Is Your Book Idea Worth Writing?
One of the most common questions I get is: Is this book I’m thinking about worth writing? Or another variation: If I write this book, will it get traditionally published? Will anyone want to read it?
If I had a guaranteed answer to that question, I’d be a millionaire. The truth is, you can have the best idea in the world, but you still have to write the book—and the book has to be as good as the idea. And even if it is, success is never guaranteed.
So instead of fixating on what will happen after you write it, let’s focus on whether it’s the right book for you to write in the first place.
The Best Ideas Are the Ones You Can’t Stop Thinking About
If you're wondering whether your book idea is worth writing, ask yourself:
Do I think about this story from the moment I wake up to the time I go to sleep?
Do I feel a fire inside me to write this?
Is this an idea I can’t seem to let go of?
If the answer is yes, then write it. The books that are worth writing are the ones that consume you—the ones that won’t let you rest until they’re on the page. That passion is what will translate to readers.
Can Someone Tell You If Your Idea Will Sell?
Maybe. If you have an agent or an in-house editor, they might be able to give you insight on whether this idea is marketable. But here’s a secret about publishing: Most of it is just a guess.
Publishers spend huge amounts of money on books that flop.
Other times, they invest almost nothing in a small book, and it explodes through word-of-mouth.
There’s no set formula for what will succeed—it’s all a mix of timing, luck, and the right readers connecting with the right book at the right time.
Trying to force a book into a formula for success just doesn’t work, because there isn’t one.
Better Questions to Ask
Instead of “Is this book worth writing?” consider asking:
What kind of writer do I want to be? Does this idea align with that vision?
Where would this book fit on the bookshelf? Does it have a clear place in the market?
Do I know what agents, publishers, or editors I’d want to work with for this project?
These are the more practical, business-oriented questions that will help you shape your writing career.
The Bottom Line: Write What Sets Your Soul on Fire
At the end of the day, the only book worth writing is the one you can’t not write. If it’s burning inside you, trust that feeling. Let go of the pressure of knowing whether it will succeed or not, because no one—not even the biggest publishers—can predict that with certainty.
So go forth, write the book that excites you, and hopefully, the world will feel the same way.