The Soul and Science of Great Writing with Mara Eller

Mara Eller
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Books

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!

  1. 4d ago

    Discipline Is Killing Your Creativity. Try This Instead. (Ep. 35)

    You want to write. You really do. But somehow everything else feels more important, and there's always one more thing to do before you can sit down at your desk.  Then, when you finally open your laptop, the words won't come. Every idea feels wrong, every sentence sounds like it was written by a 5th grader, and you begin to wonder whether you're cut out for this after all. Sound familiar? Yeah, me too.   Today I'm sharing a concept that completely changed how I approach my writing, essentially making writer's block a thing of the past. Instead of approaching your writing as a task to be conquered, start treating it as a relationship to be nurtured. If you're ready to explore that shift more deeply, my two-hour workshop, Wake Up Wanting to Write, teaches exactly how to do that. Get the replay, including my four-part framework and a 30-day writing plan, at maraeller.com/wanttowrite. Mentioned in this episode: Read the original essay on Substack: “Dear Writer, Discipline Is Killing Your Creativity. Try This Instead.” Read my essay about overcoming the resistance I encountered on my writing retreat: “Creative Courage and the Ways We Keep Ourselves Small”Read Merideth Hite Estevez’s “discipline button” essay: “Hang onto the Thread”Wake Up Wanting to Write Workshop Send me a voice message with your questions or comments! ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads Substack And visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

  2. Oct 21

    Interpreting Mrs. Dalloway: Death, Loneliness, and What Remains Unsaid (Ep. 34)

    In this episode, you’re invited into my in-person book club for a conversation about Virginia Woolf’s classic novel Mrs. Dalloway.  Widely celebrated as a masterpiece of high modernism and one of Time magazine’s 100 best English-language novels written since 1923, Mrs. Dalloway tracks a single day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway as she prepares to host a high-society party in post–World War I London.  Our discussion explores the novel’s questions about death, intimacy, freedom, and the gap between what we say and how we really feel.  We discuss: How Woolf uses free indirect discourse to move between the external world and her characters’ thoughtsHow her characters, who long for intimacy, so rarely say what they mean—and whether we can ever truly know another personHow the novel portrays trauma, mental illness, and the systems that fail to understand or care for people who are sufferingHow marriage, class, gender expectations, poverty, and sexuality constrain the characters—and what Sally Seton, a friend of Clarissa’s, means when she suggests that we are all prisonersHow the novel portrays trauma, mental illness, and the systems that fail to understand or care for people who are suffering, particularly through the story of Septimus Warren Smith, a shell-shocked war veteranWhether Clarissa experiences a genuine transformation, and what the novel’s circular structure might tell us about change, memory, and the selfYou get to see the process of discovery in real time, offering a model of what thoughtful literary discussion actually looks like, including disagreement, uncertainty, and the willingness to change one’s mind. Mentioned in this episode: BBC In Our Time podcast episode on Mrs. DallowayUlysses by James JoyceSend me a voice message with your questions or comments! ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads Substack And visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

  3. Oct 14

    Do It for the Plot: The Truth About Bestseller Lists, Traditional Publishing, and Book Marketing with 4x New York Times Bestselling Ghostwriter Crystal Adair-Benning (Ep. 33)

    Landing on the New York Times bestseller list has long been the gold standard for author success. But after ghostwriting four books that made the list, Crystal Adair-Benning’s advice for writers chasing that goal might surprise you: “It’s not worth it.” In this conversation, Crystal and I unpack the assumptions authors make about publishing, book marketing, and what success looks like as an author. We also talk candidly about taking creative and personal risks, why promoting a book often feels harder than writing it, and how Crystal learned to see her ADHD as a superpower.  You'll learn: What ghostwriters really do and what you can learn from Crystal’s approachWhat it takes to land on the coveted New York Times bestseller list—and why Crystal no longer recommends chasing itHow to decide whether traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing makes sense for your goals, budget, and desired level of controlHow authors can approach book marketing creatively, including the “Taylor Swift” approachWhether you're writing your first book or facing down the bugaboo of book marketing, this conversation is a reminder that there's no single right way to become a successful author—and that sometimes the best writing advice is also the best life advice: do it for the plot. Mentioned in this episode: Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda ArdernTheo of Golden by Allen Leviz Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Connect with Crystal:  On her website: writewordmagic.comOn Instagram: @writewordmagic  Send me a voice message with your questions or comments! ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads Substack And visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

