The Soul and Science of Great Writing with Mara Eller

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—to chat about the creative process behind her new book, Art Is How God Loves Us: The Sacred Beauty of Created Things . We explore how years of musical training shaped...

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 not actually a writer . In this deeply personal episode, I’m sharing a lyric essay I wrote a while back about a solo writing retreat in the Berkshire Mountains—on...

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'm sharing 12 of my favorite books I’ve read in the past year, both fiction and nonfiction. Some were masterclasses in craft. Others offered the pe...

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 fine-tuning until your meaning is expressed with maximum precision and elegance. In Part 2 of my guide to writing a great book, I dive into phases 3 and 4, revising an...

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 getting a traditional book deal, there are a lot of steps along the way—and there’s a lot of lingo that can cause confusion. That’s why I created this guide to dem...

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 York Times , The Wall Street Journal , and The Washington Post , to name a few.  We talk honestly about the realities of professional writing: pitching editors, handl...

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 Enneagram functions as a powerful tool to help you write with more clarity, confidence, and impact. We dive into the surprising truth that your greatest writing strengt...

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.  He shares the strategy that turned a string of rejection letters into a strategic indie launch that actually worked plus the framework that helped him finally fin...

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 what to prioritize. This episode will help you close that gap between effort and impact—so you can stop feeling overwhelmed and start writing with c...

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 have to learn how to sell your work—but not in the way you think. We explore why authors need to think of themselves as entrepreneurs—and why selling your work isn’t...

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. I explore: The tension between who we’ve been and who we’re becoming Why transformation is less about dramatic events and more about daily choices How the way we live a...

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. In this episode, I’m joined by acquisitions editor Ariel Curry to break down what actually makes a memoir work and how even the most ordinary life can become ext...

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 directions, the words blur, and you realize you don’t actually know where the story is headed. When you can’t see the path forward—aren’t even sure there IS a path—it’s far e...

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 process of transforming lived experience into meaning—and why great memoirs always reveal a truth about the human condition. Lisa shares how to uncover the deeper “aboutne...

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 reason if you do!).  In fact, I think we should always write first and foremost for ourselves, because of the person the process will help us become. In this episode, I e...

“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 line, and no idea how to go from there to a finished book.  That led her to reach out for book coaching, and her growth over the last five months has been so inspiring. We t...

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 life isn’t interesting. And it’s not a lack of talent. You’ve got the soul for a great memoir. Now you just need the science. In this episode, I break down the f...

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 mask that fear wears to keep you safe.  Today, we’re peeling back that mask to look at the real reasons most memoirs never get written—and how to make sure y...

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 argues that a great memoir requires a rigorous "science"—a structural logic that delivers a powerful transformation. In this episode, we discuss: The Arch...

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 powerful prose.  I explore why science isn't a cage for your creativity but the very thing that frees it. Plus, I share my favorite way to think about the role rul...

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 can do to cultivate it. We talk about the role of vulnerability, where writers go wrong in pursuit of authenticity, and how words can become a bridge to connection. Plus,...

In this first full episode, I ask a deceptively simple question: what is great writing? If you’re like me, great writing is something you recognize on an intuitive level, but when you try to articulate what makes that writing great, things get . . . complicated.  In this episode, I offer a way of thinking about great writing that cuts across genre and style—a simple framework, both descriptive and...

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 po...