Shape your book idea, then see where it is thin.
Eight short steps take you from a loose idea to a one-page book brief: your goal, the one reader, the promise, why you, the idea in one sentence, a working title, three comparable books and a rough chapter list. Then ten plain checks show what is strong and what needs work.
Free, no email needed. Your answers are saved only in this browser.
Ten checks, all of them visible
The starter does not score your idea with a hidden formula. It runs ten simple checks on what you typed and tells you, for each one, what it looked at and what to do next. The full rules are on the about page. In short:
- A clear goal. You picked one main goal and described a specific moment of success.
- One specific reader. No catch-all words like "everyone", and a described situation.
- A concrete problem. The reader's problem in their words, and what they have already tried.
- Goal and reader match. A clients goal needs a reader who could hire you; a legacy book does not.
- A concrete promise. Before and after differ, and the after is something a reader could check.
- Why you. Experience plus at least one story or piece of proof.
- One short sentence. The idea fits in one sentence of 8 to 35 words.
- Title and subtitle. Under Amazon KDP's 200-character limit, with no "bestselling" or "free".
- Recent comps. Three comparable books, at least two from the last five years, each with a stated difference.
- Enough for a book. A chapter list of 5 to 15 chapters, the range The Scribe Method suggests.
Passing every check does not mean the idea will sell, and failing some does not mean it is bad. The checks find the gaps that are easiest to fix before you write. The real test is putting the idea in front of people: see how to test a book idea before you write it.
Shaping the idea with a book coach
Most people can finish this worksheet on their own, and the guides cover each step in depth. If you would rather work through it with someone, Scribe Media makes this site and sells Scribe Compass: one-on-one work with an experienced book coach that defines your audience and purpose, a professional table of contents and a chapter-by-chapter roadmap, for $5,000 (price on scribemedia.com/pricing, checked October 20, 2026). You can also book a free call to talk it through first.
Want a person at Scribe Media to look at your brief?
Leave your name and email and someone from Scribe will get in touch to talk it through. Your brief and check results are sent with the form so you do not have to explain it again. No obligation.
Rather pick a time yourself? Book a free 15-minute consult or call 512-325-0249.
Thank you. Your details are with the Scribe team.
Someone from Scribe will reach out by email. If you would rather not wait, pick a time for a free consult.
About the starter
Is the book idea starter free?
Yes. There is no email gate and no account. Your full feedback and book brief appear on the page as soon as you finish.
Where are my answers saved?
Only in your own browser, using local storage, so you can close the tab and come back. Nothing is sent anywhere unless you choose to fill in the optional form. Start over erases them.
How does the starter judge my idea?
It runs ten simple checks on what you typed, such as whether your reader is one specific person, whether your promise names a concrete change, and whether your comparable books were published in the last five years. Each check is explained on the about page. It does not judge whether your idea is good; only real readers can tell you that.
How long does it take?
Most people need a sitting or two to answer well. You can stop at any step and pick up where you left off in the same browser.
What do I do with the book brief?
Use it to test the idea with a few people who match your reader, to brief an editor, coach or co-writer, or as the first page of a book proposal. Print it or copy it into any document.