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Finding My Voice Again

The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing

Release Date: 05/19/2026

You Don't Have To Remember Everything To Write Your Story show art 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...

info_outline How To Start Writing Your Story When You Don't Know Where To Begin show art 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...

info_outline Sharing Your Story - Why Ordinary Stories Matter show art 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...

info_outline Book Publishing, Editing, and Protecting Your Voice show art 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...

info_outline Authentic Storytelling, Writing Confidence, and Finding Your Voice with Lesley George show art 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...

info_outline How To Read Your Book Like an Editor show art 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....

info_outline You Finished Your First Draft - Now What? show art 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...

info_outline What a Third-Grade Story Stand Taught Me About Writing, Editing, and Voice show art 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...

info_outline 8 Lessons in Writing, Editing, and Publishing show art 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...

info_outline Writing From The Heart: Faith, Family, And Finding Your Voice show art 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...

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Finding My Voice Again with Deborah Griffiths

 

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” — Maya Angelou

What happens when writing your story becomes part of your healing?

In this deeply honest and emotional episode of The Edit: Writing Your Book Without Losing Your Voice, Holly sits down with bestselling author, speaker, life transition coach, and podcast host Deborah Griffiths for a powerful conversation about trauma, healing, storytelling, and reclaiming your voice.

Deborah shares the story behind her book, Torched Burnt by a Gaslighter, and opens up about surviving years of narcissistic abuse, the emotional process of writing about trauma, and how storytelling ultimately became part of her healing journey.

Together, Holly and Deborah discuss:

  • Writing through pain and emotional trauma

  • Why keeping your authentic voice matters in memoir writing

  • The difference between surviving and healing

  • How editing can strengthen—not silence—a writer’s voice

  • The emotional challenges of revisiting difficult memories

  • Why sharing your story may help someone else find hope

  • The subtle warning signs of toxic and emotionally abusive relationships

  • The healing power of podcasting, coaching, and storytelling

This conversation is raw, compassionate, hopeful, and full of wisdom for anyone who has ever felt silenced, invisible, or afraid to share their story.

In This Episode

  • How Deborah knew it was finally time to write her story.

  • Why she chose to fictionalize the characters in her book.

  • The role editing played in helping her tell the story more honestly.

  • What surprised her during the writing process?

  • The emotional impact of hearing readers say, “That happened to me too.”

  • How trauma stays in the body—and the healing work she continues to do.

  • Why finding your voice again changes everything.

Mentioned in This Episode

Connect with Deborah Griffiths

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborahgriffiths7/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.griffiths.77

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brokentoboldness

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-griffiths/

Email Address: Deborah@brokentoboldness.com

 

Connect with Holly Totten

Website: writelynotable.com

If this episode resonated with you, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that their voice matters.

Because your story without your voice is only words.