How To Start Writing Your Story When You Don't Know Where To Begin
The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing
Release Date: 08/05/2026
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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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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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_outline“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 can feel overwhelming because we often sit down to write one story while expecting ourselves to figure out the entire book at the same time.
Where should it begin?
What should I include?
What does it all mean?
Will I remember everything correctly?
What will other people think?
And how do I make any of this sound like an actual book?
That’s a lot to ask of yourself before you’ve written a single sentence.
So today, we’re making the process much smaller.
Because you don’t need to see the entire staircase.
You just need to take the first step.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
- Why struggling to begin does not mean you don’t have a story worth telling
- Why the beginning of your book doesn’t have to be the beginning of your writing process
- How to choose one vivid moment instead of trying to write your entire life story
- Why telling your story out loud may help you find the words you can’t seem to write
- How writing to one person can help your natural voice come through
- Why a simple list of memories can become the bones of your story
- Questions you can use to open up memories when “write your story” feels too overwhelming
- Why you need permission to write a messy, imperfect first version
- The importance of separating writing from editing
- How short, focused writing sessions can make a big project feel manageable
- Why you don’t have to understand what your story means before you begin writing it
- What to do when fear—not lack of ideas—is keeping you from the page
- Why writing your story and publishing your story are two separate decisions
- How to handle memories when you aren’t certain about every detail
A Simple Exercise to Help You Begin
After listening to this episode, open a notebook, blank document, or the notes app on your phone and write:
“The moment I keep coming back to is…”
Finish that sentence.
Then set a timer for ten minutes and stay inside that one memory.
Where were you?
Who was there?
What could you see or hear?
What was said?
What did you know then?
What do you understand now?
Don’t try to explain your whole life. Don’t worry about whether this belongs in Chapter One. And definitely don’t stop to edit it.
Just write the moment.
When your ten minutes are over, find one sentence or phrase that feels alive to you. That may be the thread that leads you into your next writing session.
10 Sentence Starters for the Blank Page
If you still aren’t sure how to begin, try one of these:
- I’ve told this story many times, but I’ve never written it down.
- The part I remember most clearly is…
- Everything changed the day…
- At the time, I did not understand…
- I knew something was wrong when…
- For years, I believed…
- There’s one conversation I’ve never forgotten.
- I wish I could go back and tell myself…
- People often assume…but the truth is…
- This is not the whole story, but it’s where I need to begin.
Choose one.
Finish the sentence.
Then write the next one.
That’s how stories begin—not with the entire path mapped out or with complete confidence, but with one honest sentence followed by another.
And to Jackson, thank you for asking the question. Your question is one I know many writers need answered.
You don’t have to know the whole book.
You don’t have to write it in order.
You don’t have to sound polished.
You just have to give yourself permission to begin.
One memory. One scene. One sentence at a time.
You can reach Holly at:
writelynotable@gmail.com
or
https://www.writelynotable.com
If this episode helped you, please consider rating, reviewing, or sharing the podcast with someone who has a story they’ve been trying to tell.
And if you have a writing, editing, or storytelling question you’d like me to answer on a future episode, reach out. Your question might be exactly what another writer needs to hear.
Remember: Your story without your voice is only words.