inspiration – Page 5 – Jennifer's Journal

Blogger Bouquet #34

Published on February 4, 2016March 21, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry

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Nurse Kelly is a sweetheart of a blogger who is working on her first book.

From her About page:

Nurse Kelly is a registered nurse, health educator, coach, speaker, and writer. She holds a BA in Communications, an AAS in Nursing, and numerous certifications. She resides in northeast Ohio with her husband, daughter, son, and beloved dog, Ruby.
Known for her commitment to functional healthcare, she wished to expand her reach to a larger audience – hence, nursekellyknows.com was born.

In her own words:
This blog is authentically me. I write from my heart in a very personal voice, which I hope you will find engaging, enlightening, and entertaining. I can also cause just enough mischief to keep things interesting… so please be aware, as it is never my intention to offend.”

I have chosen the following post because I love finding a poem that makes me smile the way this one does.

Birthday Suit

Comments are closed here but you can share a comment on the blogger’s page.

Have an inspiring weekend, everyone ❤

An Approach To Style

Published on January 14, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry25 Comments

“A careful and honest writer does not need to worry about style. As you become proficient in the use of language, your style will emerge, just as you yourself will emerge, and when this happens you will find it increasingly easy to break through the barriers that separate you from other minds, other hearts – which is, of course, the purpose of writing, as well as its principal reward.”

~ excerpt from The Elements of Style by Strunk & White

ID-1008124 — *Image courtesy of Gregory Szarkiewicz at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Do you agree with this quote?

What is the difference between writing style and writing voice?

I found this article on the topic:

The Difference Between Voice and Style in Writing

Man of a Thousand Songs

Published on November 20, 2015November 20, 2015 by J. Kelland Perry33 Comments

A Newfoundland legend has passed.

Ron Hynes lost his battle with cancer yesterday, but the St. John’s native and the “man of a thousand songs” will be remembered in this province as one of our best and most talented singer-songwriters.

I’ve loved Ron’s music ever since he performed as front man with the Wonderful Grand Band on a local early-80’s TV show. But when I saw him sing and play at the Fat Cat on George Street one night in the early nineties, I knew he would be an enduring musical storyteller and an artistic treasure.

Sonny’s Dream, his most famous song internationally, has been recorded by many artists such as Valdy and Emmy Lou Harris. Have a listen:

As much as I love that song, the following is perhaps my personal favourite. The lyrics alone, in my opinion, elevate its author Ron to the deserving title of our finest wordsmith and poet.

St. John’s Waltz
by Ron Hynes

Oh the harbour lights are gleaming
And the evening’s still and dark
And the seagulls are all dreaming
Seagull dreams on Amherst Rock
And the mist is slowly drifting
As the storefront lights go dim
And the moon is gently lifting
As the last ship’s coming in

All the sailors got a story
Some are true, some are false
But they’re always wrecked
and they’re up on the deck
Dancin’ the St. John’s Waltz

Amherst Rock Jennifer's Journal — Fort Amherst (Amherst Rock)
*Jennifer’s Journal*

Oh we’ve had out share of history
We’ve seen nations come and go
We’ve seen battles rage over land and stage
Four hundred years and more
For glory or for freedom
For country or for king
Or for money or fame but there are no names
On the graves where men lie sleeping

All the nine to fives survive the day
With a sigh and a dose of salts
And they’re parkin’ their cars and packin’ the bars RON-HYNES
Dancin’ the St. John’s Waltz

Oh my heart is on the highway
And I’m sold on goin’ to sea
All the planes fill the skyway
The trains run swift and free
So leave the wayward free to wander
Leave the restless free to roam
If it’s rocks in the bay or it’s old cliche
You’ll find your way back home

So don’t question or inquire
What’s been gained, what’s been lost
In a world of romance don’t miss out on the chance
To be Dancin’ the St. John’s Waltz

Rest in peace, Mr. Hynes.
Your music will continue to live on through our playlists and in our hearts.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/ron-hynes-death-reaction-1.3327456

Friday Bouquet #30

Published on October 9, 2015February 12, 2020 by J. Kelland Perry

Happy Friday, everyone! And Happy Thanksgiving Day weekend to all my fellow Canadians. 🙂

Before I share today’s Bouquet recipient, I wanted to let you know of a small modification to this regular feature from Jennifer’s Journal.

