The Soul and Science of Great Writing

a 12-week program to take you from vague idea to polished piece

and turn your passion for words into prose that can change lives

Let me guess . . .

You have so many ideas for writing, but when it comes to crafting them into clear, compelling prose, things get . . . messy.

You spend way too much time agonizing about all the different ways you could articulate your message, and you don’t know how to determine if it’s “good enough” to be done. Plus, you don’t want to settle for good enough — you want your work to be excellent. But how?

What if you could produce clear, insightful, impactful prose whenever you wanted?

Imagine if you could . . .

  • make your writing jump off the page with crisp detail and shimmering imagery

  • express complex ideas with clarity

  • rely on a proven process for evaluating and organizing your ideas

  • understand not only the what but the why of writing conventions — and which ones you can ignore

  • use a simple framework for editing your own work

It’s time to take your writing craft to the next level so you can finally write the powerful, engaging prose of your dreams.

What past students are saying . . .

"Mara's class refreshed, challenged, and honed my writing skills. Each session provided valuable information and opportunity for practicing what we learned. A comprehensive class that will enhance your writing craft and change your life."

- Janet B.

“I signed up because I worried my writing wasn’t concise or clear enough, and I felt like judging those things always felt too subjective. I walked away with objective ways to truly evaluate the quality of my writing, along with loads of ideas for how to improve every paragraph! Thanks for giving me confidence!”

- Cristi S.

“Mara has a fun, quirky way of teaching writing truths that I could truly understand and put into practice.”

- Tanya D.

“Today was so good!! This was my number one missing link to my skill set as a writer. Can you tell I’m absoLUTEly thrilled?”

- Aimee M.

IF MASTERING THE CRAFT OF WRITING IS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST, THIS IS FOR YOU.

In this 12-week program, I’ll take you through a proven process to streamline and demystify every step of the writing journey.

You’ll learn trustworthy strategies for every essential aspect of great writing and apply each one to a new piece of nonfiction.

Plus, you’ll receive expert feedback on exactly how to make YOUR writing better.

Your writing will become more insightful, impactful, and beautiful in only 12 weeks.

It’s like the college English class you actually needed, for a fraction of the price and with none of the pressure.

The #1 way to really learn something is to put it into practice.

That’s why you’ll be applying everything you learn by writing a new piece of nonfiction.

Here’s how it’ll work:

  1. We’ll begin by using my signature brainstorming process to gather your ideas and distill them into a precise focus.

  2. Next, I’ll help you organize your points in a clear, logical way.

  3. Then, you’ll practice techniques to make your prose jump off the page and into your reader's hearts.

By navigating the entire writing process together, we’ll be able to identify and fill the gaps in your writing craft knowledge so that your skill as a writer will never hold you back again. 

You'll walk away with

  • a polished article or essay to post, publish, or simply remind you that you really can produce great writing

  • clarity about how to produce writing that wows your reader

  • and the confidence to share that writing wherever your calling leads.

The Soul and Science of Great Writing is for you if you . . .

  • Know you’re called to write but lack the confidence to share your writing

  • Feel uncertain of the rules of correct written English

  • Know the rules but want a refresher (We’ll cover advanced topics too!)

  • Are preparing for publishing and want to tighten up your prose to impress agents/editors

  • Have a book idea and want to build your platform with a well-crafted article or essay

  • Get overwhelmed by the editing process, unsure where to start or what is important

  • Want to learn how to bring your writing alive to hook your readers

  • Struggle to be concise without sacrificing content

  • Are painfully aware that you “don’t know what you don’t know.”

When you finish, you’ll be empowered to write and edit with confidence so that you can share your message in beautiful, engaging, powerful prose.

The Soul and Science of Great Writing includes . . .

Opportunities for deliberate practice:

This is the number one key to success! I can teach you the principles of good writing all day, but if you don’t practice them intentionally, it’s unlikely that your writing will change. It’s like hiring a personal trainer and then never actually working out. This course is designed to give you tons of opportunity for targeted practice of each concept we cover, plus the experience of writing an entire piece under my supervision.

Accountability to produce a written product you’re proud of:

You’ll apply everything you’re learning to a piece of prescriptive nonfiction that you want to write, walking through the entire writing process from start to finish. You’ll walk away with a polished piece you can share however you want.

Community interaction:

Writing can feel like a solo sport, but it doesn’t have to be that way! You’ll have plenty of time to interact with other writers to bounce ideas around, learn from each other, and connect for encouragement and support. You’ll also practice sharing your writing for peer feedback as well as providing feedback, giving you another chance to practice what you’re learning.

Expert feedback on your words:

I’ll use my 16+ years of experience as a writing teacher and editor to help you see exactly where your writing is working and where it needs improvement, plus exactly HOW to improve it. With targeted feedback along the way and then two full rounds of feedback on your full piece, you’re guaranteed to walk away with clear insights on exactly how to make your writing stronger.

Which is delivered through . . .

  • 10 live zoom sessions

  • pre-recorded video teachings

  • peer feedback and interaction

  • hotseat workshopping + live Q&A

  • two comprehensive reviews of your piece in the final weeks ($300 value)

All for only $595!

