Poem: Daddy Can You Hear Me?

I wrote this last night after thinking about some things.  Decided that I would share it with the world.  I hope you like it!



DADDY CAN YOU HEAR ME?
BY: Jamie Corrigan

Daddy can you hear me?
As I sit crying on the floor.
Daddy can you hear me?
I don’t see you anymore.
Daddy can you hear me?
As I call out wanting you here.
Daddy can you hear me?
Wishing you were near.
Daddy can you hear me?
As I scream out your name.
Daddy can you hear me?
When I admit it’ll never be the same.
Daddy can you hear me?
As I finally see that I am strong.
Daddy can you hear me?
Now that I’m finally moving on.
Daddy can you hear me?
As I no longer speak your name.
Daddy can you hear me?
Knowing that I’m tired of the game.
Daddy can you hear me?
As I become someone new
Daddy can you hear me?
I no longer care what you do.
Daddy can you hear me?
As my wings spread ready to fly.
Daddy can you hear me?
I no longer want to cry.
Daddy can you hear me?
As I become so free.
Daddy can you hear me?
 I no longer scream
Daddy can you hear me?

Shelley Watters Epic Follower Blogfest/Contest

I have mentioned before about using contest to their fullest. Lately I have been practicing what I preach.  A lot! In the post below you will see one of those contest at play.  Though I have not won anything; it hasn't dampened my spirits or hopes when entering any of the contests' that I have!  It's one part luck and two parts talent that gets you noticed in the literary world or in a literary contest!

The title of this blog is about a new contest that I have thrown my hat into its ring!  It is a wonderful contest that I encourage all of you to participate in!  The winner will get a full request; which is an awesome prize to win!  I have included the link below so you all may find her blog easily!

Now like I said before; get out there & work it!

http://shelleywatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/epic-follower-blogfestcontest.html#comment-form

Another Sample of My Writing: The Reunion: The First 255 Words

Yesterday I decided to send the first novel that I ever wrote to a few friends and family who had been asking to see my work.  It takes a lot for me to allow people in to my creative world because I do not believe that my writing is anything worth being seen.  At least not at this point.  It is a first draft; which means it needs revising and rewriting.  I've been told by a close friend that the feeling of your writing not being good enough comes with the job.  Just an occupational hazard is how I believe she put it.  I know this to be true.  Any how, I decided that if I was going to let them see my work that I might as well let you all see a sample of it.  Below is the first 255 words of my novel. Enjoy and feel free to comment!

It's coming out a little funny. I've tried my best to fix it; but it won't cooperate with me. Oh, well! 

Name: Jamie Corrigan

Title: The Reunion

Genre: Romance

The Wall

“He’s married.” And with those two words, my world stopped spinning. 

I hadn’t thought about him in years. Yeah, maybe a memory would come to mind; but only for a 

second or two.  Nothing special about that.  It happens to us all.  It doesn’t mean anything.  It’s just something that happens.  But what if that’s what we tell our selves?  What if it means everything?  

I’m just being silly.  Of course it doesn’t mean anything.  We were kids.  We were too young to

know what love was.  What real love was.  I have that now, so I know what that love feels like.  What we 

had was puppy love.  It was what kids do.  It was never going to be real.

So why am I finding it hard to breath ever since Katy told me the news?  Why is this affecting me so much?

“Morgan.  Are you alright?”  Katy was looking at me concerned.  “I’m fine.  I just wasn’t expecting that.”  I forced a smile.  She wasn’t buying it.  “Morg, I know how much yo-”  “Crushed on him.  Yeah, that was a long time ago.”  “No, I was going to say cared about him.  It’s understandable.  He was your first love.”  I waved my hand and shook my head, “It’s fine Katy.  I’m fine.  Besides, I have my own wedding to plan.”  I forced another smile.  This time more convincingly because Katy seemed to believe it.  “Ok.  That’s my girl!  Now let’s get to planning this wedding!”

Katy had been my best friend for years

Show Me The Voice Contest

Below is the first 250 words of my novel. I welcome any critiques or suggestions you all might have. Thanks & good luck to all who have entered! http://brenleedrake.blogspot.com/2011/03/its-on-show-me-voice-blogfestcontest.html#comments

After taking in all of the critiques; I have revised my first 250 words. I left the ending since everyone has already read it though. Enjoy! 