The name of the feature will change from Friday Bouquet to Blogger Bouquet because after today it will not be limited to Fridays. Instead, Bouquet posts will appear on any day of the week and whenever I am moved in some way to highlight a fellow blogger.

Now on to the bouquet toss!

Lois from on pets and prisoners is one of my favourite bloggers. She loves animals and owns three cats, has fun with photography, and for years has done volunteer work with prisoners.

In Lois’s own words:

So what do pets and prisoners have in common? In my life–plenty. Both hold a special place in my heart.
By day, I feed my pets and the strays at work. At night, I feed the souls of the prisoners I sponsor through Gavel Club–a Toastmasters affiliate.
All my animals are special. Those I have, those I had, and those I hope to have.
The prisoners–for me, they are the special ones. They were, at one time, someone’s father, brother, son, uncle–even grandfather. They have heart; they have soul. We have fun.”
~ excerpt from plenty for everyone

The following post has been highlighted because it will give you an idea of what Lois brings to these inmates’ lives.

The Gift

I have disabled comments here in the hope you will comment on Lois’s blog.

If you do, please tell her Jennifer sent you. 🙂

Friday Bouquet #28

Published on September 4, 2015February 12, 2020 by J. Kelland Perry

In the middle of the afternoon yesterday, I received a welcome and gratifying email. My editor sent me – minus a few finishing touches – the cover art for my upcoming YA novel, Calmer Girls.

I. LOVE. IT. Since then, to say I am getting more excited about my book’s upcoming release is an understatement. As one of the teenagers in my book might say: “this sh*t just got real!”

In keeping with what is now on my mind 24/7, I’m sharing one of the writer blogs I follow. Jane Friedman is a writing coach with a wealth of useful tips and advice on building an author platform and getting published. In the post below, she interviews Hannah Goodman, a proud advocate and author of the Young Adult genre.

5 On: Hannah R. Goodman

I’ve disabled comments here in the hope you will comment on Jane’s blog.
If you do, please tell her Jennifer sent you.

Have a safe and happy Labour Day weekend, everyone.

❤

The Poet’s Thought

Published on August 27, 2015 by J. Kelland Perry15 Comments

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The Poet’s Thought

“It came to him in rainbow dreams,
blent with the wisdom of the sages,
of spirit and of passion born;
in words as lucent as the morn
he prisoned it, and now it gleams
a jewel shining through the ages.”

~ Lucy Maud Montgomery

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* Ailsa’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Gleaming

Inspired

Published on August 5, 2015August 5, 2015 by J. Kelland Perry31 Comments

What is it that inspires our desire to create?

What moves an artist to draw or to paint a picture? What sparks the passion in a writer to pen a poem or a story? What is it that prompts a photographer to run for her camera and try to capture that perfect shot?

Here are a few things that give me continued inspiration:

1. The ocean, which surrounds me… (No surprise there, right? 😉 )

092 (1024x509) Every day, it is a slightly different colour, morphing between shades of blue sapphire, steel grey, or deep, dark navy with racing waves and frothy white-caps. On other days, it is as calm and flat as a mirror. 052 (1024x683) The sea is a living thing: mercurial, organic, merciless, and endlessly beautiful. 035 (1024x461) 2. I’ve always had a passion for all animals (no, not just my cats! 😉 ).
Horses, dogs, whales, and birds… 102 (1024x683) …natural beings of the forest and untamed creatures of the sea and sky. 058 (1024x683)

3. My granddaughter inspires me with her sunny smile, her boundless energy and curiosity, and her sweet innocent, loving heart.

