<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Before First Light]]></title><description><![CDATA[Where hot flashes meet cold wine, neck waddles are real and pre‑dawn pages become Friday confessions. Between My Sheets—ReWriting a word-life, finally as myself, no longer a ghost(writer). Side effects may include tears, laughter, and definitely more JOY.]]></description><link>https://www.beforefirstlight.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CiLq!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fab4c0a5c-4f2d-4fdc-a21d-87791e89c54b_1080x1080.png</url><title>Before First Light</title><link>https://www.beforefirstlight.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 18:01:09 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.beforefirstlight.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Just Jill]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[beforefirstlight@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[beforefirstlight@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Just Jill]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Just Jill]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[beforefirstlight@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[beforefirstlight@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Just Jill]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Between My Sheets—Prelude: "I just want to write," she all but snarled onto the page. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The line that started a bing-worthy series began with people writing into me, Jill R. Stevens, The JOYful Writer, with five words and an ask. So many raging&#8212;filled with heat, angst, and such desire between the lines, I simply had to listen.]]></description><link>https://www.beforefirstlight.com/p/between-my-sheets-prelude</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.beforefirstlight.com/p/between-my-sheets-prelude</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Just Jill]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:55:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/06e1123c-5564-49ac-89c0-5e148bb889f3_1200x630.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="pullquote"><p><em>What if (re)building a writing life could be its own story? <br>I&#8217;m giving it four Fridays to find out.<br>Join me . . . this is how it began. </em></p><h5 style="text-align: center;">A 3-minute sip-your-tea read.<br></h5></div><h5></h5><p>I opened the thirteenth email in just under two weeks and read those words again.</p><p><em>Jill, I just want to write.</em></p><p>For so many people to be emailing me the same five (sometimes six) words and asking for my guidance to do just that (and get paid) made me press pause.</p><p>I've always found a need, listened, and filled it.</p><p>This seemed like a pretty big (thirteen person) need.</p><p>Which got me a-thinking . . .</p><p><strong>What if I conducted an experiment, live and in real time&#8212;one month, maybe twelve&#8212;to see what happens when I (re)build a writing life from scratch?</strong></p><p>And document it.</p><p>A behind-the-scenes, pull-back-the-curtain blend of memoir, story, and lived experiment&#8212;about writing, creating, and being paid for being you.</p><p>What&#8217;s possible one year from now?</p><p><em>Well gosh, now I&#8217;m flipping interested.</em></p><p>So I&#8217;m doing something a little crazy.</p><p>I&#8217;m calling it <strong>Between My Sheets</strong>&#8212;a Friday word-drop experience.</p><p>One messy, magical dispatch each week as I explore what it means to start over, create again, and (re)build a word-business that actually works.</p><p>Something that might blow up like a firecracker display&#8212;a cascade of JOYful color shooting over the inky, night sky.</p><p>Or maybe a mic-drop dud, barely heard but still beautiful.</p><p>Either way, I&#8217;m in for the next four Fridays . . .</p><p>And right about now, you&#8217;re probably asking&#8212;<em>what the blipity-blip is she even writing about?!</em></p><p>If you&#8217;re a writer, dreamer, or creative misfit who&#8217;s lost your rhythm . . .</p><p>Maybe you&#8217;re standing at life-or-career crossroads . . . <br><br>Or deep in the messy-middle&#8212;you&#8217;ll want to come with me and read my Friday words&#8212;Between My Sheets.</p><p>All the deets of what really goes on between the pages of a word-centered, creative business.</p><p>Because yes, you can write AND get paid AND start over, OR again, at ANY age.</p><p>Creativity is so varied, and&#8212;take it from me, a plate-spinning, multi-offer, prolific creator&#8212;sometimes the work is in learning how to say <em>no</em> to chaos and <em>yes</em> to structured ease.</p><p>Or simply discover one&#8217;s creative flow again. <br>Or for the very first time.</p><p>One Friday at a time.</p><p>I&#8217;m giving it a month&#8212;four weeks&#8212;to see what happens.</p><p><strong>Let&#8217;s call it dating before a commitment.</strong></p><p>If it resonates with those thirteen (and you), I&#8217;ll keep going for the year.</p><p>So much is possible. <br>And it all starts on Friday.</p><p>Just Jill &#8220;in a (re)write moment of life&#8221; Stevens</p><p>&#128156;  </p><div><hr></div><p style="text-align: center;">Continue reading <em>Between My Sheets </em>with <strong><a href="https://beforefirstlight.substack.com/p/between-my-sheets-the-morning-after">Episode 1: The Morning After</a></strong> <br>and become part of this real-time delicious experience.<br></p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>