The Soul and Science of Great Writing with Mara Eller

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 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—one that began with tears, self-doubt, and the painful discovery that maybe I wasn’t actually capable of writing the book I’d been dreaming about for years. With the gentle support of The Artist’s Joy by Merideth Hite Estevez, I embarked on a journey through creative resistance, shame, and perfectionism to find the courage to claim my artistic vision. You’ll hear my thoughts about: * Why writers often mistake resistance, slowness, and struggle as proof they don’t belong * The connection between shame, self-protection, and hiding our creative work * How changing the way we see our challenges can transform the way we create * Why slow, difficult growth is often precisely what builds stronger work After reading the essay, I share some behind-the-scenes craft reflections on how the piece evolved through the writing and revision process. Every writer eventually faces these questions: Am I good enough? Is this idea actually worth pursuing? Why does this feel so hard? What I’ve learned is that freedom is never found by eliminating doubt and discomfort. It comes from learning to create alongside them. If you’d prefer to read this essay, you can do so on my Substack right here [https://maraeller.substack.com/p/creative-courage-and-the-ways-we]. Mentioned in this episode: * Merideth’s “lens shift” exercise on Substack: Let Art Change Your Mind [https://artistsforjoy.substack.com/p/let-art-change-your-mind] * The Artist’s Joy [https://artistsforjoy.org/book] – Meredith’s first book * Art Is How God Loves Us [https://artistsforjoy.org/artishowgodlovesus] – Meredith’s new book, out July 7th! Send me a text message with your questions or comments! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2566024/fan_mail/new] ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mara.eller/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@maraellerwriter] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@mara.eller] Substack [https://maraeller.substack.com/] And visit my website [https://www.maraeller.com/] to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

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'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 perfect blend of entertainment and solid storycraft—and kept me reading long past my bedtime. I'll share what I loved about each book as a reader, what I noticed as a writer, and the specific techniques and lessons that stood out along the way. You'll leave with plenty of additions to your TBR list and, hopefully, a bit of inspiration to bring back to your own writing. Mentioned in this episode (sorted by genre): Fiction (from most literary to least) * Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell * The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler * All Fours by Miranda July * Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan * Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Memoir * The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green * A Well-Trained Wife by Tia Levings * What We Carry by Maya Shanbhag Lang * Grayson by Lynne Cox * Strangers by Belle Burden Other Nonfiction * Landscapes of the Soul by Cyd and Geoff Holsclaw  * Upstream by Mary Oliver Send me a text message with your questions or comments! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2566024/fan_mail/new] ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mara.eller/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@maraellerwriter] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@mara.eller] Substack [https://maraeller.substack.com/] And visit my website [https://www.maraeller.com/] to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

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 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 and publishing: the layers of refinement that transform a rough manuscript into a clear, cohesive, life-changing book. If you missed Part 1 on ideating and drafting, I highly recommend starting there first! In this episode, you’ll learn: * The 3 “layers” of editing—and why each is essential * Why some books “sound good” but still don’t work * What developmental editors actually do * What to look for in a professional editor (and red flags to avoid) * What happens during proofreading, formatting, and book launch prep * The biggest mistakes first-time authors make during revision and publishing Great books may begin with a burst of inspiration, but they’re built one intentional revision at a time. And they’re never written alone. Note: This guide is designed primarily for nonfiction authors, from prescriptive nonfiction like self-help and thought leadership to creative nonfiction like memoir. That said, many of the same phases and pitfalls apply to fiction as well, even if the specifics look a little different. Mentioned in this episode: * Write a Must-Read [https://www.amazon.com/Write-Must-Read-Craft-Changes-Lives_Including/dp/1774585782/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=199409368508&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xGeVZYwwSjAyG3DsGHm7UbPKqB6pG1rUrMZlsw6e-f25cgSGYl-TWY-CuJt2mCAZkdMIZI_PlFPTe-8jVJ76-JI6hZO3GeYqoyi2kVmuQtXLbr1YxcGnWj-9E40ftgW-d6QE_y0HbNbQVYUgZKqP6dKsap68hvdQt55HOK85ZP_TupTfv2Cy18ngSTjQBB3az2H6_5Nyb5xAdoWQmC8j0CXNekW5q3a4BaxFJosIIyQ.HQKLFTKWOByyl7h_zS3DKjiEll_D3HrmN8yLgQkQV7Y&dib_tag=se&hvadid=790470756951&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9015028&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=13156367641138323977--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13156367641138323977&hvtargid=kwd-1738206175365&hydadcr=22536_13730665_8233&keywords=write+a+must-read&mcid=b2d817289618341b867368e7453b7d79&qid=1779484566&sr=8-1] by  AJ Harper *  The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing [https://www.amazon.com/Nuts-Bolts-College-Writing/dp/1624668593] by Michael Harvey *  Hungry Authors [https://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Authors-Indispensable-Publishing-Nonfiction/dp/1538187329] by Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry * Hungry Authors podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hungry-authors/id1661364521] * Editorial Freelancers Association Rates [https://www.the-efa.org/rates/#ratechart] -- just keep in mind these are median rates and skew very low for quality work in my experience! * Jane Friedman’s blog [https://janefriedman.com/blog/] (click the “Topics” dropdown) *  Before and After the Book Deal  [https://www.amazon.com/Before-After-Book-Deal-Publishing/dp/1948226405]by Courtney Maum or find her free content on Substack here [https://courtneymaum.substack.com/] FREE SELF-EDITING DOWNLOAD:  From Good to Great: Ten Tips to Write Like a Pro [https://www.maraeller.com/tentips] EDITING: Learn more about my editing services and read testimonials at maraeller.com/editing [http://maraeller.com/editing] and book a free consultation call with me here [https://calendly.com/maraeller/editing]!  BOOK COACHING: Learn more about Momentum Book Coaching and read testimonials at maraeller.com/book-coaching [http://maraeller.com/book-coaching] and book a free consult call here [https://calendly.com/maraeller/bookcoaching]! Send me a text message with your questions or comments! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2566024/fan_mail/new] ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mara.eller/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@maraellerwriter] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@mara.eller] Substack [https://maraeller.substack.com/] And visit my website [https://www.maraeller.com/] to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