COURSE OUTLINE

My approach uses a 9-part process to take you from vague idea to polished piece. These 9 steps are spread over 12 weeks to give you plenty of time for implementation (or to catch up if life happens!).

STEP 1: GATHER

You'll decide on your topic, collect material, and start getting a sense of what you think your central message will be.

 

STEP 2: DISTILL

We'll use my signature brainstorming strategy called the Focus Funnel to distill all your ideas into the clearest, most intriguing articulation of your message with the most powerful, insightful support.

 

IMPLEMENTATION WEEK: I’ll provide individual support to make sure you’re refining and focusing your topic to a manageable size with a razor-sharp thesis statement.

STEP 3: ORGANIZE

You'll decide what to keep and what to set aside plus how to organize it all to make your message crystal clear for your reader (and for yourself!).

 

STEP 4: RELEASE

This is when you'll finally draft your piece, turning all the ideas you've collected into complete sentences. Because you planned so well, your words will spill onto the page more easily than ever before.

 

IMPLEMENTATION WEEK: You’ll have an extra week to finish your rough draft, allowing time to ask questions or address any challenges that come up.

STEP 5: ASSESS

I'll share powerful strategies to help you evaluate your draft for key qualities so you can see exactly what you need to adjust for the next draft, making sure the “big rocks” of your argument are all there and in the right places.

 

STEP 6: FRAME

With your ideas firmly in place, it's time to add a powerful beginning and ending that will hook your reader and provide that delicious satisfaction they're looking for at the end.

 

STEP 7: ENHANCE

Now, we’ll work on adding transitions between and within paragraphs, enhancing vividness, and showing vs telling to bring your writing alive. Plus, we'll make sure you’re introducing quotations smoothly.

IMPLEMENTATION WEEK: You’ll have an extra week here to catch up or start working ahead.

STEP 8: CHISEL

Now it's time to strip away everything that's not essential and potentially distracting, focusing on expressing your ideas in the clearest, most concise way possible. You'll learn my best tips and tricks to help you see your writing with fresh eyes and chip away at any ambiguity.

 

STEP 9: POLISH

You'll put the finishing touches on your piece by cleaning up your punctuation, catching grammatical errors, and tightening up your prose even more. 

Each week will include

  • targeted exercises to practice your new skills,

  • a “homework” assignment to complete the next step on your article or essay, and

  • multiple opportunities to get feedback on your work.

Plus, you’ll get two rounds of my comprehensive edits in the final weeks to make your piece the best it can be.

At the end of our 12 weeks, you will

  • have a reliable, step-by-step process to move confidently from idea to polished piece

  • know exactly what to look for when you edit your own work

  • understand how to balance the requirements of correct written English with your own personal style

More specifically, you’ll know how to

  • use a proven process to generate, evaluate, refine, and focus your ideas

  • get super clear on your big idea for each piece

  • identify exactly what makes writing shine

  • understand the what and the why of writing conventions

  • express complex ideas with clarity

  • trim words without sacrificing content

  • bring your writing to life with vivid imagery and figurative language

  • follow a framework for editing your work

  • produce prose that is free of distractions and easy to read 

“I never knew how much I didn't know about what makes for good writing. Thank you for the course and being so responsive to our group.”

- Laureen V.

“I understand why people call it the college English class you wish you had!”

- Darla D.

The inaugural cohort begins June 10!

We’ll wrap up the week of August 5, giving you a bonus implementation week in the middle.

Doors close TOMORROW, June 7, so secure your spot now!

one payment of $595

ENROLL NOW

or

two payments of $299

Let me give you the tools to take your writing craft to the next level so that you can focus on your message, bringing your ideas out of the morass of your mind and giving them life.

Student Testimonials

  • “Mara has outstanding resources & brings a wealth of expertise and practical know-how for writers. I was humbled by the grammar and punctuation pretest, which was designed to explain all the answers upfront. Mara is tech-savvy, helpful, thoughtful, wise, and caring. I've been empowered and encouraged & am so thankful for this program.”

    Lynn M.

  • “My writing skills became so much better after going through Mara's program! There are certain words that I now know not to use in order to make a clear sentence. I often find myself erasing those words and then seeing with amazement that my writing improved immediately. I am also more aware of what good and bad sentence structure looks like. It causes me to pause and look over my own writing in a different way. I definitely would recommend Mara to anyone wanting to strengthen their writing skills!”

    Rebecca S.

  • “Thank you, Mara, for everything. This class is transforming my writing into something I can feel proud of and feel confident sharing. You are so good at explaining these things in a way that I’ve never heard before that is easy to understand.”

    Lindsay D.

  • "This program has challenged and enlightened me. Thinking before writing has become a different process. The room of my mind is decluttering, and I am so grateful to you, Mara, for putting in the effort and time. "

    How L.

  • "Thank you again for your time, expertise, and enthusiasm for the craft of writing. I went from doubting myself to feeling more confident as a writer. It was a great review of things that I already do and informative learning of many new ways to look at things."

    April E.

  • "Mara is such a talented and thoughtful writing teacher! I've learned so many excellent techniques for improving my writing craft. I trust her implicitly as an editor and thought partner for anyone who wants to improve her skills and build her confidence as a writer."

    Ariel Curry, Book Coach and Editor

Enroll today to improve your skill, boost your confidence, and make your writing dreams a reality.