Between My Sheets—Episode 1: The Morning After

What happens when you decide to begin again.

What if (re)building a writing life could be its own story? I’m giving it four Fridays to find out—part entertaining, possibly educational. Worth continuing? You be the judge and jury.

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Welcome, you.

Curl up with a steaming beverage of choice—this episode is delightful 11-minute read.

If you’re new here, you may want to begin with
The Prelude—”I just want to write,” she all but snarked onto the page.

This is part of a (maybe) year-long series called Between My Sheets, where I share the real story of (re)building a writing life—with goats, grace, coffee and the occasional glass of ice-cold white wine.

If you want to truly lie Between My Sheets with me for the next year and engage in some word-filled pillow-typing talk, you’ll be able to access the full reveal soon enough.

For now, give this very first episode a read and share a thought in the comments—if you dare. I’m looking for a word-partnership with you, Lovely Reader—more than a one-read stand.

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If you know me, you know I write 2500 words before I even start my day.

Typically every-single-day but I’m dedicated to only five.

That’s a nod to not setting myself up for failure.

And by starting my day, I mean feeding the flock of 23 goats (and other rescued critters), as soon as the light crawls into the night sky.

So while my days might be and feel very different from yours, simply look upon my sharing here as a living memoir that meets creative business experiment.

A living, breathing creative experiment—(re)building a writing life from the inside out and documenting it.

Not using any outside connections from my time as a 6-figure ghostwriter, nor from the publishing houses or my agent who’s been selling my fiction and non-fiction under various pseudonyms for the last 26 years.

And, it’s not just about books for me.

Because nobody puts this baby in just a book corner.

This rebuild is bigger than a single story—it’s about crafting a creative ecosystem that breathes, earns, and inspires.

This isn’t a series about publishing; it’s a story-series about purpose.

So Between the Sheets will dish on the journey of creating a writing-centered business from words—and maybe something you might want to model, in part or in full.

From emails to challenges to JOYful Journeys to audios to (yes) books— I’m all about building a word-focused ecosystem that becomes a playground for people to enJOY.

And it is already coming with some sweet challenges—some you might relate to.

Like you, perhaps, I’m a near nobody in the writing and online world. And honestly, I kind of like that.

I’m not in this for fame, attention or even because I must see my name beckoning on the cover of a book (or ten).

If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t have put my real name on any books—maybe just a variation of it.

A way of holding a little something of me back.

Because I value my anonymity. Which is psychotically funny, considering I’m here inviting you Between the Sheets of my creative life.

And yes, there’ll probably be glimpses of the goats and island living, too—because it’s part of me, part of this (cringe) “brand”.

I could rant on branding, bro marketing and polished-perfection, fake-it-till-you-make-it ideology, but I’ll refrain. For now.

While I’ve got “followers” and “fans” scattered across platforms, I’m rarely on, because social drains me—a story I’ll rewrite someday. Maybe.

But that’s a focus for another day.

Between the Sheets is an intimate, bold, entrepreneurial take on being a quiet creative.

Kind of an oxymoron right there, don’t ya think?

Each week, I’ll be sharing what’s working, what’s not, and what’s actually making money—because I’m all about creatives and writers making bank.

When you bring value, art, and JOY into the world, I’m telling you, people love to pay you.

But I’m not just going to tell you—I’m going to show you.

It’s like that all-important writing moment when the teacher leans over your shoulder and says, “Show me, don’t tell me what the character is doing, saying, thinking, feeling.”

That’s what this weekly episodic-series is—a living, word-exhale demonstration of creative work in motion.

Because I plan to be center stage and utterly exposed here—like that time I was about nine and literally found myself naked, but for ruffled panties, on the elementary school stage.

I wrote about it in an essay called Pink.

I think that story-share was meant for a book—The Journey of You—part of the five-book JOY Series I meant to write. It’s about 80% ready.

But only my editor, Autumn, could confirm that. She knows my work better than I do.

Those books could’ve been released a year ago, but I haven’t gotten around to it . . . yet.

See, I’m prolific—but sometimes not great with follow-through.

I’m amazing at creating and dreaming up stories, courses, sales pages even, and writing them in magnetic, captivating ways . . . follow-through, however, is a whole other sub-genre.

And without my agent, it’s entirely possible none of my words would have been published, and I’d probably be like so many of you who’ve emailed me asking—

How do I make money from my writing?

And if it weren’t for Autumn, a few years back, I probably wouldn’t have managed to publish in my own name.

