For First-Time Authors
- schlesadv
- Mar 21
- 2 min read
There’s no single “right” topic for a first-time author—but there is a smart way to choose one. The best first book usually sits at the intersection of three things:
1. What you genuinely care about
If you don’t care deeply, you won’t finish. Writing a book is a long haul.
Think about:
Experiences that stayed with you
Questions you keep coming back to
Topics you naturally talk about
For example, Harper Lee drew heavily on her childhood in the South when writing To Kill a Mockingbird.
2. What you already know (or can learn quickly)
You don’t need to be the world’s top expert—but you do need enough substance to sustain a full book.
This could be:
A career or industry you’ve worked in
A life experience (success, failure, recovery, reinvention)
A strong personal interest or hobby
Even Mark Twain turned his real-life adventures into stories that felt authentic and vivid.
3. What readers actually want
This is where many first-time authors miss.
Ask:
Does this solve a problem? (nonfiction)
Does this tap into a strong emotion? (fiction—love, fear, nostalgia, justice)
Is there a clear audience?
A great idea to you isn’t enough—it has to connect.
Strong First-Book Directions (That Actually Work)
🔹 1. Personal story with a universal hook
Not just “your life”—but a story others can relate to.
Examples:
Overcoming something (loss, failure, addiction, reinvention)
A “what I learned” journey
A specific chapter of your life (not your whole autobiography)
👉 This works because readers connect emotionally.
🔹 2. Practical nonfiction (how-to / insight)
One of the best entry points.
Examples:
“How I built X from scratch”
“Lessons from 20 years in [industry]”
“A simple system for [specific problem]”
👉 These books are easier to market and sell.
🔹 3. A simple, focused novel
Don’t try to write the next War and Peace.
Start with:
One main character
One central conflict
A tight timeline
👉 Many first novels fail because they’re too complex.
What to AVOID for your first book
❌ A massive, multi-generational epic
❌ Writing “for everyone” (you need a target reader)
❌ Overly experimental formats
❌ Trying to copy trends instead of caring about the topic
Publishing exceptional books of all genres, since 2008
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