How to Choose the Right Topic for Your First Nonfiction Book

Most first-time nonfiction authors make one of two mistakes when choosing their topic: they pick something too broad (“I want to write about health”) or too narrow (“I want to write about the benefits of cold-water swimming for women over 50 in the Pacific Northwest”). Neither extreme serves your reader — or your book’s reach.

Choosing the right topic is the single most important decision you’ll make before you start writing. Here’s how to get it right.

Start with your expertise, not your passion

Passion matters, but expertise sells books. Ask yourself: What do people already come to me for advice on? What have I figured out that others are still struggling with? What could I talk about for two hours without notes? The intersection of expertise and genuine interest is where the best book topics live.

Identify a specific problem your book will solve

Every successful nonfiction book solves a problem for a specific reader. Before you commit to a topic, finish this sentence: “This book is for [type of person] who struggles with [specific problem] and wants [specific outcome].” If you can’t complete that sentence clearly, your topic needs more focus.

Check that your topic has an audience

Search Amazon for books on your topic. If there are dozens of successful books in your category, that’s a good sign — there’s a hungry audience. If there are none, that’s a warning sign, not an opportunity.

Make sure you can fill a whole book

A great topic can sustain 40,000–60,000 words. If you’ve outlined your ideas and can only fill 15,000, you may need to broaden your focus. If you could write 200,000 words, you may need to narrow it.

Need help choosing your topic?

At WritersWay, topic development is one of the first things we tackle with every new author. Schedule a free discovery session and let’s find your book’s focus together.