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 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 demystify the book creation process, alert you to common pitfalls, and point you in the right direction if and when you’re ready for professional support. In this episode I cover the first two of four phases of book creation: ideating and drafting. You’ll learn: * Why “writing a book” is about far more than just writing * The key questions every author must answer before they start drafting * What a “book map” is and how it dramatically improves your chances of finishing * What to look for in a book coach (and red flags to avoid) * How to handle resistance, procrastination, and your inner critic during the drafting process Here’s the truth successful authors know: a book is only as good as the ideas behind it, so building a strong foundation is the most important step of all. Note: This guide is designed specifically for nonfiction authors—from prescriptive nonfiction like self-help to creative nonfiction like memoir. That said, the phases I outline and many of the potential pitfalls remain the same for fiction. Just keep in mind that some of the nuances will be different. Mentioned in this episode: * Hungry Authors book [https://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Authors-Indispensable-Publishing-Nonfiction/dp/1538187329] * Hungry Authors on Substack [https://hungryauthors.substack.com/] Learn more about Momentum Book Coaching: maraeller.com/book-coaching [http://maraeller.com/book-coaching] Book a free consultation call with me [https://calendly.com/maraeller/bookcoaching]!  Send me a text message with your questions or comments! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2566024/fan_mail/new] ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mara.eller/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@maraellerwriter] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@mara.eller] Substack [https://maraeller.substack.com/] And visit my website [https://www.maraeller.com/] to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

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 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, handling rejection, building relationships, marketing books, and learning how to keep going when the process gets hard. We discuss: * how Ericka landed major bylines and book deals * why specificity is one of the most important writing strategies * how to pitch editors effectively and stand out in crowded inboxes * the emotional reality of rejection, killed stories, and creative disappointment * the challenge of protecting your creative energy in a productivity-driven world One theme emerges: a professional writing career is built less on brilliance and more on persistence, specificity, and conviction that your work matters—even when nobody is validating it yet.  Mentioned in this episode: * Ericka’s newest book: Freely Sober [http://www.freelysober.com] * Bird by Bird [https://www.amazon.com/Bird-by/dp/1786898551/ref=sr_1_2?adgrpid=189563035194&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XX2kyvUxSkaOSsrTrlzSuPeqgBWMM-VTXIVCQZor9J6Wg50R-lBnmEXG7Bb1KYyj6xo6lzIXY6RgXjCWYcuK-VbMusRHZGo0YPfLPOGSIsbF6S0Ywq5Pmuj7eTu_EED1aXrhcK6wukh7DOqp7A9ur3dXseHcmjmYsRo3NxiM6hkOxXcOBYHm0ns8UGIXr75YhcN9qDUGj7b8xCRqXE1GogBGDpYe1_hwPOzzL5Q7_bX7_xO1WG9XQK3JMgKg8EXjI13bNRKNazyQfZh1LcA1babCFg-IKuHdoPNCJ17vp0Q.92qy9ahWbbsFiPWGzqIPCpoDsszb3g9q3r5L_CLX6Ys&dib_tag=se&hvadid=779570644024&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9011573&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=12483847457149482822--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12483847457149482822&hvtargid=kwd-376771708690&hydadcr=22531_13730691_8143&keywords=bird-by-bird&mcid=2cc8736aaede3b77b5651781be2a2520&qid=1778679740&sr=8-2] by Anne Lamott * Writing Down the Bones  [https://nataliegoldberg.com/books/writing-down-the-bones/]by Natalie Goldberg * Dear Writer [https://maggiesmithpoet.com/book/dear-writer/] by Maggie Smith * Perennial Seller [https://www.amazon.com/Perennial-Seller-Making-Marketing-Lasts/dp/1781257663/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1602611015&sr=1-1] by Ryan Holiday * Hungry Authors [https://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Authors-Indispensable-Publishing-Nonfiction/dp/1538187329] by Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry * Write a Must-Read [https://writeamustread.com/] by A.J. Harper * A Swim in a Pond in the Rain [https://www.amazon.com/Swim-Pond-Rain-Russians-Writing/dp/1984856030/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] by George Saunders * The Book of Alchemy [https://www.suleikajaouad.com/the-book-of-alchemy] by Suleika Jaouad * Becoming by Beholding: the Power of Imagination in Spiritual Formation [https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Beholding-Imagination-Spiritual-Formation/dp/1540966186] by Lanta Davis Connect with Ericka on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ericka_andersen/] Send me a text message with your questions or comments! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2566024/fan_mail/new] ___________________________________ Come join the discussion! Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mara.eller/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@maraellerwriter] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@mara.eller] Substack [https://maraeller.substack.com/] And visit my website [https://www.maraeller.com/] to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.