The Science Behind Great Book Ideas — And How You Can Find Yours

image edited in Canva and author’s own

Finding the right book idea for many aspiring writers feels like an impossible challenge. It’s not just about picking a story — it’s about choosing one you’re happy to spend months of your time obsessing about.

I’ve written 23 bestselling novels; great book ideas don’t arrive with the click of your fingers. They often start as a small spark — a character whispering in your mind, a random “what if” moment, or an overheard conversation that lingers in your thoughts. Sometimes it’s not one idea, but lots of little bits that come together in the end.

“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” — Jack London

Forget Trends — Passion Fuels Great Books

Chasing trends is a shortcut to burnout. Even if a genre is booming, (hello, spicy TikTok romances and dragon fantasy novels) forcing yourself to write something you don’t love will leave you frustrated before you reach the middle of your manuscript. The best book ideas aren’t always about what’s popular — they’re about what won’t let you go. When you find that idea, writing won’t feel like a job. You’ll steal moments throughout the day to scribble down thoughts, wake up thinking about your characters, and feel that pull to keep going, no matter how hard writing…