In this episode, you'll hear some adult language.

So if you've got little ones around, grab your headphones now.

I bet it's no surprise to you that over 80% of the population wants to write a book,

but did you know that 97% of people who start writing their books never finish them?

And what's more, 95% of people who pitch books to agents and editors get turned down.

My guest today is going to help all of us beat those odds.

Linda Severson is an award-winning author, a New York Times best-selling co-author, former

Ghostwriter and a magazine editor who midwives books.

She's been featured on Forbes.com, Teen Vogue, CNN Glamour, and much more.

Linda's the host of the Beautiful Writers' Podcast and her latest book with the same name,

a journey of big dreams and messy manuscripts, with tricks of the trade from best-selling authors.

Linda, oh my goodness, you are the woman that we need to hear from, and I am so excited

for this conversation.

I mean, first of all, I am obsessed with books, like it's the thing that I own the most

of in my life, and books have just changed my life on so many levels and continue to.

And you know, I was opening up with these incredible stats that, for many people, can feel

quite depressing.

And you are the human that can help us to kind of demystify and also give us some tactics.

So I want to start with something that I've heard a ton in my own career when people

show up on my doorstep, and I would assume it's the same thing for books.

This idea that it's already been done before, like, oh my gosh, I have an idea for a book

about divorce or food or business or spiritual, whatever the topic might be, yet people

...