EPISODE · Jan 21, 2026 · 20 MIN
What Makes Writing Great? (Ep. 1)
from The Soul and Science of Great Writing with Mara Eller · host Mara Eller
In this first full episode, I ask a deceptively simple question: what is great writing? If you’re like me, great writing is something you recognize on an intuitive level, but when you try to articulate what makes that writing great, things get . . . complicated. 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.Mentioned in this episode:“Introduction to Poetry” by Billy CollinsThe Writing Life by Annie Dillard (paraphrase from Chapter 7)Thomas Merton’s discussion of “the false self” in Chapter 2 of New Seeds of ContemplationSend me a text message with your questions or comments!___________________________________Come join the discussion!InstagramTikTokThreadsSubstackAnd visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.
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In this first full episode, I ask a deceptively simple question: what is great writing? If you’re like me, great writing is something you recognize on an intuitive level, but when you try to articulate what makes that writing great, things get . . . complicated. 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. Me...
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What Makes Writing Great? (Ep. 1)
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