The Soul and Science of Great Writing with Mara Eller

About 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!

Publisher

Mara Eller

Category

arts · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Dec 2025

Latest episode

21 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

35 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Oct 2026

   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...

2. 

   14 Oct 2026

   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 feel...

3. 

   7 Oct 2026

   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 w...

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

11 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Contact The Soul and Science of Great Writing with Mara Eller

Guest appearances

Books guests

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

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