Even though I’ve been writing for three decades, that feat didn’t happen until February of 2022. By choice.

So, I have only two books published on Amazon and both with very few reviews. Relatable, right?

Great reviews for one and not-to-shabby for the other, but still too few for my books to gain traction . . .

But have I done anything about it?

No.

This is the messy, lazy-perhaps truth of being a writer.

And a business person.

And a recovering plate-spinner with questionable focus and a dash of ADHD flair.

That’s why I’m doing this out-word-loud—to prove that momentum doesn’t come from perfection.

Momentum comes from showing up—messy and real.

There are so many paths, so many shiny things whispering your name and with no proven step-by-step path to follow so many writers’ blood, sweat and tears just fade into the deep abyss.

I’ll just share this.

While I won’t be using my traditional connections nor my agent to help with this (re)building of Just Jill, Writer—I will seek out Autumn, if she’ll have me again.

It’s been a while since we’ve word-worked together, but she’s a soul-sister and a fabulous editor who just plain gets me—and my quirky word-style.

So I know when the time is right, she’ll be the one to support me and help focus me so I can get all these words I have out.

Because surrounding yourself with one or two people who get you, your style, your unique path—that matters.

Now maybe getting word-things out and sharing isn’t your issue.

Maybe it’s more not knowing what to even write about.

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(Which, funny enough, is exactly what I’ve been revamping this week— shifting The 33 Day Magnetic Storytelling Challenge from its old promise of a publish-worthy story to what it truly is: a JOYful Journey to get one writing again (or for the first time) even when they don’t yet know what they want to write.)

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And I’m thrilled to say, this rebrand—something I’ve been meaning to do for a year now—is already a hit! Which is celebration-worthy, because this word-business is working.

And if it works for me, it can and will work for you. When you decide and move your word-feet.

Twenty-three sales at $99 and seventeen at $49. I’ll leave you to your mental math.

I’m so excited to start Monday, live with these students—making real-time updates as they journey through 33 days of writing with me by their side.

And no matter what the concern, here’s what I know.

I create just to create—unless given a plan.

Someone else’s book to write?

Okay, deliverables. Deadlines. Accountability. Ouch.

My book, my projects, my emails?

I’ll get lost in a story and three days will pass without me even realizing the sun rose and set again.

Oops. Forgot to email, share, sell, invite you into my world.

Except for feeding all the animals, I’m pretty good at zoning most things out.

So why do this?

Between the Sheets is about inviting you, Lovely Reader, into my creative bed, literally and figuratively—to show you how stories are born, rewritten, and sold.

How a word-business can be created in this day and age, from simply an idea.

And how it’s time to place value on the written word and storytelling—because in my hot-damn opinion, it’s one of the most important and necessary skills anyone can have, learn and master.

Even with AI taking over—but let’s save that for another day.

Still, that conversation belongs here too. Because this series isn’t about avoiding what’s shifting—it’s about writing our way through it.

Between the Sheets is not about shying away from those taboo topics.

Because without a plan, a path, a dash of feet-to-the-fire accountability—shit just doesn’t get written and that word-biz never gets off the ground.

So consider this a backwards way of giving you a plan—one rooted in real words, real creation, and a whole lot of messy magic.

The good, the bad, and the word-ugly here for you to glean from each Friday—at least for now.

Lean into what speaks to you, model what sends a shiver through you, and forget the rest.

Your journey will look different from mine—from anyone’s.

And the key is to enJOY it.

And know that I’m a disorganized mess of a writer with more than 30 million morning words no one has ever seen . . .

Plus, something like 22 books and 11 offer-ideas—all half done or 99% ready, yet still lounging unpublished in my digital drawers.

I’d say it’s better to focus, write or create one thing—and then actually share it before it’s fully ready.

I create to create—but the magic multiplies when I share.

Otherwise, I end up all over the damn place—forever creating . . . and not (or slowly) releasing.

For me, that’s the goal, the dream. To share more. With ease.

But I could also say—the grass is forever greener on someone else’s side, is it not?

And so neatly mowed, in organized back-and-forth straight—did they use a ruler?—lines.

I am so far from a straight-line creative it’s painful at times.

So my goal for the coming serialized share season is to rein my prolific creativity in a bit—and release more.

Not necessarily create less.

That would be like asking me not to breathe.

But to create with purpose.

Between the Sheets is actually my documented accountability—to you (and myself)—to get my words, in whatever form, out into the light to be enJOYed.

