how I know a book idea is worth writing

One of the #1 questions people ask me is, “Here’s my idea. Is this a good idea for a book? Is it worth writing?”

Here’s the thing to keep in mind – I’ve written about this before – book ideas are like pennies. They’re ubiquitous and honestly, not worth very much.

What makes a book worthwhile and interesting is its execution – HOW the story is told, how the concepts are put together, how the idea is brought to life.

That said, there are a few markers I go by (internal & external) that can be helpful in determining whether an idea is worth pursuing.

How does the idea make me FEEL? If I feel excited, breathless, tingly, can’t-wait-to-start, that’s a good sign. If I could sit down immediately and start writing SOMETHING about this idea, that’s a good sign too.

Can I write a punchy description of the story (essentially, the jacket copy)? This isn’t a be-all, end-all, because I’ve definitely started and written books where I couldn’t do this. But if I can write a one-paragraph pitch for the book idea that makes me sweaty with excitement, that’s a good sign.

Do I WANT to spend hundreds of hours writing this thing? Books take a LONG TIME to write. Is this an idea I could HAPPILY live with for months or years?

Often, my clients keep writing something because they’ve started it, even if the passion has long since waned.

Listen: passion definitely waxes and wanes, and I’m not suggesting you abandon projects midway through for the shiny new idea.

But sometimes, if you’ve been stuck for a long time, it’s worth shelving a project for something that gets your energy pumping. (Just notice whether this is a habit. I tend to stop writing books when they get hard or I don’t know what to do, and start something new; that’s something I’ve had to train myself out of.)

Then: just start. Don’t think about the idea for six months or six years. Start working on it. Explore. See if it has legs.

Ready for expert support? If you’re writing a nonfiction book related to your business or professional profile, let’s talk. I’ve got a new 4-week offer to help you explore a book idea.

You’ll do a lot of pre-work walking through my process (Explore, Refine, Codify, Position), and then we’ll work together on a 1:1 call to tighten everything up and talk next steps.

This service is $650 – book a free call to chat more about it here.

Because developing a book idea isn’t a black-and-white matter of hearing “yes, that’s a good idea” or “no, that idea sucks.”

Good book ideas and positioning are in the nuance. And I can help you lean into the nuance and develop something you’re in LOVE with.

Book your consult call here.