Decision making

how to decide what book to write

Staring at a blank page and wondering “how to decide what book to write” is the modern writer’s equivalent of standing in front of an open fridge at midnight. You know you want something, but the choices feel endless. Do you chase the YA fantasy trend? Dust off that memoir? Turn your messy notes into the next great sci-fi saga? Instead of doom-scrolling TikTok for inspo, let’s turn the chaos into a clear, numbers-first game plan—courtesy of a decision matrix you can build in under five minutes on StaMatrix.

Why “how to decide what book to write” feels impossible in 2024

We’ve never had more options: Kindle Unlimited, serialized apps, NFT editions, audio-only releases, crowd-funded zines… the list is longer than a George R. R. Martin prologue. The paradox of choice kicks in, your brain freezes, and the cursor keeps blinking. The fix? Stop trusting gut-only guesses and start ranking what actually matters to you. That’s exactly where a priority matrix shines.

Step 1: Dump every shiny book idea into one list

Open StaMatrix, create a new board, and list every concept that’s been haunting your Notes app. Working title is enough—”Vampire Accountants in Space” is perfectly valid. Don’t filter yet; the matrix will do the heavy lifting in a minute.

Step 2: Pick the criteria that answer “how to decide what book to write” for your life

Typical writers choose 5-7 factors. Examples:

  • Market demand (Amazon categories, #BookTok buzz)
  • Personal passion (will you still love it at 3 a.m. edits?)
  • Speed to first draft (NaNoWriMo vs. multi-year epic)
  • Existing platform (do you already blog about this topic?)
  • Monetary potential (advance, indie royalties, Patreon)
  • Skill fit (research load, dialects, technical know-how)

Drag these into the “Parameters” column and give each a 1-to-5 weight. If money is king this year, rate it 5. If artistic itch outweighs cash, bump passion to 5. No right answers—only your answers.

Step 3: Score each concept honestly

Now comes the fun, almost gamified part. For every book idea, score 1-to-5 on each parameter. StaMatrix multiplies the weight × score so you can’t fudge the math. Suddenly that “safe” thriller with mild interest drops down the list, while the weird slice-of-life graphic novel you actually care about rockets to the top. Objective? Nope. But it’s systematically subjective—which beats swirling thoughts.

Real-life example: how Maria used StaMatrix to decide what book to write next

Maria, a freelance UX designer, had three contenders: a dystopian cli-fi novel, a memoir about immigrating, and a prescriptive non-fiction book on creativity. She weighted “Speed to write” at 4 (she had only four months free), “Personal story” at 5, and “Market size” at 3. After scoring, the memoir tallied 87 points, cli-fi 72, non-fiction 64. The matrix revealed what her gut already whispered—but now she had permission to ignore FOMO and commit.

Pro tips for refining your matrix

  • Slice parameters thinner: Swap “Market demand” for “YA TikTok demand” vs. “Book-club potential” if you write cross-shelf stories.
  • Use the comment boxes: Jot why you gave a 2 instead of 4; six months later you’ll thank yourself.
  • Re-run quarterly: Life changes. A day-job layoff might flip monetary potential from 2 to 5.
  • Share the link: Beta readers or your writing group can peek and challenge your scores—built-in accountability.

Common traps when you decide what book to write—and how the matrix saves you

Trap 1: Chasing the latest trend you don’t actually read. Matrix fix: Low “Personal passion” score slaps you awake.

Trap 2: Over-estimating speed. Matrix fix: A 1 in “Speed to first draft” drags the total down unless everything else is stellar.

Trap 3: Ignoring tiny enthusiastic niche audiences. Matrix fix: If you score “Community engagement” high, cozy mystery set in a knitting club can outrank generic spy thriller.

Ready to stop agonizing and start outlining?

The blank-page monster loses its teeth the moment you turn vague desires into weighted numbers. StaMatrix is free, needs zero spreadsheet wizardry, and your first board is live in two clicks. So next time you google “how to decide what book to write,” skip the rabbit-hole articles and build a quick matrix instead. Your future ISBN will thank you.