Name: Jamie Corrigan

Title: The Demon Chronicles: The Black Light Of Purity
Genre: YA/Fantasy/Romance

Final draft:

Sixteen year old Taisie sat on the edge of her bed holding the last picture that she and her mother had ever taken together.  Slowly her fingers traced the image of the small black rose ring that her mother was wearing.  Before she knew it a tear was falling from her blue eyes. Quickly she wiped it away feeling foolish.  Suddenly Taisie looked around herself and saw that gone were the four walls of her bedroom and even her sixteen year old self.   She now found herself sitting in her family’s back yard holding that same ring.  What unnerved her the most though wasn’t that she was holding the ring; it was that she was now the six year old little girl who had found it.

“Mama!  Look what I found!”  Taisie said as she burst through the front door of her family’s two story red brick home.  It was a warm spring day and the most beautiful one of the season.  With the lush green leaves and bright sunny colored flowers; it was what Taisie loved the most about her home!  Since it was close to summer no one seemed to mind the heat that seemed to Taisie to feel like the kind of heat that you only felt in a sauna.  Hurriedly she ran into the kitchen where she saw her mother sitting at the kitchen table.  

Taisie loved her mother so much.  She knew at that moment that she would always remember her sun kissed skin, green eyes, and shoulder length wavy brown hair.  To Taisie, her mother was the most beautiful woman in the world.

Her mother’s green eyes flicked up from where she had been looking at a magazine and asked, “What did you find dear?”  She smiled so sweetly as she held out her hand for her beautiful six year old daughter to hand her the special find she had for her.  Taisie squealed as she held out her hand grinning.  Her mother’s eyes lit up as she saw in her little girls hand a small silver ring with a small perfect black jeweled rose sitting on top of it.  “It’s for you mama!”  Taisie squealed again.

For as long as Taisie could remember from that day on her mother always wore the special ring she had given her.  She always told her that it brought her good luck.  Once when Taisie was twelve and was going on her first group date her mother made her wear it saying, “It’ll bring you luck like it does me.”  

1st draft:

“Mama!  Look what I found!”  Taisie said as she burst through the front door of her family’s two story red brick home.  It was a warm spring day and the most beautiful one of the season.  Since it was close to summer no one seemed to mind the heat.  Taisie ran into the kitchen where she saw her mother sitting at the kitchen table.

Taisie loved her mother so much.  She knew she would always remember her sun kissed skin, green eyes, and shoulder length wavy brown hair.  To Taisie, her mother was the most beautiful woman in the world.

Her mother’s green eyes flicked up from where she had been looking at a magazine and asked, “What did you find dear?”  She smiled so sweetly as she held out her hand for her beautiful six year old daughter to hand her the special find she had for her.  Taisie squealed as she held out her hand grinning.  Her mother’s green eyes lit up as she saw in her little girls hand a small silver ring with a small perfect black jeweled rose sitting on top of it.  “It’s for you mama!”  Taisie squealed again.

For as long as Taisie could remember from that day on her mother always wore the special ring she had given her.  She always told her that it brought her good luck.  Once when Taisie was twelve and was going on her first group date her mother made her wear it saying, “It’ll bring you luck like it does me.”

Once again a great big thanks to all that help! 

Networking & Working It!

Lately I have been hard at work polishing up three of my novels.  I have made use of all of the tools available to me and that includes people.  The one thing that most author's forget about when writing is that the actual writing is only half of the work.  Once you finish your great American novel; you then have to put extra work into editing, revising, and shopping it around.

Networking is something that is very important. I have been doing this by asking questions and participating in discussions on twitter with agents and other authors. The way that I see it is if the agent remembers you from questions that have been asked or discussions that have been had via the Internet; then you have networked.

Then of course there are workshops and conferences.  I for one have been unable to attend any conferences; but I look forward to doing so in the future.  They are a great way to introduce yourself to agents and you may even find the agent you have been looking for that will just love your book!

When I say working it! What I mean is that there are many ways to shop your book around. Let's face it; it takes money and time to get a book published.  The problem is that most working authors aren't made of money and can't afford to pay the piper to get their work polished so it will be noticed.

The trick that I have learned to get past this is easily summed up in one word. CONTEST!  Yes.  That's what I said.  Contest are great ways to have your work edited and/or critiqued for FREE.  Below is just one great contest that does just such.

http://www.editorcassandra.com/search?q=

Another thing that I have learned that's a big money saver is having my trusted family members and friends read my work and give their opinions.  Once you have done all you can do on your own or with contest then move towards using your wallet to finish making your work the best that it can be before you start the query process.

No matter what methods you use to get the word out on your novel/short story/fan fiction; just remember to make contacts and research everything.  Use the resources around you and do the best that you possibly can to make your work be the best that it can be.  And remember to just work it!