Teaching Yourself to Learn

About Teaching Yourself to Learn

Your story deserves to be told in your voice, not someone else's. The Edit is the podcast for writers, entrepreneurs, memoirists, and business owners who want to write a book that sounds unmistakably like them. Hosted by nonfiction editor and writing coach Holly Totten, this show explores the space between first draft and final version—the messy, magical middle where clarity, confidence, and authentic storytelling are shaped. If you have ever worried that working with an editor or following conventional writing advice will strip away your personality, flatten your tone, or turn your unique perspective into something forgettable and generic, you have come to the right place. Holly believes that editing is not about making you sound like everyone else. It is about helping you sound more like you, only clearer, tighter, and more powerful. This podcast is not a grammar lecture. It is not a list of rigid rules or a formula for writing what sells. Instead, each episode blends practical, actionable guidance with honest, unscripted conversations about the real struggles writers face: overwhelm, self-doubt, messy drafts, imposter syndrome, and the fear of putting your work out into the world. You will hear from fellow writers navigating the same challenges, and you will leave with tools you can use immediately. Holly brings years of experience as a nonfiction editor and writing coach, but she does not pretend to have all the answers. What she offers is a philosophy: your voice is not a problem to be fixed. It is the entire point. Editing should uncover what is already brilliant, not sand it down until nothing recognizable remains. Across every episode, The Edit covers topics that matter to real writers, including: How to self-edit without deleting your voice or second-guessing every sentence. The difference between developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading—and which ones you actually need. Memoir writing prompts that actually uncover your story instead of forcing you into someone else's template. Self-publishing versus traditional publishing: how to choose what is right for your book and your goals. Working with an editor as a creative partner and collaborator, not a critic or gatekeeper. Overcoming perfectionism, finishing your messy first draft, and learning to trust your instincts. Protecting vulnerable, honest moments in your writing from the "Should Monster" that tells you to play it safe. Practical strategies for line-level polishing that sharpen your prose without losing your rhythm. How to record yourself reading your work aloud as a voice check—and why that single habit transforms everything. Whether you are writing a memoir about a difficult season of life, a nonfiction business book to grow your authority, a self-published guide to share your hard-won expertise, or simply gathering notes and ideas for a future project, The Edit meets you exactly where you are. Messy first draft? Half-finished chapter? A notebook full of scribbled ideas and no clear path forward? You belong here. This podcast is for anyone who has ever finished an editing session and thought, "That doesn't even sound like me anymore." It is for writers who refuse to sound like a LinkedIn post, a textbook, or a bland bestseller clone. It is for the entrepreneur who knows they have a book inside them but is terrified of losing their authentic voice along the way. Because here is the truth Holly wants you to remember: your story without your voice is only words. But your story with your voice? That is something the world desperately needs. New episodes typically release weekly. Subscribe now and stop writing like someone else. Start writing like you.

Publisher

Holly Totten: Books Editing Expert

Category

arts · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Aug 2021

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

24 of 119 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   How To Turn Your Stories Into A Book

   Holly Totten, author and writing coach, guides listeners through transforming scattered stories into a cohesive book structure, offering a practical roadmap for writers.

2. 

   30 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   How To Decide What Belongs In Your Book (and What Doesn't)

   Holly Totten, author and editor, guides writers in discerning which stories and details truly serve their book, offering practical strategies for impactful narrative selection.

3. 

   4 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Why Should I Tell My Story? 7 Reasons Your Story Matters

   Host Holly Totten explores seven powerful reasons why sharing your personal story can profoundly impact others and preserve your legacy.

Inside a recent episode

How To Turn Your Stories Into A Book

Published 7 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Your working map is supposed to help you write your book, not become another project that keeps you from writing it. Once you've got a general idea of where you're going, choose the next story that you want to write and write it. You don't have to start at the beginning. You don't even have to write your stories in order. If you have a story that's been on your mind and you know exactly what you want to say, begin there. You can figure out where it belongs later. And if you discover something new about your story while you're writing, you have my permission to change your plan. In fact, I expect you to change your plan at least once. […]

Who has been a guest on Teaching Yourself to Learn

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Lesley George
• Hadley Ann Kibbe
• Deborah Griffiths

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

38 ratings

Contact Teaching Yourself to Learn

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Teaching Yourself to Learn