The Edit: Writing Your Book Without Losing Your Voice

What if something as simple as a missing last name could tell the story of a lifetime? When Tina Eliana received a Bible for Christmas in 1985, her mother had chosen to engrave only her first and middle names on the cover. At the time, it seemed like a small decision. But for a little girl who had grown up without knowing her biological father, that blank space came to represent something much big...

Some dates stay with us forever. For me, that date is November 11, 2011—11-11-11. That was the day I heard three words that changed my life: "You have cancer." In this deeply personal episode, I'm introducing The Story Stand , a new Thursday feature on The Edit With Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing , where I'll share real stories about real life—some mine, some from others. Stories that m...

Have you ever said something your entire life, only to discover you've been saying it wrong? Maybe you've been taking things "for granite," nipping problems "in the butt," or wondering what happened to Chester's drawers! In Episode 23 of The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing , we're having a little fun with the English language, commonly misused phrases, and those song lyrics we'...

What happens when you know what you want to do with your life, but the road to getting there looks nothing like you imagined? In this episode of The Edit With Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing , I'm joined by my friend, author, and celebrity interviewer Adam Rothenberg, founder of Call Me Adam. Adam has spent 17 years interviewing celebrities from film, television, theater, and music, cond...

You have the stories. You've started getting them on the page. You've thought about what your story is really about, why it matters, and which pieces actually belong. Now what? In this final episode of my series on getting started writing your story, we're bringing everything together and talking about how those individual memories, experiences, and ideas can begin taking shape as a book. I'll wal...

How do you decide which stories belong in your book—and which ones don't? When you're writing your own story, everything can start to feel important. The people. The memories. The conversations. The backstory. But your life is bigger than your book, and not every meaningful memory belongs in the story you're telling. In this episode of The Edit With Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing, Holly...

Why should you tell your story? Not how do you write it. Not where do you begin. But why does your story need to be told in the first place? After three different listeners asked me essentially that same question, I decided it was worth interrupting our current series on writing your story to answer it. Because before you worry about the blank page, remembering every detail, or figuring out how to...

"I write to discover what I know." — Flannery O'Connor You may know what happened in your life—but do you know what your story is really about ? Those aren't always the same thing. A divorce may be what happened, but the story might really be about starting over. Building a business may be what happened, but the story might be about learning to trust yourself. Losing someone you love may be what h...

If you want to write your story but keep getting stuck on one question— Where do I start? —this episode is for you. One of the biggest misconceptions about writing a personal story, memoir, or nonfiction book is that you have to begin at the chronological beginning. Your childhood. Your family history. The first thing that happened. But the place where you begin writing your story and the place wh...

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...

"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...

"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 who...

"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 jo...

"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 th...

"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...

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 wa...

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, ope...

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'...

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...

Have you ever sat down to write and spent more time deleting words than actually putting them on the page? You're not alone. In this episode of The Edit , Holly explores one of the most common habits that keeps writers stuck: editing while they write. While it may feel productive, constantly revising, rewriting, and second-guessing every sentence can quietly prevent a story from ever being told. H...

Have you ever sat down to write and found yourself wondering if you're actually a writer at all? In this episode of The Edit, Holly tackles a question that stops countless writers before they ever finish a manuscript: Am I having trouble writing—or am I dealing with impostor syndrome? While writing challenges and impostor syndrome can feel similar, they're actually very different obstacles. One is...

In this episode of The Edit: Writing Your Book Without Losing Your Voice , Holly explores one of the biggest mistakes nonfiction writers make: trying to write for everyone. What starts as a desire to reach more people often leads to writing that feels watered down, overly polished, and disconnected from the heart of the message. Holly shares a real conversation with a writer whose manuscript was t...

Bonus Episode: What Writing a Hard Story Really Teaches You What happens after you finally decide to tell your story? In this bonus episode, Holly takes a deeper look at the writing and editing side of storytelling, inspired by her recent conversation with an author and coach. But this episode isn't about the details of one person's story. It's about what so many writers experience emotionally whe...