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

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 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)

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