How to spot a bad book idea
A question that comes up again and again when I'm coaching new—and even mid-career—writers is, "How can I tell if my idea's any good?"
You can't. At least not in the provable-in-a-court-of-law way that most of us would secretly like to know before spending months on a manuscript. Taste is subjective, which means one person's drivel is another person's page-turner. Moreover, execution is everything. (I mean, can you imagine someone describing the plot of the first Harry Potter novel to you before it was published? And yet J.K. Rowling's writing and storytelling were so excellent that the series has gone on to sell 500 million copies worldwide.)
Which is why the better question to ask is: "How can I tell if I believe in this idea enough to stick with it for at least 250 pages?"
If you're willing to consider that, you're in luck—because there are several additional questions that will give you a clear answer. Ask yourself:
1. Am I especially interested in this idea because it's the kind of book that seems to be selling right now? Keep in mind that what's hot today might not be by the time your book hits the shelves (it can take nine months to two years from signing a contract to publication). And even if that topic or trope is still all the rage, if you're solely motivated by cash or a big book contract, you'll be surprised at how fast you run out of steam while writing.
2. Does this story or concept excite me? Do you find yourself thinking about it when you’re not writing? If it surfaces when you're in the shower, trying to fall asleep, or on the phone with your mother, you may just have a winner.
3. Can I clearly and simply explain this story or concept? If you're not sure, try describing it in one to two sentences. Don't discount this exercise—it will immediately reveal holes in your plot (if you're writing fiction) or premise (if you're writing nonfiction).
4. Can I imagine someone emailing me or coming up to me at an event after I publish this book and saying, "Thank you for writing this"? Don't think that you have to write, say, inspirational fiction to answer 'yes' to this question; it works for any genre. Odds are, if you can envision how your story would help someone—if only by making them forget about their troubles for a few hours—then you believe in it.
5. Is this book idea in line with my long-term career goals? Listen, you can change genres and go from, say, writing women's fiction to thrillers, or romance to nonfiction. But it's far easier to make a name for yourself (and, ahem, money) by sticking to one genre, especially with your first few books. Moreover, asking yourself this question is another way to figure out if you're trying to succeed by picking a "hot" story or genre.
You know what will actually skyrocket your chances of success?
Telling a story you believe in, in the way that only you can tell it.
—Camille