THE SOUL AND SCIENCE OF GREAT WRITING
a podcast for writers
where the mastery of craft meets the mystery of creation
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. But too often, writing advice offers only one or the other—practical strategies or soulful inspiration.
This podcast brings creativity and craft together, exploring both the soul and the science, with equal parts awe and analysis.
Hosted by Mara Eller—professional editor, book coach, and writing teacher with over 16 years of experience—The Soul and Science of Great Writing 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.
If writing feels like both a discipline and a calling, you’re in the right place.
New episodes drop every Wednesday!
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Check out my first three episodes below, including the full text in case you prefer to read.
3: The Science of Great Writing
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.
2: The Soul of Great Writing
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.
1: What Makes Writing Great?
In this first full episode, I ask a deceptively simple question: what is great writing?
In this episode, I offer a way of thinking about great writing that cuts across genre and style—a simple framework, both descriptive and prescriptive, for naming what sits at the heart of every truly great work of literature.