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.

Intervals

Sometimes, sometimes the Project seems overwhelming.  Not worth my time.  Frought with fright.  On those days, it’s easy to talk myself out of working on it at all.

Those days I tell myself “Just 15 minutes” — much like I told myself when I worked out with regularity.  I know that 15 minutes can make a difference.  After 15 minutes, I allow myself to stop if I want.  Usually I’m pretty happy with what I’ve accomplished…(I procrastinate if I think something is going to take me a long time)…and usually I want to continue. 

The overview is coming along nicely.  I’m using old school calendars to remind me of all the nonsense that goes on during the year.  I salvaged some teaching items from the basement wreckage.  Inspiration is everywhere.  I get excited.  I don’t want to stop.

I don’t want to stop.  It’s just that sometimes I don’t want to start.

In other news, I actually went to see a sketch show the other day…it was dynamic and well-paced.  The writer/performer in me started analyzing…I liked a lot of what I saw.  I picked up on tricks.  I saw the short cuts and the craft.  I hope to be able to get out and see more.  I forgot how much I actually like, you know, theater.

In other other news…the show I did pseudo-choreography for is having a production meeting followed by a cast party this week.  For some reason I am anxious.  For some unknown, stupid, unjustified reason.  We’ll see how it goes.  Let’s hope it’s nothing but a love fest. 

Also, just for funsies, I’m breaking out for the first time since I had hormonal cystic acne when I was pregnant.  I love how zits and wrinkles are battling for supremacy on my face.

Also, no…I don’t work out anymore.  Who has time with all this script writing going on?