036 (1024x861) 4. My grandson inspires me with those impossibly long eyelashes, his sense of humour, his quick wit, and his infectious laughter (even when he teases his crinkly Nanny). 037 (1024x902) 5. Teaching children about Nature, and why we need to respect it, appreciate it and care for it is a spark for my imagination. I love answering their many questions… 055 (1024x683) … and listening to them tell of their own experiences in the beautiful, natural world.

Have you ever noticed how Children and Nature go so happily together? 064 (1024x683)

“Children are born naturalists. They explore the world with all of their senses, experiment in the environment, and communicate their discoveries to those around them.”
~ Audubon Nature Preschool

“As a child, one has that magical capacity to move among the many eras of the earth; to see the land as an animal does; to experience the sky from the perspective of a flower or a bee; to feel the earth quiver and breathe beneath us..”
~ Valerie Andrews, A Passion for this Earth

Do you have special childhood memories of exploring Nature?

What fills you with inspiration? Do tell!

A Little Time Away

Published on July 2, 2015 by J. Kelland Perry22 Comments

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Just a quick note tonight, friends, to let you know I will be away for two weeks starting this weekend.

I’m not sure if I’ll have the time to blog before I come home again, but I do know I will enjoy this break to renew and refresh, soak up some summer fun around the province, and look for new inspiration.

I finally received my editor’s developmental review of my manuscript this past week, and am pleased to say most of the changes are not actual changes, but additions to what I have, so my laptop will go with me.

But you know what? That isn’t work because, to me, it is a labour of love.

Take care, and see you in a couple of weeks! 🙂

– Jennifer ❤

Friday Bouquet #23

Published on June 5, 2015February 12, 2020 by J. Kelland Perry

Val Boyko of Find Your Middle Ground is a professional life/career coach and a yoga teacher whose posts I’ve enjoyed for some time now.

In her own words:

I believe that we can all contribute to world peace. It starts with being kind to ourselves and finding peace within ourselves. Helping others is a good place to start, but the real work is ours to do for ourselves. We must find that peaceful, nourishing and inspiring place…

One morning I woke up with these words in my mind:

“Life is a series of highs and lows

Be grateful for the highs

Be graceful in the lows

And find contentment in your middle ground.”

I am highlighting the following post because I love the idea of receiving a lesson from dogs on how to overcome the ego.

Stop Trying to Let it Go

I’ve disabled comments here in the hope you will comment on Val’s blog.
If you do, please tell her Jennifer sent you.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

❤

In Praise of Young Adult Fiction

Published on May 26, 2015 by J. Kelland Perry21 Comments

I used to think I was a bit of a dork for liking Young Adult literature, even though my years as a young adult are long gone.

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Not so anymore. Although some may be too shy to admit to it or call it a guilty pleasure, YA fiction has a huge fan base among grownups; in fact, a recent study states that 55% of its readers are actually adults. And while I also choose from a variety of other genres and often crave the more literary and classic offerings as well, I particularly enjoy writing Young Adult fiction, as two of my upcoming novels will attest.

Why do I and so many others love reading YA novels? I don’t believe it implies immaturity, but rather suggests a more “young at heart” sensibility of the reader. And I am careful about not lumping all of them together; as in every genre there is great writing and not-so-great writing. With that in mind, here is what I find appealing about most of the YA and coming-of-age literature I have read:

It draws you in and hooks you on the first page.
It is usually light on the exposition and heavy on the action and dialogue.
The drama isn’t contrived. The teenage years, with all of its growing pains, can be filled with turmoil. Ordinary situations often feel emotional, and even catastrophic.
Teens are well-known to be impetuous and curious, therefore their actions are often unexpected. This opens up all sorts of drama which may include acting on violence, sexuality, and other previously uncharacteristic behaviours.
We’ve all been there, so we can identify with many of the common conflicts that arise. Other times, we might enjoy reading YA as an escape into wish-fulfillment: a way of righting the wrongs in our own experience.

Still not convinced to give Young Adult a try? Peruse these quotes taken from bestselling YA fiction: