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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
31 episodes
Verb Your Enthusiasm: The Single Most Powerful Way to Improve Your Writing with Pulitzer Prize Winner Sarah L. Kaufman (Ep. 30)
I've long said that verbs are the beating heart of great writing, but this book pushed my love of verbs into an obsession.Today I’m joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning dance critic Sarah L. Kaufman to discuss her newest book, Verb Your ...
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Stop Trying to Write a Great Novel: How Hayley Milliman Finished Her First Draft in Only 30 Days (Ep.29)
Sometimes the fastest way toward a better book is to let yourself write a bad one.In this episode, I’m joined by Hayley Milliman—author, editor, and Director of Community at ProWritingAid, one of the world’s largest communities for creat...
Bad Bunny as Poetry: Reading the Sacred in the "Secular" with Mariana Herrera Mosli (Ep. 28)
Bad Bunny's music is danceable, provocative, and sometimes vulgar, but it’s also full of beauty and truth—if you’ll take the time to look closer.Originally recorded for Mariana Herrera Mosli’s Meet at the Well, this episode disc...
Reps Over Research: Building Your Author Platform with Ann Kroeker, Part 2 (Ep. 27)
This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Listen to Episode 26 for Part 1.You know it’s time to start building your author platform. But where do you begin? What if you’re not even sure who you’re writing for or what you’re wri...
Start Helping Them Now: Building Your Author Platform with Ann Kroeker, Part 1 (Ep. 26)
If the word “platform” makes you want to crawl under your desk—or give up on publication altogether—you’re not alone. But at its core, building a platform isn't about becoming an influencer, chasing followers, or jumping through hoo...
AI Is Making Your Writing Worse: The Line Between Assistance and Authorship with Kelly Notaras (Ep. 25)
AI can save us time, sharpen our ideas, and tighten our writing. But when does it shift from a helpful tool to a crutch that makes your writing less effective and less yours?In this episode, I'm joined by Kelly Notaras, editor, writer, a...
The Story She Didn’t Want to Write with Debut Memoirist Kara Kavensky (Ep. 24)
It took journalist Kara Kavensky nearly a decade to write her debut memoir. With over 1000 articles under her belt, she knew how to turn life into a story. She had the skill, the experience, and a killer hook. What she didn’t have w...
Get Out of Your Own Way: Psychological Insights for Writers with Melody Wilding (Ep. 23)
You’re smart, motivated, and hard-working. So why does your mind become your own worst enemy the minute you sit down to write?In this episode, I sit down with professor of human behavior, executive coach, licensed therapist, and b...
The Only Way to Know Is to Start with Author and Creative Coach Merideth Hite Estevez (Ep. 22)
What really happens between a book idea and a finished manuscript? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Meredith Hite Estevez—a Juilliard-trained oboist, writer, creative coach, and one of my favorite people to talk shop with—...
Unapologetic: What a Writing Retreat Taught Me about Resistance, Shame, and Creative Courage (Ep. 21)
Every writer knows this moment: you finally sit down to create, and instead of inspiration, you feel panic. Your ideas suddenly seem infantile. Your words feel trite, stilted, and utterly forgettable. And the thought creeps in: Maybe I’m no...
TBR: 12 Books to Keep You Hooked, Make You Think, and Improve Your Writing (Ep. 20)
As writers, reading is one of the most important ways we learn our craft. Whether we're reading with a pen in hand or listening on audio while folding laundry, every book we consume is shaping the writer we're becoming.In this episode, I...
The 3 Kinds of Editing Your Book Needs: Part 2 of Your 4-Step Roadmap to Writing a Great Book (Ep. 19)
The difference between a mediocre book and a compelling one is something most readers struggle to name but instinctively feel. It comes down to careful, often painstaking refinement—multiple rounds of clarifying, restructuring, and ...
The Foundation Great Writers Never Skip: Part 1 of Your 4-Step Roadmap to Writing a Great Book (Ep. 18)
If you’re dreaming about writing a book—or struggling in the thick of it—you might be wondering exactly what that process will look like and what kind of support will help you cross the finish line.Whether you end up self-publishing or g...
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 ...
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...