All posts by Jackie Pick

Unknown's avatar

About 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.

NaNoWriMo 2017

Creative non-fiction, Fiction, Inspiration, NaNoWriMo, NaNoWriMo 2017, Writing

I am participating in my third-ever NaNoWriMo. It’s been a bit of a journey to get to the first lines of this challenge.

I wanted to write a book, fiction specifically. I’ve been feeling it’s high time for me to launch into the “next phase” — and that felt like doing something book-y.

I narrowed my initial three ideas down to one. I had a beginning, a mushy middle, and an end. The basics. I began plotting and getting to know my characters. I read books on the process. I studied my favorite novels.

I was starting to feel…stressed, actually. Completely unready to take this on. Not in an “I’m not good enough” way but in a “This doesn’t quite feel right” kind of way.

About a week ago, I got several emails and messages from friends and acquaintances about various humor pieces I’ve had published in the last few months. They all mentioned how my voice is distinct, and their words were complimentary and so very appreciated.

I said to my husband that I needed to find a way to make my book humorous like my essays, that that feels most me right now. And in his infinite wisdom, he said, “Why don’t you just do a book of essays?”

It stopped me in my tracks, as did my response. “Because I think for that to be successful, I’d need a much larger internet following than I have.”

Which…is not a good reason not to write the book I want to write and the book that I think will be good. I can’t control the market, I can’t worry about the selling points. I just need to worry about writing.

So I started from scratch, planning essays, figuring out a tentative through-line which I am more than happy to toss aside at any point. I’m keeping the novel ideas because I’m learning (the hard way) to never say never.

Today I started writing.

See you in 50,000 words!

I’m in the Readers Write Section of This Month’s The Sun Magazine

Creative non-fiction, Publications, Recommendations, The Sun Magazine, Writing

When I began writing professionally about two years ago, I told myself that if I ever got into the Readers Write section of The Sun magazine, it would signal a transition to the next level of my career. So here I am. Next level. And perhaps my next milestone will be having an actual feature in it.

You can find a hard copy of The Sun by checking out the list of B&M stores here.

You can scroll down and read my piece (and the other magnificent essays) here.

Also, treat yourself or a loved one to a subscription to the magazine. It’s part fiction, part non-fiction, all quality.

Nevertheless We Persisted

Books, Creative non-fiction, Gratitude, Nevertheless We Perisisted, Poetry, Publications

Weeks ago, there was a call for submissions to a special audiobook-first publication of essays and poems. The project was called Nevertheless We Persisted, and I submitted my work for consideration.

I am proud to say that my essay, “The Myth of 15 Minutes,” was selected to be part of that anthology, and the incredibly talented Lauren Ezzo narrated my piece to perfection, catching every nuance and infusing it with humor and warmth.

Blunderwoman Productions described the process and the project on their website:

BlunderWoman Productions collected thoughts on love and loss, on struggle, or how you’ve overcome hardship. These are poems, stories and essays from writers across the country and in India and Britain. Some are funny. Some are sad. All them have heart and a deep truth. 

Each piece has been paired with a talented narrator (or performed by the author themselves) to bring their story to life. 

Original music provided by Jennie Knaggs and Nick Shillace of Lac La Belle.

Original cover design provided by Kim Hindman of 10 Digit Press. 

We hope this piece will encourage and inspire others to fight the good fight, keep on keeping on, and celebrate a little more of the joys in life. 

 25% of the proceeds (after publication costs) will be donated to Planned Parenthood.

Nevertheless We Persisted is now available to hear (the project may eventually also be available as a book).

Here is a sample of one of the pieces, a poem written by Kass Hillard and read by Janina Edwards, “Women Rise Up.”

You can now purchase the anthology on Audiobooks, Audible, or borrow it via Hooplah.