 For In the Zone , Spears worked with hit producers such as Bloodshy & Avant , R. Kelly , Diddy , Christopher Stewart , Moby , Guy Sigsworth and The Matrix . She first started writing songs for In the Zone during the Dream Within a Dream Tour . Spears commented about writing while touring , " The only thing that was scary to me is that I didn ’ t know if they were good . [ But ] You can ’ t trust anybody . You have to go with your feelings . " Spears commented that she was an autobiographical songwriter , although not to the point she felt self @-@ exploited . Following the end of the tour , Spears invited her friend and backing vocalist Annet Artani to her home in Los Angeles . They started writing songs at the piano , and shortly after , they traveled to Lake Como in Lombardy , Italy . Among the tracks they worked on was " Everytime " , which Artani confirmed to be written as a response to Justin Timberlake 's " Cry Me a River " , as well as " Shine " , written by Spears about her sister Jamie Lynn , which was left unfinished . Earnest recording of the album began in May 2003 . Spears commented that although she did not know initially what direction she wanted to go with the album , she took time to work with different producers and to find those who she had chemistry with . The first song recorded for In the Zone was " Touch of My Hand " , and Spears said it " really did provide a balance for the rest of the record . We just went from there . " Following the recording sessions for " Everytime " , Spears complimented Sigsworth , saying , " I just basically told him exactly how I wanted the song to sound . And he was so amazing because there 's a lot of producers you tell them things and they don 't get it . And you 're like oh , that 's not the right way . He got it just right . He was amazing . " 