  4. Oct 7

    Theo of Golden: When a Book Captures the Soul but Misses the Science with Merideth Hite Estevez (Ep. 32)

    From its humble, self-published beginnings, Theo of Golden rose to become a #1 New York Times bestseller in 2025—and has sold over 3.5 million copies to date. But, in my not so humble opinion, the writing itself leaves much to be desired. So what accounts for this book’s massive success?Today I'm joined by my friend, two-time author, and Juilliard-trained oboist Meredith Hite Estevez to unpack Theo of Golden—what it gets profoundly right and where it left us rolling our eyes or checking our watch.  We also explore the powerful flashes of beauty, truth, and wisdom hiding among its literarily lackluster pages—because you don’t have to love a book to learn from it. We discuss: How Theo of Golden uses portraiture to explore what it means to truly see another personWhy specificity is, counterintuitively, what makes writing more universalHow withholding information can create artificial suspense instead of genuine tensionWhy characters need flaws that actually get in the way of what they wantWhy love for your subject, your reader, and the work itself might be the most important ingredient for great artWhat writers can learn from the book's enormous popularity, even if its style isn't their favoriteTheo of Golden reminds us that, while the “science” of strong writing matters, when a book has enough soul, it can cover a multitude of sins in the science department. Mentioned in this episode: Stein on Writing by Sol SteinThe Goldfinch by Donna Tartt My Friends by Fredrik BackmanJohn of John by Douglas Stuart  Connect with Merideth at artistsforjoy.org or on Instagram.  Send me a voice message with your questions or comments! ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads Substack And visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

  5. Sep 30

    Yesteryear: Why Most Criticism Misses the Point with Hayley Milliman (Ep. 31)

    I really wanted to hate Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. But after my second read, I'm officially obsessed.  In this episode, I'm joined by fiction writer and editor Hayley Milliman to discuss one of the most polarizing books of 2026: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, the satirical novel that follows Natalie Heller Mills, a successful trad-wife influencer who wakes up one morning in the 1850s.  Through that suspense-infused frame, the novel explores what happens when a person becomes so committed to performing a version of herself that she loses track of who she actually is—and the societal pressures that make such a performance not only possible but, perhaps, inevitable. Through a writer’s lens, we dig into the brave choices and narrative techniques that make this book so compelling and fresh—its deliberately unlikable protagonist, fascinating use of the unreliable narrator, and propulsive premise—as well as what we wish the book had done differently, from Natalie's sparse backstory to the slightly unsatisfying ending. We also unpack novel’s most salient themes: surveillance, performance, identity, and the destructive influence of patriarchy on all who fall under its shadow.  Ultimately, the novel invites readers to answer this important question: Where are we performing our lives rather than actually living them?  Mentioned in this episode: Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica BrodyMy previous episode with Hayley: "Stop Trying to Write a Great Novel"Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling HuangBlack Mirror Connect with Hayley: On Substack: hayleyiswriting.substack.comSend me a voice message with your questions or comments! ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads Substack And visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

