We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Jackson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.

Nicole, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

In my middle school years, I was taking a literary class. When we reached poetry I was so excited and I told my dad about Robert Frost and Edgar Allen Poe. He reached for a book in our bookcase and it was a book about African American Poets and Authors. This is when my eyes were opened to the possibilities of what I could do, too. I began to write poetry. Poetry came on the heels of my rapping. It was in the 5th grade when I began to “rap” with the guys and two girls. We battled but the two girls and I formed a rap group. Rapping was like poetry. My first book was inspired by real life circumstances of becoming a single parent. I didn’t think I could do it but, I was reminded by God that if I could write poetry, I could write a book. I was given 12 more book by inspiration to write. I have written three books. One self help for single mothers and two fiction books. All three are self published. I have an imagination. I am by nature creative as with drawing fashion and painting. I have always had that. It evolved into words through journaling, rapping, and poetry.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have always been an avid reader. If you are going to write you must enjoy reading. The best advice I have received from authors such as Steven King and James Patterson is to write. Write daily. I have also heard the same from authors that are not famous or as famous as the two I mentioned. Why are you writing? Are you writing only to be famous or are you writing because you have a desire and passion to write? I thought about this and I would love to be famous for my writing but, most importantly for me, I would like for my work to be out there. Self-publishing is challenging and very few make it to a level where they write for a living. It is especially difficult for minorities, including women, to be picked up by big name publishers. I self-published my books with the freedom to write them my way and with the hopes of someday having a literary agent or opportunity to have my books published. In the meantime, I write because I love it. I enjoy it. It’s second nature to me. Creativity is second nature to me.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The mission driving my creative journey as an author and artist is freedom. I want the freedom to earn money and to support my lifestyle from what I feel I was born to do. I was born to speak and inspire, write, paint, and create fashion. Nothing moves me more than these things. I don’t want to and I don’t like being bound by someone else’s rules. I don’t like someone having so much control over my time. Therefore, I am determined to live and prosper based on what I was created to be and do.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I was told when I was younger NOT to become a fashion designer because I wouldn’t make a lot of money. I was told to choose a career in nursing or the health field. It was the worst advice and guidance I ever received. I spent over 20 plus years trying to bury my creativity by getting into the health field and then the tech field. I hated almost every minute of the 8-12 hours I had to work. I was miserable. I wasted money and time trying to go to school for healthcare, tech, and education. Being an educator came close to what I wanted but, not really. It spoke to the teacher and speaker in me. I did not finish because I became ill. One of the best things that ever happened to me twice. It was in those times I wrote a book, began painting again, and learned to crochet.

The first lesson is, allow your children to do what is in their soul to do as a career and support them 150%. Please don’t place seeds of doubt in them and proceed to water them with fear.

The second lesson is removing the term STARVING ARTIST and replacing it with THRIVING ARTIST. It is important how you see yourself and describe yourself. Introduce yourself with PRIDE as an author or artist and when people say but no, how do you make a living. Repeat. I am an author, artist, and speaker.

Be the support you need and surround yourself with people that support you!

Contact Info:

• Website: nikkisconfettilife.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/theconfettishopnikki
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConfettiShop
• Youtube: The Garden of Mind
• Other: theconfettishopbynikki.com

Image Credits
All photos are property of Nicole Jackson