Other Writing Samples

Here are a few other places you can find samples of my writing.

All video games all the time-
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/author/jake/

And a link to the Hardcore Gamer Tumblr account which I run-
http://hardcoregamer.tumblr.com/

A variety of topics from songs to movies-
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jakewhritenour

First Pitch to a Light Stand

I can hear you shiver,
from next door.
It lit a fire-- a hot foot
to get me started.
The moon could kill me if
I didn't move, instead of watching
birds pick moths off the ceiling.

Hello, sunshine. The thin cracks in
your skin, glowing tangerine.
She'll come back..I thought.
Bursting, bright enough through the
door. I'm in love with the warmth
of your cinder lips. A kiss, a blast.
You're my only light.

Angels sing about you.
Your skin was like a full moon
wading through the stars. And
last summer I saw you
sleeping with grass on your skin.
At the beach, your curls,
your sunburned hair--
and shining pearl.

I'm naked in your room. I
feel the ghost of a cloud pass
with a bothering wind. The freee
frame of you in mind. She'll come back.
I say it in the dark with the lights off.
But can I say it without breathing.

Thanks to a Vet (fiction)

My assistant and I were cleaning the front desk area; the day was coming to an end. Then I heard the door chime followed by fast approaching footsteps.

“Quick! We need your help,” I turned around and saw two young children standing in front of the counter. One of them was holding something covered in a blanket.

“What’s the matter? Are you alright?” I could tell by their faces they were scared.

“It’s our dog, he’s hurt real bad. We were playing. He fell over and wouldn’t get back up,” the little girl told me. The boy holding the dog peeled back the blanket to show me its face. Both eyes were closed, it was breathing loudly. I lifted its jowl to examine the gums, they were pale.

“This is very serious. I’ll bring your dog to the back right away,” I calmly told them. The boy carefully moved his pet to my arms.

“It’ll be just fine,” I reassured them with a smile.

As I carried the canine to an examining room my assistant sat with the children.

“His name is Buddy!” The girl called out before I left their view. I heard them sob as the door closed. When placing Buddy on the table he let out a little whimper. This was good; it let me know the situation was not as dire as I previously thought. I set up an IV to rehydrate him. This should take care of everything but I still had to be sure. His eyes were looking better, color returned to his gums, and he waking up. Every test I ran Buddy passed with no problems. He was still a little woozy but responding well. He headed straight for a bowl of food after I set him down. The water in the bowl next to it was lapped up even faster.

Buddy led me out to the waiting room; I couldn’t hold his leash tight enough. The kids lit up when they saw him. Buddy’s tiny tail wagged so much his whole body shook. It’s been a couple of hours since they arrived and now the children’s parents were with them.

“Buddy! You’re okay!” the girl and her brother were on the floor petting and hugging him.

“Thank you so much. We had no idea where the kids were until we saw the note,” their father came and shook my hand.

“We only live across the road but it was worrisome. What happened?” the man’s wife asked.

“Well, with the summer heat at its highest, the dry air we’ve been having, and all the playing outdoors, Buddy became dehydrated. He wasn’t drinking enough water. It’s a good thing you two were so brave and brought him here. He’s all better,” I gave Buddy a pat.

The family, led by their little dog, left the building. As the little boy was pushing on the door he turned to me and said, “You’re a good doggy doctor.” He gave me a huge smile and left.

Lightning in the Airfield (a poem)

Usually in summer the sky doesn’t darken as fast. Today started with news of your viewing, I found out through Facebook. It’s difficult deciding whether or not to show especially after years of only casual chatter. I decided it was best I attend.

In my last message to you I described the thunder as you banging your drums. Hours before I arrived you started playing, letting us know you’re safe. It wasn’t easy being there but it brought people together to bond over you. I hope the fortune cookie I left you from Bobo’s brings luck. I regret not making time for us to catch up at the buffet. Looking at your photographs I started choking up at one in particular. Christmas day, holding up a Spider-Man blanket, your face was in total excitement. So young and happy.

The weather cleared for few hours allowing me to drive through the base and eat at Wendy’s. On the way, another storm rolled in. Maybe you wanted to join me. Lightning clashed with each strike on the cymbal. It lit up the landing strip. Thunder erupted from the bass I rolled my window down to listen. It ended just as I got inside. Who needs a radio.

On my way in a man was asking for 2 dollars. I told him “I’ll try” even though I didn’t want to. After ordering I walked back to him waving the money. He tells me his story. “She took 3,000 dollars and my kids away,” his alcoholic tongue was dripping. I assume he wanted to buy more beer or whatever lonely beggars drink. An employee told him to scram then I washed my hands. It was quiet inside. I ate my spicy chicken and surfed my phone. I thought of you. I thought of this.

It was still raining on the ride home. Lightning bugs were in full flight. I guess they’re little sparks falling from the clouds. At home the storm continued. It now reminds me of the aguish and pain filling every heart that cared for you. It’s not your fault.
Storms settle. Tears settle. Hearts settle.

Memories, that’s all we have. I take your little in-memoriam picture from my beating chest pocket. I place it someplace safe with all the others. You’re in great company. Always will be.

Game Quests

G

Grave Yard

Quest                                                                          

Find Weapon 
Description: Search for a weapon before continuing

Find Exit                                                                                
Locate the exit to the surface

Defeat creatures for Omar
A young boy is trapped by dangerous creatures. Help rescue him!

Clear debris around the cemetery                              
Hudson the Grave Keeper asks for your help keeping the graveyard tidy.

                                                                                         

Capture a wisp                                                                       
A mysterious apothecary needs a rare ingredient.

                                                                       
Clear worm infestation                                                          
Hudson realized there has been a ferocious amount of worms digging into graves.

                                                                                         

Defeat Grave Robbers                                                          
A family comes to you for help. They witnessed men digging up the bodies of their loved ones.

                                                                                           

Find the Grave Robber stash                                     
After investigating the graves of their loved ones the family noticed possessions have gone missing.

Return the belongings
Take the stolen possessions back to the family members.

                                                                                          .

Find Hudson’s shovel                                                
Hudson believes someone or something stole his shovel. A likely place may be the hollowed tree cellar.

                                                                                           

optional*  Unlock the crypt                                       
After finding a strange key in the tree cellar Hudson tells you to try it on a locked crypt.

Complete Hudson’s duties                                        
Hudson asks you to take over for him while he visits his ailing mother.

1. Dig four plots of land.       
2. Erect four tombstones.

3. Defend the new graves against robbers.

Through a Filthy Lens (a poem)

Comets are beginning to bore you.

They lack the lively glow of silky sheets,

laying through entangled streets filled

with blaring cars and concrete stars

that last a life time. The milky way your
mind turns cannot feel the blind burns
while distracted.

Strangers litter your name in veins,

shooting dust just to gain a euphoric

smile. Your eyes are glazed under the

moon as you stare into a cosmic

lagoon of murky clouds and mudpuppies

that shroud themselves behind shooting stars.

Comets are no longer worth wishing over.

You’d rather be mesmerize by the tiny dots and pulsating spots

that induce your colder outer space highs.

Burning the Bird (a poem)

The woods are white with rain but it feels like a shivering desert,
little drops of winter in the middle August. The trees are wiggling

like rotten teeth in the mouth of a child. It makes me want to lick

the candy stuck to the roof of your mouth. They fell with the sounds

of a collapsing skeleton. I set my room on fire when I go to sleep,
I like to think it keeps the ghosts away. Then, I awake to a storm

at the end of the bottle and ask the captain to turn this ship around.

                                                   you can kiss her soul now. if you still want