<?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"><channel><title><![CDATA[DestanyStevens.com]]></title><description><![CDATA[Empathy-Driven Writing with Precision]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:25:37 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.destanystevens.com/fr/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Reclaim it. Redefine it. Own it.]]></title><description><![CDATA[My writing exists across different spaces—from children's literature to more confrontational, adult themes. This is one of those pieces. Read it fully—sit with it. —Destany]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/reclaim-it-redefine-it-own-it</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d426f4d36a85c300c1869b</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:26:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1981fb_b475228181324152af34fdec765765c2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What is the price you are willing to pay to ensure your writing is enjoyed by its audience?]]></title><description><![CDATA[A pair of hands gently holds an open book, inviting a moment of quiet reflection and contemplation. I think about this every time I start a new project—and especially as I near the end of one. This time, it’s the latter. As I begin to wrap up my poetry manuscript,  Perfect Reflection , I find myself stuck. What is my budget? What is it worth? The answer, honestly, depends on you and your project. I’ll be completely transparent. As an author, I edit most of my own work. That’s just how it is....]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/what-is-the-price-you-are-willing-to-pay-to-ensure-your-writing-is-enjoyed-by-its-audience</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d9db5175afb0779a70f40c</guid><pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:30:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_73e3bec52008456cbd9dd26fc23bc26a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Main Street, Muted]]></title><description><![CDATA[Grey sky, grey shutters, grey cottages, and grey houses. Grey bells, grey grass, and grey branches.   Grey trees around the park, surrounded by grey people on a grey day. A poem by Destany Stevens A rustic park bench sits by a tree, adorned with a purple bag, a can of lemonade, and a journal with a pen, set against the backdrop of quaint buildings in a peaceful park.]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/main-street-muted</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69cf14d7f7044e6cf7a9e834</guid><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:18:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1981fb_823162b509654350b0ebc5fad0de6f1f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Quiet Reflection on the Presence of Mortality]]></title><description><![CDATA[An untitled poem Memory is but a wisp within the misty tendrils of destiny. I am ever bound to the curse of the mind. Death. She calls me with her all-consuming embrace. She is always distant yet never far. Some days I yearn for her visit. Like a lost friend I welcome her with open arms. — Destany Stevens]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/a-quiet-reflection-on-the-presence-of-mortality</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ca90ac595b1ffbde1e0d99</guid><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:14:35 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Light Through the Cracks]]></title><description><![CDATA[A snow-covered pine, standing quietly beneath the weight. Photograph by Destany Stevens. My favorite video game is Kingdom Hearts. The storyline, the meaning behind it, the art, the characters, everything. But the quotes are what hit the most. “I’ve been having these weird thoughts lately, like, is any of this for real or not?” —Sora, Opening of Kingdom Hearts I have never felt so close to a game as I have these past few weeks. From navigating my mental health and facing a potential mood...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/light-through-the-cracks</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c306bc149f4fed565015c1</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 23:09:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1981fb_6abf60c3d9a8421ab9b04b516d483a24~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Silence Between the Poems]]></title><description><![CDATA[Some of the silent moments that exist between the poems. Lately, I've been juggling a lot with work, my physical and mental health, and various projects.  Amid the stress of doctor’s appointments, therapist visits, and managing daily tasks, I discovered something unexpected. As cliché as it might sound, I found a semblance of silence through writing poetry. Over the last few months, I have been pouring my frustrations and various emotions out onto my laptop. Struggling with emotions can be...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/silence-between-the-poems</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69aaf26325665a6e35cdf52c</guid><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:57:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1981fb_3587d8a4faf44c1bac1b00d5f140467b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[In the Making: Building My First Poetry Collection]]></title><description><![CDATA[As my writing career has evolved, I’ve become more intentional about expanding my creative range. Like an artist working in new mediums, I’m drawn to the spaces that both challenge and sustain me. Poetry has become one of them. It can be dramatic, but it can also be restrained, abstract, or deeply embodied. Lately, I’ve been reading collections by writers I admire, studying the ways reflection and vulnerability shape their work. The pieces that linger most are often the quietest. Poetry...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/in-the-making-building-my-first-poetry-collection</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a58fd32b1318a248523d9f</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 13:33:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1981fb_def4b8a7ef2942adbbd8f569af4132cd~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Learning to Breathe Under It]]></title><description><![CDATA[# A Personal Reflection on Living with Depression: Maintenance and Learning to Stay Afloat Content note: This post discusses depression and suicide statistics. Understanding Depression Depression is a weighted blanket that’s just a little too heavy to push off. It feels like being trapped underwater, with wave after wave crashing down on you while you try to hold onto the last ounce of breath. This feeling can leave you stuck, unable to ever fully escape. In the article “Depression,”...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/learning-to-breathe-under-it</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698cc480e46957565bf2547f</guid><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:10:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8008e3f52faf434dafbf1286d6112d13.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Snow, Laughter, and Laundry Basket Sleds]]></title><description><![CDATA[For residents used to mild winters, a snowstorm like this turns an ordinary morning into a neighborhood event. Cooper and Callie take in falling snow from a bench in Greer, bundled in matching winter vests as a rare southern snowfall blankets the area. Photo courtesy of Justin Spence. This morning, locals in Greer, South Carolina, woke up to snow-covered yards and an unexpected urge to play in the snow. Families around the area found creative ways to enjoy the snow. At an apartment complex...