What I Do

A Writer.

I love to write….

A blogger for the Huffington Post.

Archived articles are available in the Portfolio section of my site.  For freelance articles and essays contact literary agent Amy Hughes at amy@dclagency.com

Speaker Coach for Parent & Families

As a parent coach and workshop facilitator, I have been a guest speaker & guest lecturer in many middle schools, high schools, colleges, non profit organizations, community centers and churches.  Talks and workshops can be parent/child or help separately.

Sample Workshop Format:

Parenting Workshop Series

Mother/Daughter WorkshopSeries

Coffee Hour DiscussionGroups

Writing Workshops

Human Rights Talk

Sample Workshop Topics:

Self Care & Wellness

Media Madness – Community Discussion

So, You Want iRules?

Reboot Camp: Are your family values in sync with your technology?

Strengthening Relationships: Building Support & Community for Parents

How I Became a Modern Day Abolitionist

Tech Etiquette Consultant for Marketplace Tech

Here I answer questions and give insight and advice based on informatino gathered from current events, emails from my subscribers, and my own experiences and interactions.  Topics have varied from “No Phone Zones” to “Hate Language on Twitter”.  Audio clips are available on www.marketplace.org/people/-janell-burley-hofmann

Who I Am

I am a mother to five children Gregory 13, Brendan 10, Ella 8, Lily 6, & Cassidy 5.  I love these five people with a gentle and fierce heart. They are the reason my feet hit the floor every morning. I became a mother unexpectedly during college. I didn’t understand it then, but now I know that they couldn’t wait another second in the stars for me to be ready. We were all meant to be together as soon as possible because we have so much living to do. I try to be the kind of mother they will brag about in their memoirs someday – not for being perfect, but for being real.

I am a wife to Adam. I have loved him almost all of my life. We are rooted and connected in ways that go beyond love and partnership and parenthood. It cannot be explained, only understood. When we were teenagers he sewed me pajamas out of the same pattern as my childhood blanket and bought me a gift for every letter of the alphabet. He is smart and creative and a gifted musician. He shines at being a father and my children’s eyes sparkle when they look at him.

I am a big sister to Lindsey & Kellie. I love them deeply – like best friends mixed with the deep love of mother and child. I am protective and proud of them because they are smart and strong and beautiful and have so much to offer the world. They are different from each other, different from me. But they are radiant and I’m glad we have the same blood pulsing through our veins.

I am a daughter to Mark & Susan. Born to the world’s most passionate humans, my loyalty, my tenacity, the capacity of my heart is rooted in my beginnings. My parents are no longer married to each other. I love them separately now, but I still hold their teachings, their tenderness, their fire inside me to help keep their story of love and life alive.

I am a woman to the world. I lead community programs on Cape Cod. I teach parenting workshops. I speak to youth about my adventures and experiences. I fight for the freedom of girls and women forced into the modern day slave trade. I devour memoirs. I exercise with my crazy friends in nature. I write. I have to work really hard to balance my good girl and my wild side, so that one doesn’t suffocate the other.

This is how I became a writer — I think:

READ!

I love books & words — I read cereal boxes & newspapers & recipes & quotes & magazines & stories.  ALL THE TIME!! Even when I was a kid!

LISTEN!

I listen to other  people’s stories — in person, in books, anywhere!  I pay attention to my family’s story! I ask lots of questions!

QUIET!

I need space without family, internet, TV,  chaos, noise.  Sneak away to a quiet place.

TRUTH!

Be honest.  Everyone has a story that will break your heart and inspire you!

PLAY!

Get fresh air.  Sweat.  I hang with peeps that love the REAL me.  I try new things — even when I’m scared.

INSPIRATION!

It’s everywhere — cultivate it!

PRACTICE!

Mess up, doodle, take notes, make lists — TRY!