while the computer renders effects, I can't say how I'll define myself today.  And until I take up residence in a dictionary, maybe that's okay.