And to shine light on the path a bit so you can do the same—your way.

Just know—even the most successful are a wreck at the best of times.

And I certainly do not have it all together and will never pretend to. That would be both ridiculous and obscene.

So let’s go behind the scenes—all access, all revealed—with this very episode and see where it takes us.

I truly believe that the best way to create a word-business is through community.

And that’s what I’m feeling Between the Sheets may become.

Because as Austin Kleon shared in his 2014 book, Show Your Work, it’s all about the process—not just the product.

Meaning, if my-now-work is to finish that book The Journey of You, that book is the product.

But if I show you the process of finishing that book and doing that thing—openly, freely—I possibly gain you, and others, and create a following.

And that following—those fans I used to run from—now naturally and gracefully become part of my word-ecosystem.

We all get to play in my word-centered business playground together.

Doesn’t feel much like work now does it?

A community—showing one’s process, or creating a “tribe”—isn’t a new concept, but I love how Kleon visually and artistically brings it to life.

More of which I’ll dive into soon.

But honestly, that first of my JOY Series book is not currently on my must-do radar. At least not today.

Nope, instead I must put out a little fire.

“Fires” seem to happen often in my business and life—mostly because I tend to fly by the seat of my big-girl pants and chase fresh ideas, even when I’ve got seven half-done things waiting in the wings . . .

Or cluttering my desk, journals and kitchen island.

And my phone is cha-ching-ing—“You just made a sale!” messages.

A most welcome students-and-money-in notification I keep on intentionally—because this goat-Mama’s got a hay bill coming due . . . and the goats need a barn!

So I’m now off to check on the JOYful Journey deliverables.

Because while I’m desperately working toward simplification and structured ease, I’m also cleaning my work-house as I (re)build.

So by rebranding the challenge, one great offer that actually sold when I shared it. I created a laundry list of “must-dos”:

• a rewrite of the sales page,

• the welcome email,

• new checkout page (on a newer system to me, just because I’m a glutton for punishment)

• rebranding of all 33 emails, and lessons, and example story-shares

I could go on with the checklist but honestly, first, I should drop the word desperate because it totally sends the wrong energy!

Words matter, Lovely Reader, we of all people know this.

Right?

So now, at nearly 5pm Thursday, I’m off to confirm people are getting the welcome email and, the pre-start survey email (which gives me a lot of great information in my students words).

Then I’ll check that Monday’s Day 1 email is ready-set for an early automated send.

And then comes the big task—re-review, re-brand all Days 2-5 emails so they are ready to roll and I’m not playing catch up at the last moment during the week and draining my already—messy middle energy!

Plus, knowing myself, I’ll probably revamp a VIP offer and need to write a welcome email and sales page for that.

Because why not spin another plate higher and higher while already balancing two.

Who needs more hands when you’ve got JOY.

Oh, I have to love this creative brain of mine, otherwise I’d surely go mad.

So yes, I started this week wanting to write—and ended it juggling three new ideas, one offer launch, sharing this episodic adventure, and a goat chewing on my notebook.

That’s what the morning after looks like when you’re (re)building a creative business in real time, real life (while supporting a sanctuary of crazies!).

More soon, Lovely Reader.

For now, I’m calling it a day before another idea sneaks in and asks for attention.

Highly possible . . .

Just Jill “forever another the idea girl” Stevens

P.S. Remember, TGIF is now about getting word-close—Between the Sheets style—with me.

P.P.S. Share in the comments what part of your own “morning after” you’re in.

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And a peak at one of my rescues . . . Fe Fi Fo.

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If you felt that pull when I mentioned The JOYful Journey,
you can peek at it here.

No pressure—just a little creative nudge if you’ve been whispering “I just want to write,” too.

Or if you want to see how you can build, share, and sell without ever touching the bro-marketing playbook.

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Resources Mentioned:

• Pink, an story from my up-coming book—The Journey of You—also lives inside Magnetic Stories From Your Ordinary Life, along with the tale of Fe Fi Fo’s brother, Lucky B. Writing from your life can be magnetic when done well. Find out more about how to do that here.

• Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
  

And for those ready to binge-read, Episode 2—Partnering is waiting for you.

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If you want to be notified when new episodes go live each Friday, you can subscribe right here.

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Just so you know:
This is my slice of the web where hot flashes meet cold wine, neck waddles are real, and birthdays feel more like breakdowns. Step into my word-world as I (re)build my writing life in real time.