Brilliant minds overflow with possibilities. That’s 6,200 to be exact.
Since brain scans have proven this to be true, there’s no wonder that writer-entrepreanurs have multiple book ideas buzzing around in their heads.
Having multiple book ideas buzzing in your head signals creative abundance, not confusion. Yet, without proper organization, these valuable concepts can slip away or become overwhelming obstacles to finally having your book published.
Effective transformation of scattered ideas into focused, publishable works requires strategic thinking. The following methods will help you sort book ideas effectively and determine which deserves your immediate attention.
Purpose Mapping Clarifies Direction
Humans make snap decisions at an alarmingly fast rate. We blink when an object gets close to our eyes, we turn our heads toward sudden loud noises, and we sneeze when our dogs shake out their fur. Truly, the human brain has been proven to make simple choices like these in as fast as 60-110 milliseconds.
Your book topic, however, is a far greater decision to make than these minor reflex calls. This is something that will be printed on every page, beneath a cover spotlighting your name.
So, take action by establishing why you want to write each book. Grab a notebook and create separate pages for each concept. On each page, answer:
- What issue does this book resolve for readers?
- Who exactly requires this information?
- How will the publication of this book help your business or career?
- Why are you particularly well-qualified to write about this topic?
This clarity shows you which ideas are the best suited to your immediate goals and helps establish your author platform building strategy. This is what I typically have clients do. Recently, I had a leadership consultant contact me with too many ideas for where she wanted to go with her book. This activity ensured that the subject she ended up choosing was a perfect alignment with her ongoing series of workshops and the logical first choice.
At the end of the day, clearly purposeful books connect more deeply with readers and publishers. So, how do you know that your purposeful book concept is not already flooding the market?
Market Analysis Reveals Opportunities
The book's success in the current market greatly affects achievement. I once helped a financial planner in determining whether his book idea had feasibility. We collaboratively undertook keyword research that entirely changed his publishing agenda.
For your concepts, investigate search volume trends. My client found that his retirement planning idea had three times the search interest of his investment strategy idea.
Competition levels in similar categories matter substantially. Overdone topics need a fresh spin, whereas less-covered niches typically offer more room for new writers. Websites that publish provide analytics of what topics are of interest to readers. Bestseller lists in your genre give notice of knowledge gaps that your expertise can fill.
That being said, how can you be sure that your unique book idea is developed enough to pursue?
Content Inventory Accelerates Progress
I once worked with a technology executive who was writing about leadership transformation. He did a serious content inventory prior to starting. Luckily, he found 15 written case studies from his consulting practice that represented important principles. Not only did this help ensure that his concepts had sufficient substantiation, but he was also able to leverage those assets to significantly speed up his writing process.
So, for each book concept, catalog:
- Existing research and source material
- Personal experiences and case studies
- Additional research requirements
- Expert interviews needed
Books built on substantial existing content typically make better first projects. In this manner, you continue to gather speed as you investigate more intricate subjects for later projects. However, how do you keep up the momentum when time and energy are in short supply?
Life Circumstances Influence Timing
Different books require varying energy investments beyond simple time commitments. I once worked with a healthcare consultant who had planned both a technical process manual and an inspirational leadership narrative. During her pregnancy, she recognized that working in the process manual's structured, systematic nature better suited her immediate life season. So, she focused on that project until she was ready for the next.
Your current circumstances can reinforce certain writing tasks while making others temporarily impossible. Major life changes provide certain clarity on some topics while possibly obscuring others.
Seasonal business needs strain writing capacity. Scheduling intensive research phases during slower business periods strategically both maximizes efficiency and reduces stress. But what reduces stress even more? Not losing any of those ideas which you might put on "hold" to be utilized later.
Systematic Idea Preservation Prevents Loss
Don't lose valuable thoughts while focusing on your primary project. For each book concept:
- Create web folders to gather pertinent articles and resources
- Maintain separate notebooks for occasional ideas
- Record voice memos whenever inspiration strikes
- Make outline drafts that can be expanded later
This system preserves important thoughts without derailing your current writing focus, ensuring no brilliant idea disappears permanently. You can keep these other ideas “on deck” until your readers are most ready for it. So, how do you know when your audience is ready?
Market Testing Validates Concepts
I once worked with a nutritionist who was deciding between three potential book topics. She decided to launch mini-courses to test which was best. When the mini-course dedicated to “gut health” had a higher response than others, the decision became clear.
You can do this yourself, and there are many different ways to do so.
Testing strategies might include:
- Blog content series exploring central concepts
- Standalone workshops presenting core material
- Free guides capturing essential points from potential books
The greatest feedback comes from what people actually react to, not what they say they want. But even if they react to one subject first doesn't mean that they would not want to react to another one later.
Balanced Releases Maintain Interest
Sometimes multiple books form a natural progression. Others, you might need to decide the best path. Ask yourself:
- Wouldn't these ideas form a series?
- Which book provides necessary background information?
- How can earlier books create readership for future productions?
- Are there some topics that better follow others?
Planning a thoughtful sequence can maximize the impact of each title while building stronger reader relationships across multiple books.
Final Decision: Which Book First?
After this analysis, selecting your first project becomes clearer. The ideal first book typically:
- Addresses an urgent market need
- Builds your authority in your field
- Contains substantial ready-to-use content
- Generates business opportunities beyond book sales
- Sparks your passion enough to sustain momentum
Remember that publishing your first book makes subsequent books easier, as you will be building up writing habits, publisher relationships, and reader relationships that make subsequent projects easier. What makes it even easier? Working with a professional book writing company.
Conclusion
Brilliant minds brim with ideas. But, without direction, those 6,200 daily thoughts can stay scattered.
Writer-entrepreneurs often juggle multiple book ideas, unsure where to begin. But that creative overflow isn’t a burden. It’s potential. When organized well, your concepts become a clear path to publishing success.
Start by charting your top three ideas. Review your stuff. Think about your current season of life. These simple steps bring clarity and help you choose which project deserves your energy now, while preserving the rest for later.
Need expert help? Authors on Mission has guided 1,100+ entrepreneurs from concept to published book, offering comprehensive book writing services, book editing services, and book marketing services
Don’t let great ideas gather dust. Whether you go it alone or with support, take action this week. Your readers (and your future) are waiting.
