Should I share my book idea? This is perhaps one of the biggest questions new writers ask. In fact, I used to ask this question myself.
It’s easy to feel skittish about sharing your book idea with those around you. Whether you’re talking with agents, editors, or beta readers, sharing the hook of your story can feel scary.
What if they take your idea? What if once your idea is out in the wild, you lose interest in it? Over the years, I’ve written both upmarket fiction and nonfiction and had to weigh the pros and cons of sharing my ideas.
I’ll share some of the behind the scenes of what happened when I did and did not share my ideas, but for now, just know that we’ve taught over 8,000 authors how to write, publish, and market their books over the last 10 years.
We know what it takes to help you get your book into the world. But does this start with sharing your book idea? Let’s get into it.
Should I share my book idea? What you learn
- How to make sure no one steals your book idea?
- Should I share my book idea?
- The case for YES
- The case for NO
How to make sure no one steals your book idea?
There isn’t a way to ensure no one steals your book idea, but this isn’t quite the right question to ask anyway. Here’s the thing: If your book idea is so good that someone wants to steal it, that’s a compliment to you and it’s unlikely they can steal your exact idea and present it in the way you would.
You’re the individual with the nuanced angle behind the idea to begin with, anyway. Really, you want to be asking, is my idea worth stealing? However, there is a measure you can take to put your mind at ease a bit more.
Simply print out your idea, mail it to yourself, and don’t open it. When I first started out as a writer, I was worried about someone taking my idea. I did this, and while I’ve never needed to prove it was my idea first (look at the date I mailed this to myself!), at the time, it put my mind at ease.
Should I share my book idea?
There is information out there that says you should share your creative ideas and there is information out there that says you should not share your creative ideas.
You may say, “Great, Sarah, but should I share my book idea?” This, my friend, is entirely up to you. What I can do is show you the pros and cons of sharing your idea so you can make an educated decision for yourself. Ready?
Should I share my book idea? The case for YES
Here are several reasons why talking about your book idea early can help you.
Idea testing
The more you talk about your idea, the more you test its market validity. I’ve shared different iterations of my book idea with various people and their response has helped me tremendously.
For example, when I shared my idea in one elevator pitch format, I got wide-eyed looks and positive feedback. When I shared it in another format, I realized I was losing my listeners.
In both cases, I shared my idea, but I was testing the nuance of the idea itself. This helped me pinpoint my target audience, what they related to, and what resonated.
Developmental feedback
Sharing your book idea in the elevator pitch form can help you test the general idea, and talking about your idea in a bit more detail will help you test the quality of your characterization (fiction) and themes (nonfiction).
Particularly as you move into hiring a writing coach, it’s helpful to have already tested your plot, character arcs, the themes of your nonfiction, stories you share, etc., on listeners.
Why? Coaches will be able to give you deeper-level feedback if you’ve already flushed out your plot/themes. This will speed up your process and help you get more out of working with a coach. (This is true when working with developmental editors as well.)
Positioning your product
At the end of the day, publishing is a business. Whether you self-publish or traditionally publish, you want to make a positive return on your investment (ROI) and bring in enough profit so you can go and publish again. So, should I share my book idea? Well, learning where your book sits in the marketplace is key to effective marketing.
Recently, I was talking about my book with an editor. I asked her, “This project is The Hunger Games meets Where the Crawdads Sing. Does that seem right to you?”
She affirmed my positioning and in doing so, gave me the green light for how I can market my novel. The more feedback you receive, the more niche understanding you will have of your book.
This means you can market it like crazy to the correct audience, boost your sales, increase your revenue, and then do it all again. This all starts with simply sharing your book idea.
Bonus: reader insights
Once you decide to share your book idea, you can take this a step further by sharing your full book idea via the manuscript itself. Beta readers’ feedback can transform the way you write your book.
Here’s the trick though: You want to balance writing the book you believe you should write (because you are the skilled creative) with writing the book that resonates with your readers.
My writing mentor stresses the importance of putting your reader first. To do this, write your rough draft, give it a quick edit or two, then share it with early readers.
Their insights can identify plot holes, character inconsistencies, personal anecdotes that don’t land, themes that could be stronger, and much more. When you decide to share your book idea, you open yourself up to a myriad of opportunities for growth. (Just don’t be afraid of a little constructive criticism!)
Should I share my book idea? The case for NO
There are several reasons you should refrain from sharing your book idea, or at least from sharing it right now.
You are still in ideation
When I start working on a book, the process stays in my mind long before it ever hits the paper. I think about the theme, the topic, or the character almost subconsciously, playing around with different angles and ideas.
Eventually, I sit down and start expanding the idea. At this point, no one really knows I’m working on a book idea yet. I’m still in ideation.
If you relate, now may be the time to keep the idea to yourself. Wait to share it until you feel confident in your idea and the direction you want to take it. Then ask for feedback.
This will help ensure the idea is truly yours and aligns with your goals and plans. For example, if I wanted to write an autobiography but I tell everyone around me this is my plan, chances are high they will weigh in on what I should include.
I want to formulate the specific aspects I want to include, then bring an open mind to consider feedback from others. This isn’t because I don’t value others’ feedback, but because I value both my original idea as well as feedback from others.
You don’t have the right people to share it with
Who you share your book idea with matters. If you don’t have a writing community yet, that’s okay, but you may want to hold off on sharing your idea. How do you know who you should share your idea with?
Ask yourself, does this person:
- Want what’s best for me?
- Support my personal development?
- Hold our conversations close?
- Respect my work ethic?
If the answer is yes, you’re likely in good company and could benefit from sharing your idea with them. If not, you may want to find a community where you can. Selfpublishing.com is a great place to start, and there are many writing groups online as well.
Over the years, I’ve been part of many different writing communities. Each one can target different goals for writers (encouragement to finish the book, market well, tips on publishing, etc.) but each has helped me grow as a writer.
The takeaway? Sharing your book idea can help you move forward well. It’s just important to share your ideas with the right people: those who will cheer you on, help you forward, and who have the credibility to do so.
I’ve shared my book ideas early on and I also have book ideas I’m still sitting on. Both methods work. It just depends on you, your goals, and the people you have around you.
Should I share my book idea? Take your next step
Now you know when you should and should not share your book idea. If you have the writing community to share you idea with and have given it somse thought, go right ahead. If not, consider thinking on it just a bit more and seeking out a writing community that’s equppe to champion your idea.
In the meantime, use our free resource to get started on your journey today. Don’t wait until tomorrow to pursue your dreams!
