Author: Jackie Pick

Jackie Pick is a former teacher and current writer living in the Chicago area. She is a contributing author to multiple anthologies, including Multiples Illuminated, So Glad They Told Me: Women Get Real about Motherhood, Here in the Middle, as well as the and the literary magazines The Sun and Selfish. She received Honorable Mention from the Mark Twain House and Museum for her entry in the Royal Nonesuch Humor Writing Competition. Jackie is a contributing writer at Humor Outcasts, and her essays have been featured on various online sites including McSweeney's, Belladonna Comedy, Mamalode, The HerStories Project, and Scary Mommy. A graduate of the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, Jackie is co-creator and co-writer of the award-winning short film Fixed Up, and a proud member of the 2017 Chicago cast of Listen To Your Mother.

Goals 2014 — Week 3

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The empty creative space inside, I realize, is due largely in part to the lack of creative time.  I can’t figure out what it is that I want to do because I’m filling my time with my “Need To Dos,” which, in large part, I don’t.

I’ve begun carving out space for creation…more correctly…space to moodle and figure out what I want to create. This means I am beginning to say no to things. I will not be volunteering as heavily at Baby’s Nursery School, although I will still volunteer.  I will not go to shows that I don’t want to see. I will not be worrying about keeping the house pristine…hygienic and able to find the kids’ mittens in the morning will do.  I will, paradoxically, slow down to pick up the creative pace.

It’s not hard for me to say no…it is hard for me to say yes.  I am seeing a friend’s storytelling show next week. I am fascinated by storytelling and Chicago has a thriving culture. I am excited to go in person to the first of what I hope is many shows.  I am meeting an artist friend for coffee soon to discuss the Artist Group I am toying with.  I am writing down random thoughts in a journal. I’m revisiting that journal and mining it.

I’m here.