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/snow-laughter-and-laundry-basket-sleds</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697e89d8afd4a3da35103ec3</guid><pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 23:28:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1981fb_daaf8a545615407eb88d63392b04dd0a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Rhetoric, Accountability, and the Use of Force Intersect from Maine to Minnesota]]></title><description><![CDATA[As a Maine resident, my stance on the current administration has only strengthened. There is a constitutional need to uphold the law while holding the Department of Homeland Security and President Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents accountable for actions that raise serious constitutional concerns. Support for Accountability I stand with Maine Gov. Janet Mills in support of expelling ICE from the state. State leaders’ responses to ICE activity and statements made...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/when-enforcement-language-becomes-a-constitutional-question</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69770dc06b7a080e43d5702b</guid><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 06:55:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_dda237f9616c4922b45eec09cb82dbf7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Writing in the Cracks of Time: A Realistic Writing Routine for Busy Moms]]></title><description><![CDATA[My writing routine isn’t aesthetic. It’s about survival. Most days, I’m either writing before the sun comes up or after the house finally goes quiet. Even then, half the time I feel like I’ve done a lot of trying and not much actual finishing. Working full-time from home with a toddler isn’t exactly optimal for an aspiring writer. However, it is my reality, and here is what I do to try to stay on track. For me, writing happens during cracks of time. I don’t necessarily have the luxury of...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/writing-in-the-cracks-of-time-a-realistic-writing-routine-for-busy-moms</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696f9a402dece73ea7b04140</guid><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:22:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1981fb_0d7c06aa5e5541c4923cdf045d328d1f~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Writing with Agency]]></title><description><![CDATA[Yesterday I learned that sometimes agency looks like changing a phone number. As most of you know, over the last few months, I have been working to really take control of my career, including reaching out to complete strangers in my field to ask if they would be willing to sit down and chat about their careers. I wanted to know what it was like in and outside the organization we work for. It started with a single email. To provide context, I work for a financial institution and have been on...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/writing-with-agency</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696b1bf63e23fce293748cac</guid><pubDate>Sat, 17 Jan 2026 13:30:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_5e28448448c145a5baaac9767026cdd3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Finding Success Through Change]]></title><description><![CDATA[I had a networking meeting yesterday, and I was reminded of something. Success comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and in my case, fonts. Since I started building my writing portfolio, I have been networking with individuals in the writing field. One thing they all have in common is that they didn’t quit writing; they just pivoted how they worked. Most work in communications now—still writing, just not where they expected. Their writing goals didn’t disappear; they transformed. In one...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/finding-success-through-change</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696929de482610fa288dca96</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:06:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8be10bae4e584a848adacd901c831094.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Place at the Breakfast Table]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Oh, I used to get called all kinds of names. Burnt Toast. Crispy Bacon—Kids can be mean, and so can adults.” That’s what my mom said during a conversation we had about her burns. I was curious to hear her story. I knew bits and pieces, but not much else. To be honest, I still don’t. When my mom was a baby, the apartment she lived in caught fire because an unattended candle was left burning. After a stranger on the street rescued my mom from the burning building, she spent a lot of time in...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/a-place-at-the-breakfast-table</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69652b22e6e689b3de4bb574</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:21:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_2cb17edef7c74cbabbe7b4e2121a7124~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Embracing the Journey of Writing: A Personal Reflection]]></title><description><![CDATA[Finding My Voice in the World of Words When I write, I sometimes discover a magical space where everything else fades away. My fingers dance across the keys, creating a symphony of thoughts and ideas. These moments often come late at night, when the world is quiet, or during my daughter's peaceful naps. In those serene moments, I can breathe life back into my mind, body, and spirit. Yet, when I emerge from this creative fog, I often find myself staring at my work in disbelief. Did I really...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/flow-state</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6962ee71768b848d27111f54</guid><pubDate>Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:48:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_a871571ffec94cf19b9e4b4abf937ea2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Comfy Sweater]]></title><description><![CDATA[I've been networking a lot recently, and I've noticed that you won’t be successful unless you put yourself out there, which has probably been the most rewarding part of it all.   I've had a few connection meetings, ranging from head copywriters to heads of content. One thing that has been unanimous across all meetings is that I was overdressed. As funny as it sounds, it is true. Most of my meetings have been online via Teams, and each head I have spoken to has been dressed the same way I am...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/a-comfy-sweater</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69610bfa448b5a633f0ddf84</guid><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:13:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_6f59e986d9f643fdbcddc0e151fea144~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Growing into My Voice]]></title><description><![CDATA[I haven’t always excelled at writing. Growing up, I struggled with reading and comprehension due to dyslexia. Writing wasn’t always so manageable; however, with determination and the guidance of a few outstanding educators, it became something that now brings me joy. It isn’t exactly all I enjoy doing, but it is the one thing that makes me feel extant. My favorite teacher, Mr. Ginorio, once told me that I had a skill, not a unique one, but a necessary one: effective communication. He saw...]]></description><link>https://www.destanystevens.com/post/growing-into-my-voice</link><guid isPermaLink="false">695b559bfd6b4081212f66ba</guid><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 07:20:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/eff7b50d50dc475388e9601224999072.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>DestanyStevens</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>