How Do I Know if My Nonfiction Book Idea Is Viable and Worth Developing?

Dear Aspiring Author,

Great question! Writing a book is a significant undertaking, and it’s important to evaluate your idea thoroughly before you ever start writing.

First, what kind of nonfiction book are you thinking of writing? There are different considerations for each type. But there are some general guidelines and basic criteria you can apply to all genres to help you determine if your idea is worth pursuing.

Do a competitive analysis. Look at current trends in book publishing. What kinds of books are selling and how are they being reviewed, both by critics and readers? What topics are popular? Are there books in the marketplace with a comparable premise? How similar or different is your idea?

Gauge reader interest in and response to books like the one you want to write. Get a good feel for how yours could be uniquely positioned in the marketplace.

Test your idea. Is it interesting to others? Write a short paragraph summary or “elevator pitch” outlining your idea. With a nonfiction book, it shouldn’t be so niche or personal that it won’t have broader appeal to some larger subset of readers. Why does this story matter? What will readers take away from it?

Share your pitch with people whose opinion you trust and ask for their honest feedback. Does it sound like a book they’d want to read? Does it sound like a book you’d want to read?

Is it original? Your idea should have some unique angle or element of intrigue. While you can certainly draw on inspiration from other books in your genre, yours should bring something new and fresh to the table.  What makes your idea different enough to interest readers? What sets it apart?

For example, is it a story that gives fresh insight into a historical or cultural event? Does it highlight an unusual person or unexpected plot twist that will hook readers?

Should it be a book, or should it be something else? Does your idea suit the medium?  Is there enough of a story to sustain readers’ attention through several hundred pages? Consider whether your idea might be better served as a long form article, short story, personal essay, or screenplay.

Does it excite you? Writing a book is a complex, lengthy process that requires sustained effort and commitment over many months and sometimes years. If the prospect of writing it feels like a slog, ask yourself what would make it exciting for you to write. Think about how you can rework your story so you’re genuinely excited about creating it and putting it into the world.

Finally, you can also consider enlisting the help of a ghostwriter, literary agent, editor, or writing coach to give you further guidance in evaluating the marketability of your idea. Good luck!

Warmly,