January 27, 2023

158: How to Decide on a Book (or Big Idea) Topic—10 Filters

28 minutes

One of the most common questions from those accessing the Author Toolkit (an assembly of my best-open-sourced templates and processes from 14+ years and three books) is a variation on: How can I decide on a topic? How do I narrow down my idea? How do I know if/when I have landed on the right idea?

Today I’m sharing ten filters to help you narrow down your book idea — or, if you’re not an aspiring author, perhaps your next “big IP” area that will best serve your body of work, your business, and your future audience.

🌟10 Filters: How do I decide on a book topic?

BookRx: Does it solve a problem people know they have? Would two friends at the coffee shop talk about the idea the way I’m describing it?

Is it evergreen for the market? Will there always be new people interested in the topic?

Is it evergreen for me? Will I be able to maintain interest in the idea over time?

Is it specific and yet still a big idea? It needs to be unique enough to attract attention and broad enough to have a large audience.

Is it missing, or has it already been done? Some topics are more crowded than others, so spend some time researching other books and authors.

Is there a trend, a hook, a twist? What is my unique take on this topic, and how will it benefit my audience?

Does it serve an audience I’m excited to attract? Who do I want to work with, and will the idea help you connect with them?

Does it serve my broader business/career goals? How does the book fit into my business or career?

Am I uniquely qualified/positioned? Do I have the expertise and background to create a book on this topic?

Why me, why now, why this book? What is my platform? Do I have the reach and connections to make a business case for the book?

📝Permission: Ditch dull ideas! No matter how good (or should) they seem on paper. Stay committed—and surrender throughout the process—to ideas that make your heart sing.

✅Do (or Delegate) This Next: Once you’ve narrowed down your BookRx (or BigIdeaRx), create a one-pager answering: Why me? Why now? Why this book? What’s the timely hook or the unexpected twist? Bonus: Draft a mini-conversation about the problem it solves, with one friend lamenting to another over coffee, and the second one answering, “Ahhh, I know just the thing — you have to read this book!”

📘Books Mentioned: Free Time: Lose The Busywork, Love Your Business, Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One

🔗Resources Mentioned:

Free Time Author Toolkit

Adrian Klaphaak’s Career Pathfinder Course (promo code PIVOT)

Jenny’s LinkedIn Learning Courses

🎧Related Podcast Episodes:

156: 8 Idea Generation Strategies

103: How to Land a Literary Agent and Publisher with David Moldawer (Part One)

105: “Don’t write the wrong book!” with David Moldawer (Part Two)

036: Shaping Big Ideas — Notion Walkthrough #2

038: Tracking Progress Toward Finishing a Book (or Big Idea) with an Essay Tracker — Notion Walkthrough #3

031: Eleventh-Hour Creative Gremlins

Pivot 207: How to Develop Your Book and Big Idea (Part 1), 208: Your Book and Big Idea (Part 2)

💻 Access Free Time episode transcripts on Podscribe »

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By Jenny Blake

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