How to Find a Book Idea (You'll Finish!) | Self-Publishing Series

Transcripts
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The transcript provides insights into the author’s creative process for writing their book, “The Lost Girl,” based on their experiences and challenges faced during their journey.

Summary:

  1. Finding Ideas: The author emphasizes the importance of finding an idea for a book that resonates with the writer’s passion. They suggest that if someone wishes a certain book existed, it might be worth writing it themselves.

  2. Character Inspiration: Writers are encouraged to think about characters they want to explore further, using existing stories for inspiration while avoiding direct plagiarism.

  3. Overcoming Creative Blocks: For those struggling with writer’s block, the author offers a free training module for developing consistent creativity, suggesting prompts and timed writing exercises to stimulate creativity.

  4. Key Questions for Writers: The author shares three critical questions to help writers choose which idea to pursue:

    • Which book can I write the fastest?
    • Which idea is most likely to result in a finished book?
    • Which idea makes me happiest?

  5. Developing Ideas: The conversation also mentions how ideas can evolve from existing narratives, focusing on what happens after well-known stories, like Peter Pan. This led to the development of “The Lost Girl.”

  6. Personal Journey: The author shares their personal journey of publishing two books of flash fiction and working toward publishing their first novel. They aim to document this journey using strategies from a book on successful publishing.

Overall, the post encourages writers to explore their passions, engage with their ideas actively, and utilize reflective questions to navigate their writing processes effectively.

Finding the Right Book Idea: Overcoming False Starts, Too Many Ideas, or No Ideas at All

Before I landed on the idea for the book I’m publishing at the end of the year, I had a lot of false starts—seriously, lots of them. And yes, that floppy disk I dug out of storage is very much dating me, but let’s embrace it for what it is! I spent years searching for an idea—any idea—and then searching for one I’d actually stick with and finish. I either felt completely lost, or I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of ideas I had, with no clue how to pick one that would stick.

If that resonates with you, don’t worry! In this post, we’re going to dive into tips and strategies for finding a book idea that you’ll not only want to write but actually finish. Whether you’ve struggled with writer’s block, blank-page syndrome, or decision paralysis from too many ideas, these steps will help you gain clarity and take the next step toward getting published.

Who Am I to Help You Find Your Idea?

Hi, I’m Allison Spinner! Besides being a creative warrior fighting for creativity (yours and my own), I’m an author on my own publishing journey. I’ve self-published two collections of flash fiction on Amazon, and I’m currently working on publishing my first novel, The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story, by the end of this year.

To make sure I’m set up for success, I’ve been using strategies outlined in Chandler Bolt’s book, Published: The Proven Path from Blank Page to 10,000 Copies Sold. I mean, let’s be real—I’d love to sell 10,000 copies of The Lost Girl (and I bet you would too for your own book). I’m going through Chandler’s book chapter by chapter, sharing my journey as I implement his advice, and hopefully, by the end, I’ll be set up to hit bestseller status.

Ready to follow along? Let’s tackle this book journey together! Drop a comment below to let me know where you are on your publishing path, and don’t forget to subscribe for updates. Now, on to today’s topic!

Which Group Do You Fall Into?

In Published, Chandler Bolt identifies three types of aspiring authors:

  1. “I already have an idea, and I’m ready to go.”
    • If this is you, you might not need this post—though you’re always welcome to stick around!
  2. “I don’t have any ideas at all.”
    • Hello, blank-page syndrome—we know you well.
  3. “I have way too many ideas and don’t know how to pick one.”
    • Decision paralysis, anyone?

If you’re in one of the latter two categories, stick with me, because I’ve got advice tailored just for you. Let’s start with the first group: folks who don’t have any ideas at all.

If You’re Totally Without Ideas

If you’re staring at a blank page with no idea where to start, here are some questions and exercises to help you spark inspiration. Some of these are adapted from Chandler’s advice for nonfiction authors, but I’ve tweaked them to work specifically for you fiction writers out there—like the question that sparked the idea for my book.

1. What are you passionate about?

Do you have a specific topic or genre that you already know a lot about? Start there! Writing about something you’re familiar (and enthusiastic) about will make the process much easier and more enjoyable.

For me, it was the Peter Pan story. I loved the movie Hook and was already fascinated by the lore and themes of Neverland. Because of that, I didn’t need to do much research and could dive right in. If you’re obsessed with Westerns and know a lot about that time period, for example, why not write your own Western?

Also, pay attention to what your friends are tired of hearing you talk about—it might just be the perfect topic for your book. If you’re that enthusiastic about it, there’s probably an audience out there just as excited to read it.

2. What book do you wish existed?

If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to read a book about [insert idea], but it doesn’t exist,” that’s your sign! Chances are, if you’re wishing for a book like that, there are other people wishing for it too. Write the book you’re dying to read.

3. Which characters or stories do you want to know more about?

While you can’t plagiarize your favorite characters or plots, you can absolutely use them for inspiration. Think about all the ways the Peter Pan story has been retold. For me, the inspiration for The Lost Girl was born out of watching Hook and asking, “What’s next? What happened after this?”

Movies and stories leave behind a world of possibilities. Get curious about characters or universes that spark your interest, and let that curiosity guide your creativity.

4. Ask yourself: What if…?

The “what if” question is powerful. It’s how countless stories, including Hook, have come to life. For me, my idea came from asking, “What if a child got sick? Would Neverland save them? And what if that child were a descendant of Peter Pan?” That single question led to the creation of The Lost Girl.

Try throwing your own “what if” questions out there, and see where they take you. Feel free to share your own “what if” questions in the comments below!

If You’ve Got Too Many Ideas

If you’re overwhelmed with ideas and can’t decide which one to pursue, here are Chandler’s three questions to help narrow things down:

1. Which book can you write the fastest?

Do you already have a lot of knowledge about the topic or genre? If so, go with that idea—it’s likely to require less research and come together more quickly.

2. Which idea is most likely to result in a finished book?

This is the key question! Fiction writers (and writers in general) are full of ideas, but not all ideas make it to the finish line. Choose an idea you’re passionate about and excited to stick with.

3. Which idea makes you happiest?

Writing should be fun—even when it’s challenging. Which idea brings you the most joy? Go with the one that ignites your enthusiasm.

For me, The Lost Girl checked all three boxes. I already had the plot fleshed out, I was passionate about Neverland, and the story made me happiest.

Still Feeling Stuck?

If you’re stuck in a rut or dealing with a serious case of writer’s block, finding an idea might feel impossible. I get it. That’s why I created a free training to help writers unlock their creativity and overcome blocks that hold them back. Check out the link in the description below to learn more about the Creative Warrior Path—a system that helped me go from stuck to published (twice!) and write The Lost Girl.

Next Steps: Start Turning Your Idea Into a Story

So, whether you’re starting from scratch or figuring out which idea to pursue, I hope these exercises and questions help you gain clarity. In our next post, we’ll dive deeper into developing your idea, but why wait? You can get started now:

  1. Use a writing prompt.
  2. Sprint for 15–20 minutes.
  3. Hang onto what you come up with—it might just be the beginnings of your book.

Thanks for joining me today! Go fight for your creativity, and I’ll see you in the next post. (Don’t forget to share your questions or ideas in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!)

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