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The Soul and Science of Great Writing with Mara Eller
What makes writing great? Is it the spark of inspiration, unique voice, and intangible soul that breathes life into the words? Or is it the careful structure, repeatable strategies, and attention to detail that shape an idea into something readers can’t put down?
In truth, it’s both. The Soul and Science of Great Writing brings creativity and craft together, both dissecting and reveling in the power of language.
Hosted by Mara Eller, a professional editor, book coach, and writing teacher with over 16 years of experience, this podcast explores the qualities that set great writing apart, the challenges every writer faces, and the habits, strategies, and mindsets that help writers grow their creative craft.
With a blend of solo deep-dives and conversations with authors, editors, and publishing professionals, each episode offers both inspiration and practical tools to support your writing life—plus the occasional dip into literary and pop culture analysis to spark fresh insight.
Whether you’re a writer honing your craft or a language lover seeking inspiration, you’re in the right place!
Episodes
18 episodes
Small Enough to Matter: Pitching, Persistence, and the Professional Writing Life with NYT Freelancer Ericka Andersen (Ep. 17)
Being a successful freelance writer is less glamorous than people imagine, but more attainable than you might think.In this episode, I’m joined by Ericka Andersen—author of three traditionally published books with bylines in The New ...
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Unlock Your Writing Superpower Using the Enneagram with Christa Hardin (Ep. 16)
What if the key to releasing your best writing isn’t more discipline, time, or expertise—but deeper self-understanding?In this episode, I sit down with Christa Hardin—author, marriage coach, and Enneagram expert—to explore how the Enneag...
Why Plotting Beats Pantsing: How to Actually Finish Your Novel with Indie Author J.A. Merkel (Ep. 15)
How do you build a successful career as a self-published fiction author?For our first (but not last) episode on fiction, I’m joined by J.A. Merkel, a sci-fi/fantasy author with two series underway, one with a whopping 27 books planned.&n...
What Professional Writers Actually Prioritize: The 5 Essentials for Powerful Nonfiction (Ep. 14)
You're putting in the work—rereading sentences, second-guessing word choices, trying to get it just right. But each fix creates new problems, and something always feels . . . off.It's not a lack of effort or talent. You just don't know w...
What Great Writers Understand About Sales with Steph Crowder, Business Coach (Ep. 13)
You poured your heart into your piece, found the courage to share it, and now . . . crickets. What gives?In this episode, I’m joined by my business coach, Steph Crowder, to unpack a truth many writers resist: if you want readers, you hav...
I Met the Woman I Always Wanted to Be, and She Was Me: On Living—and Writing—as Our Truest Selves (Ep. 12)
What if the person you’ve always wanted to be… is already inside you?In this episode, I share a personal essay (a mini-memoir) about a weekend in New York City that changed how I see myself—and how we become who we’re meant to be....
How to Turn an Ordinary Life into an Unforgettable Memoir with Acquisitions Editor Ariel Curry (Ep. 11)
Most people think great memoirs begin with a great story: something dramatic or unusual that happens to the author.In reality, the difference between a mediocre memoir and an unforgettable one has almost nothing to do with what happened....
Finish Your Life-Changing Memoir: a 3-Step System to Cut Through Confusion and Write a Memoir Readers Can’t Put Down (Ep. 10)
Why do so many writers fall off track when writing their memoir? It’s rarely a lack of passion. It’s usually a cloud of confusion. Somewhere in the "messy middle," the lights go out. You get pulled in 17 different direct...
How to Write Your Hard Story: the Alchemy of Memoir with Lisa Cooper Ellison, Trauma-Informed Writing Coach (Ep. 9)
What if the most powerful memoirs come not from telling your story—but transforming it?In this episode, I’m joined by trauma-informed writing coach Lisa Cooper Ellison for a powerful conversation about the alchemy of memoir—the pr...
Rewrite Your Life: 7 Reasons to Write a Memoir Even if You Never Publish a Word (Ep. 8)
Should I still write a memoir if I don’t think I want to publish it?My answer is a resounding “yes!” And I have 7 reasons why you should, regardless of whether you ever want to share a word with another living soul (plus a bonus...
Becoming the Hero of Your Memoir with Megan Young (Ep. 7)
“You can't hide from your own calling.”Megan always knew she would write a book — someday.But when she finally committed to writing a memoir, she found herself wandering in “no-man’s land” — pages of stories, no through lin...
From Meandering to Magnetic: 5 Memoir Mistakes and How to Avoid Them (Ep. 6)
You’ve found the courage to write your memoir, and you’re pouring your heart onto the page. But it’s not landing the way you hoped. Something feels . . . off. Flat. And each page of progress feels like pulling teeth.It’s not because your...
The Real Reason You Haven’t Written Your Memoir Yet: the "6 Veils of Resistance" and How to Move Past Them (Ep. 5)
You feel called to share your story. Yet the moment you sit down to write, you find yourself suddenly possessed by the need to deep-clean your baseboards. It’s maddening. (Ask me how I know.)But here’s the secret: procrastination is just...
The Architecture of Memoir with Ariel Curry, Acquisitions Editor at Sourcebooks (Ep. 4)
What makes for a truly great memoir?In this episode, we sit down with Ariel, co-author of Hungry Authors and a veteran editor specializing in nonfiction. While many writers approach their life stories with pure "soul," Ariel arg...
The Science of Great Writing (Ep. 3)
Do you ever feel like your writing is a muffled version of the brilliant ideas in your head? This week, we’re demystifying the science of writing—the rules, techniques, and structures that bridge the gap between raw creativity and p...
The Soul of Great Writing (Ep. 2)
What makes some writing feel alive? And how can we bring that quality into our own work?In this episode, I explore the “soul” of great writing, both descriptively—what that looks like on the page—and prescriptively—what writers ...