I'm not usually shy about using swear words, but there are a few more than usual in this episode.

Sorry, not sorry.

I have a lot to admit here on my first solo episode of The Beautiful Writers' Podcast about dashed book dreams and lessons learned.

Three of my titles summoned me in the middle of the night late last summer, and it's taken

me this long to process what I learned. It all started when I couldn't sleep that night and

wandered across the hall from our

bedroom into my office to find myself face to face with my floor to ceiling bookshelves.

That's where, in the dead of night, my books told me to get real with myself and with you.

A good mama doesn't protect her people only by focusing on the positive,

so perhaps facing the ugly parts helps us access our magic. Let me ask, do you have a dramatic,

addictive, up and down, hot and cold, or otherwise fraught relationship with your creativity?

You love your writing, you love your writing,

you hate your writing, or you're completely enthralled by your writing practice. Even as loved

ones worry, you don't have the time or resources for this hobby. Or maybe you're surrounded by

true believers, but your bustling schedule keeps fucking with your flow,

and you don't know how you're ever going to get her done with time flying and the world in chaos.

But writing and pursuing it is often the only thing that makes you feel sane, am I right?

Even if the day-to-day of it threatens to break your heart. Is it worth it? Will it work out? How long until I know for sure?

Sometimes you're willing to risk it all until it looks like you might actually have to. If this hits home, I created this episode for you.

I'm Linda Sievertson, and I'm so glad you're here. Welcome.

Lessons learned. Putting these thoughts together for you has felt a lot like writing an entire

book. I think that's why it took me so long

...