The Edit That Changes Everything
The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing
Release Date: 05/12/2026
You Don't Have To Remember Everything To Write Your Story
The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing
Have you ever thought about writing your story and immediately stopped yourself because you don’t remember enough? Maybe you remember the big moments, but not the dates. Maybe entire years feel fuzzy. Maybe you remember what happened but can’t recall the exact conversation. Or maybe you’ve compared memories with a sibling and discovered the two of you remember the same event very differently. Here’s the good news: You don’t have to remember everything to write your story. In this episode of The Edit With Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing, I’m continuing my series inspired...
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How To Start Writing Your Story When You Don't Know Where To Begin
The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.” — Martin Luther King Jr. You know you have a story to tell. You may have carried it with you for years. You’ve thought about writing it. You may have even told pieces of it to friends or family. But then you sit down in front of a blank page…and nothing comes. In this episode of The Edit, I’m answering a question from listener Jackson, who asked how to begin writing his story when, no matter how hard he tries, he simply can’t seem to get anything onto the page. And Jackson is definitely not alone. Beginning...
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Sharing Your Story - Why Ordinary Stories Matter
The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing
"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." — Maya Angelou What if the most meaningful part of your vacation wasn't the destination... but the people you met? After returning from Cozumel, Mexico, Holly realized she wasn't thinking about the beaches, the restaurants, or the excursions. She was thinking about the people she met—and the stories they shared. A grandfather whose family grew out of unimaginable loss. A young man whose passion for his hometown reminded her that stories bridge cultures. A hardworking waitress whose quiet determination challenged every...
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Book Publishing, Editing, and Protecting Your Voice
The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing
"You are the actor or actress in your story... but it's not just for you." — Lesley George Last week, bestselling publisher and confidence coach Lesley George reminded us that every person has a story with power, a voice with purpose, and a message that can create movement. This week, we continue that conversation by exploring what happens after you decide to write. We talk about the publishing journey, the fears many writers carry into the editing process, and why the right publishing team should protect your voice—not replace it. One of the most powerful moments in this conversation...
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Authentic Storytelling, Writing Confidence, and Finding Your Voice with Lesley George
The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing
"Every person has a story with power, a voice with purpose, and a message that can create movement when it is used with courage and clarity." — Lesley George What gives us permission to tell our stories? For many writers, it isn't a lack of ideas that keeps them stuck—it's a lack of confidence. We question whether our stories matter, whether anyone will care, or whether we're qualified to write the book that's been on our hearts. In this first half of my conversation with bestselling publisher, confidence coach, and founder of Mosaic Publishing, Lesley George, we explore the connection...
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How To Read Your Book Like an Editor
The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing
"Easy reading is damn hard writing." — Nathaniel Hawthorne Finishing your first draft is a huge accomplishment—but it's not the finish line. It's the beginning of revision. In last week's episode, we celebrated typing The End. This week, we're opening that manuscript again and answering one of the biggest questions every writer eventually asks: "Where do I even start?" The answer may surprise you. Most writers immediately begin fixing grammar, rewriting sentences, and polishing paragraphs. But that's like choosing paint colors before you've decided whether the walls belong where they are....
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You Finished Your First Draft - Now What?
The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing
Finishing your first draft is one of the biggest accomplishments in a writer's journey. Yet for many writers, those two words—The End—don't bring relief. They bring uncertainty. Now what? Do you start editing immediately? Rewrite the first chapter? Send it to beta readers? Hire an editor? Or quietly close the document because you're afraid of what you'll find? In this episode of The Edit, Holly walks you through what should happen after your first draft is complete—and why the space between finishing your manuscript and beginning revisions may be one of the most valuable parts of the...
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What a Third-Grade Story Stand Taught Me About Writing, Editing, and Voice
The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing
What can two third-grade girls, a card table, and a stack of handwritten stories teach us about writing? More than you might think. In this episode of The Edit, Holly shares a childhood memory that helped shape her beliefs about storytelling, editing, and authentic voice long before she knew those words would become part of her career. Back in the 1970s, Holly and her best friend, Anne Marie, opened a "Story Stand" in their neighborhood. Instead of selling lemonade, they sold stories—fiction, nonfiction, poems, and even custom-written tales based on customer requests. Looking back, Holly...
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8 Lessons in Writing, Editing, and Publishing
The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing
In this special bonus episode of The Edit: Writing Your Book Without Losing Your Voice, Holly takes a step back from her conversation with author Hadley Kibbe to explore the writing, editing, and publishing lessons hidden within Hadley's story. While Hadley's books were inspired by ranch life, motherhood, faith, and her son, the lessons behind her writing journey apply to every writer—whether you're working on a children's book, memoir, devotional, business book, blog, or personal story. Holly breaks down eight powerful lessons that every writer can use to create more authentic, meaningful...
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Writing From The Heart: Faith, Family, And Finding Your Voice
The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing
What happens when a ranch-raised cowgirl, rodeo competitor, songwriter, photographer, wife, mother, and follower of Jesus decides to write books for her son? In this heartfelt conversation, Holly sits down with Hadley Ann Kibbe, a former student-turned-author whose life is deeply rooted in faith, family, and the Western way of life. Together, they explore the stories behind The Cow Kid Series, the lessons motherhood has taught her, and why perfection should never stand in the way of sharing your story. Hadley shares how her experiences growing up on a ranch, competing in rodeo, becoming a...
info_outlineThe Edit: Episode 1“The Edit That Changes Everything”
Holly starts this podcast season with a powerful quote by Joseph Kanon, "When you're editing, you want to be the perfect appreciator, not another writer." Holly tells us that this quote changed her perspective on editing and made her fall in love with helping others share their stories.
What happens when editing starts to erase the very thing that makes your story powerful?
In this very first episode of The Edit: Writing Your Book Without Losing Your Voice, Holly Totten shares why so many writers unintentionally polish the humanity right out of their work — and why keeping your authentic voice matters more now than ever.
This episode explores the difference between writing that is technically correct and writing that truly connects. Holly talks about the pressure many writers feel to sound more professional, more polished, or more impressive… and how that pressure can slowly pull us away from the truth we originally wanted to share.
You’ll also hear a deeply personal story about the loss of Holly’s mother and the experience of writing a memorial piece with her brother. What began as an honest tribute slowly turned into something over-edited, overworked, and emotionally disconnected — until they stepped back and remembered what really mattered.
This episode is a reminder that readers are not looking for perfection.
They’re looking for honesty.
For connection.
For something that feels real.
Because your story without your voice is only words.
In This Episode:
Why writers often lose their voice during editing
The difference between correctness and connection
Why readers connect more deeply to honesty than perfection
The danger of over-editing emotional or personal stories
Why storytelling matters in both books and business
How fear and self-doubt can flatten your writing
The personal story that inspired the heart behind The Edit
Memorable Quote:
“We can become so focused on the technical side of writing that we allow correctness to overshadow connection.”
About The Edit
The Edit: Writing Your Book Without Losing Your Voice is a podcast for writers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and business owners who want to tell meaningful stories without sounding like everyone else. Through storytelling, writing insight, and honest conversations, Holly explores how to write with clarity while still sounding fully like yourself.
If this episode resonated with you, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s writing something important right now.
And until next time…
Keep your voice in the story.
And remember...Your story without your voice is only words.