  6. Sep 23

    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 Enthusiasm: How to Master the Art of the Verb and Transform Your Writing.  We explore how precise, expressive verbs can bring your writing alive—creating movement, conveying emotion, sharpening meaning, streamlining wordy sentences, and expressing your unique voice. Plus, we geek out about some of our favorite verbs—and some of our favorite writers who know exactly what to do with them. You'll learn: The science behind why certain verbs can make us feel differently as readersWhy action verbs unlock vivid setting descriptionsHow to use verb to reveal emotion without naming itWhy passive voice and adverbs deserve more nuance than you probably learned in English classHow paying attention to verbs can strengthen your voiceSarah’s enthusiasm for language is truly contagious, I and love the way she encourages writers to trust their intuition even as they hone their craft.  So the next time your writing feels flat, trust that instinct and then return to the tips in this episode—and in Sarah’s fantastic book—to help you find the perfect verb to infuse texture and meaning into your prose. Mentioned in this episode: The Art of Grace by Sarah L. Kaufman The Sound and the Fury by William FaulknerSwing Time by Zadie Smith The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood The Gathering by Anne EnrightTo the Lighthouse by Virginia WoolfThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldThe Bluest Eye by Toni MorrisonWhat We Can Know by Ian McEwanPurchase Sarah’s new book: Verb Your Enthusiasm: How to Master the Art of the Verb and Transform Your Writing Connect with Sarah at www. sarahlkaufman.com.  Grab my FREE download and mini-course on writing craft: Ten Tips to Write Like a Pro. Send me a voice message with your questions or comments! ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads Substack And visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

  7. Sep 16

    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 creative writers—who recently finished the first draft of her novel in just 30 days while working full time.  We talk about how knowing the craft of writing doesn’t necessarily translate into actually doing the work, how the pressure to write something important can become paralyzing, and how her fast-drafting approach helped her overcome perfectionism and get a complete draft on the page in record time. While the episode focuses on fiction, much of our conversation applies to memoir writing. Plus, writers of other kinds of nonfiction will find valuable insights. You’ll learn: The mindset mistakes that keep even technically skilled writers stuckWhy treating your first draft like a “50,000-word outline” can help you stop overthinking and start writingWhy Hayley recommends setting drafting goals based on time rather than word countWhat to do when your outline stops working halfway through a draft so it doesn’t derail your entire projectHow to create the internal tension that drives a compelling storyHayley’s process is a great reminder that the first draft doesn’t have to be good—it just has to exist—and that our strongest writing will always come from being true to our own lived experience.  Mentioned in this episode: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke  Dr. Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ 6 universal pleasure buttons: Tiktok explainer video hereSix of Crows by Leigh BardugoThe Wedding People by Alison EspachHayley’s outlining process Substack article: “How I plan my novel so I can draft in 30 days”All's Well by Mona Awad Connect with Hayley: On Substack: hayleyiswriting.substack.com Book club alert! Hayley will be back on the show on September 30th to discuss Yesteryear, which I’ve now read twice. (I’m equal parts impressed and disturbed…) If you haven’t read it yet, now’s your chance because the episode WILL contain spoilers. Send me a voice message with your questions or comments! ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads Substack And visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

  8. Sep 9

    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 discusses what I discovered when I began approaching Bad Bunny's music as literature and what we miss when we dismiss certain texts as too popular or secular to be worthy of deeper analysis.  When we move past fear and knee-jerk reactions to Bad Bunny’s public persona, we uncover within his music complex ideas about culture, identity, liberation, and belonging—and a radical joy that resonates deeply with the Gospel. You’ll learn: My journey to faith after my liberal arts college experienceWhy pop music can function as poetryWhy I consider curiosity and generosity deeply Christian posturesHow “Tití Me Preguntó” uses music, structure, and narrative to complicate its seemingly simple messageWhat Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance reveals about inclusive joy as an act of resistanceWhy Christians would benefit from looking for beauty, wisdom, and truth outside explicitly Christian artUltimately, this conversation is about how literature teaches us to resist simplistic thinking and to search for truth, beauty, and wisdom in unexpected places—even a reggaeton song. Mentioned in this episode: Substack article about my “Holy Spirit moment” on the Camino: “To Be a Pilgrim”The Problem of Pain by C.S. LewisMy Taylor Swift exploration, LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyFrankenstein by Mary Shelley Connect with Mariana: On SubstackHer podcast: Meet at the WellOn Instagram Send me a voice message with your questions or comments! ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram TikTok Threads Substack And visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

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About

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!

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