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 her writing voice, why her second book required a completely different creative process than her first, and how learning to trust her "inner knowing" transformed both her writing and her creative life.

We also pull back the curtain on the realities of the sometimes circuitous path from first idea to traditional publication—from platform-building and first drafts to sub-headings and book launches.

You'll learn:

• How to develop—and protect—your unique writing voice
• Why every creative project has its own "way in"
• Why forcing the process too early often keeps you from your best work
• What Meredith would tell herself if she could go back in time

Whether you're writing your first book, your fifth, or simply trying to reconnect with the joy of creating, this conversation is a reminder that great writing isn't something you force—it's something you uncover, one faithful step at a time.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Merideth’s two beautiful books: Art Is How God Loves Us and The Artist’s Joy
• The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
• My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Connect with Merideth at artistsforjoy.org or on Instagram. 

And be sure to grab a copy of her new book!

Send me a voice message with your questions or comments!

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And visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Merideth’s “lens shift” exercise on Substack: Let Art Change Your Mind
• The Artist’s Joy – Meredith’s first book
• Art Is How God Loves Us – Meredith’s new book, out July 7th!

Send me a voice message with your questions or comments!

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And visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

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

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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 by  AJ Harper
•  The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing by Michael Harvey
•  Hungry Authors by Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry
• Hungry Authors podcast
• Editorial Freelancers Association Rates -- just keep in mind these are median rates and skew very low for quality work in my experience!
• Jane Friedman’s blog (click the “Topics” dropdown)
•  Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum or find her free content on Substack here

FREE SELF-EDITING DOWNLOAD:  From Good to Great: Ten Tips to Write Like a Pro

EDITING: Learn more about my editing services and read testimonials at maraeller.com/editing and book a free consultation call with me here! 

BOOK COACHING: Learn more about Momentum Book Coaching and read testimonials at maraeller.com/book-coaching and book a free consult call here!

Send me a voice message with your questions or comments!

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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
• Hungry Authors on Substack

Learn more about Momentum Book Coaching: maraeller.com/book-coaching

Book a free consultation call with me! 

Send me a voice message with your questions or comments!

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And visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.

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
• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
• Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
• Dear Writer by Maggie Smith
• Perennial Seller by Ryan Holiday
• Hungry Authors by Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry
• Write a Must-Read by A.J. Harper
• A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
• The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad
• Becoming by Beholding: the Power of Imagination in Spiritual Formation by Lanta Davis

Connect with Ericka on Instagram

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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 strength is often the very thing that holds you back—and how understanding your patterns can help you connect more powerfully with both your creativity and your reader.

Whether you already know your type or are completely new to the Enneagram, this conversation offers practical insights for every kind of writer. We cover:

• Why your writing struggles are often tied to your strengths
• The 3 core instincts (self-preservation, sexual/creative, and social) and how they impact your writing process
• How each Enneagram type approaches writing differently (and what helps them most)
• Type-specific tips to break through procrastination, perfectionism, and self-doubt

It’s time to learn how to work with your personality instead of fighting it—so you can finally write and share your best work.

About Christa:

As a relationship expert, marriage coach, speaker, and host of the Enneagram & Marriage Podcast, Christa Hardin helps individuals and couples build stronger, more connected lives through personality work, emotional insight, and practical tools rooted in modern psychology. Her new book The Three Desires comes out Spring ‘27 focusing on using the Enneagram instincts as powerful tools in relationship and personal growth. Follow her on Instagram @enneagramandmarriage to join her 40k+ community. 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Enneagram & Marriage’s free resources including a quiz to find your type
• Truity.com Enneagram Test
• The Enneagram in Marriage book
• The Enneagram & Marriage podcast
• Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Send me a voice message with your questions or comments!

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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 finish the novel he’d been working on for 10 years.

We dive into:

• why plotting is the key to writing complex novels
• how structure can actually free your creativity
• his step-by-step process for starting a new novel from scratch
• writing with ADHD: time blindness, guardrails, and morning routines for the win
• why the best fiction reveals truth without forcing it
• the role of curiosity, emotion, and reader connection in great storytelling

From Story Grid to ADHD, this conversation explores what it really takes to finish a novel—and why sometimes the most creative thing you can do is give your brain exactly the structure it's been craving.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Story Grid resources
• Save the Cat plotting method
• Dune by Frank Herbert
• Hyperion by Dan Simmons
• Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Daniel G. Amen, M.D.
• Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

JA Merkel is the author of The Fourth Portal and The Fall Gauntlet series, known for immersive world building, sustained emotional tension, and the way his stories pull readers into expansive fictional worlds while leaving lasting emotional and thematic impact.

Learn more and connect at www.jamerkel.com.

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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 clarity and confidence.

I break down the five essentials that matter most for great writing—true across genres, but especially for nonfiction—so you know exactly what to prioritize and how to achieve each on the page.

These five are at the heart of strong writing, and addressing them creates a cascade of improvement. It’s kind of like treating the underlying cause vs a symptom: only one leads to a cure. Focus on these, and everything else starts to fall into place.

If trying to improve your writing sometimes feels like a game of whack-a-mole, this episode is for you!

For more specific techniques to level up your writing craft today, grab my FREE download “From Good to Great: Ten Tips to Write Like a Pro,” along with an accompanying video training, at www.maraeller.com/tentips.

Send me a voice message with your questions or comments!

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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 separate from writing, but an extension of it.

Plus, we reframe sales as something deeply aligned with what writers already do best: tell stories, understand people, and create connection.

We cover:

• Why your fear of self-promotion is actually keeping your work from helping people
• A simple way to think about sales that doesn’t feel gross
• What it really means to “know your reader”
• How to build a platform without feeling performative
• Why imperfect, consistent posting beats perfection every time

At its core, this episode is about a mindset shift: seeing sales not as self-promotion, but as storytelling, connection, and service.

If you’ve ever thought, “I just want to write, not sell,” you need to hear this conversation!

Mentioned in this episode:

• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
• “Confessions of a Broke Millionaire” by Danielle Leslie
• Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden
• The 15 Minute Planner Method

Connect with Steph on Instagram @heystephcrowder

Send me a voice message with your questions or comments!

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