Is your book worth writing?

Last updated: June 26, 2025

“Is this book even worth writing?” A frustrated client asked me this question during a session recently.

Like most who want to write a nonfiction book, she’s got a lifetime of knowledge, experience, and wisdom, and like many newer writers, she’s wants to include all the things.

While including too much will dilute her point and overwhelm her readers, having to cut content and ideas feels overwhelming to her, as the writer.

After hashing out some structural issues in her outline, she paused before asking, “Is this book even worth writing?”

Oh, my heart. 

I know she believes solidly in her book idea and the message behind it. I do, too.

Her question spoke more to the work involved in crafting the elements of her proposal and shaping her book than the content or impact of the book itself. It’s hard work.

Filtering through content, shaping it into one idea, cutting pieces, putting them into some kind of order, and pulling it together into a cohesive whole is taking longer than she thought it would and feels much harder.

When she asked if writing her book is worth it, I wish I could say, “YESSSS! It’s totally worth it.” But I can only speak for myself as an author. For me, it’s absolutely been worth it. 

I’m proud of my books. I’m proud of completing a huge project that I set out to complete. I’m proud of achieving a life-long dream. 

Is your book worth it?

If you’re wondering if your book is worth it, you have to answer this question for yourself. Here are some reasons it might be worth it:

• If this idea won’t leave you alone, write it. Perhaps you’ll publish it with a publisher, self-publish, or print out a few copies for your children or grandchildren. It doesn’t matter. If you are called to write it, then write it. Enjoy the process.
• If your book will get to your readers and help them, it’s worth it. Prescriptive nonfiction books are for readers. If you can write for, support, reach, and help a reader? Then yes, write it.
• If you’ve always dreamed of writing a book and known in your heart you’d do so, write it. 
• If you are called to speak up and out about your topic or issue, to share your voice and add to the conversation, write it.

Note that the above reasons are internal reasons. They require nothing from the outside world to validate your project.

External Reasons for Writing

You might also have strong external reasons for writing, like increasing your income, making a name for yourself, establishing your authority, adding an income stream, or becoming a best seller. These are great, but they rely on our readers for our success which has more to do with your marketing and platform.

We have less control over how the world will respond to our book, so it’s important to have those internal reasons that don’t rely on external attachments or validation to keep us going.

I encourage you to look inward when it comes to thinking if your book project is worth tackling.

All of these reasons, both internal and external, speak to your WHY. And yes, I know it’s become a bit of a cliché to “know your why,” but it’s true. 

Your book is worth writing if you’ve got a solid reason for wanting to write it. 

Your reason doesn’t have to be a reason that any other person in the world might understand or agree with. It just needs to be enough for you.

When it gets hard or feels impossible to shape a lifetime of ideas into a series of chapters that seamlessly move your reader closer to their goal, remember why you started. 

Remember your why.

And keep going.