17: What If Someone Already Wrote Your Idea?

About this episode

This episode discusses how to handle the discouragement of realizing your book idea isn't new and emphasizes the importance of bringing a unique angle to shared topics.

What do you do when someone else has already written on your topic? Or worse—when it feels like everyone has? In this episode, we’re talking about the discouragement that can creep in when you realize your book idea isn’t “new.” Originality in nonfiction is rarely about inventing a brand-new subject. It’s about bringing structure, specificity, and a distinct angle to a shared conversation. If you’ve ever wondered: • “Is this too saturated?” • “Who am I to write this?” • “Do I need a more uniq...

People in this episode

Host: Mikaela Mathews

Topics covered

• originality in writing
• nonfiction
• book ideas
• writing process
• overcoming discouragement

Keywords

• writing advice
• nonfiction originality
• book writing
• creative process
• writing tips

More episodes of For Women who Write

• 29: So You Don't Know What to Write About · June 9, 2026 · 35 min
• 28: Why Structure Changes Everything When Writing a Book | Interview with Kristin Haluch · June 2, 2026 · 25 min
• 27: The Exact Questions I Use as a Book Coach to Help Writers Find Their Book Idea · May 27, 2026 · 1h 2m
• 26: How to Know What Book You’re Meant to Write · May 19, 2026 · 35 min
• 25: Book Marketing for Women Who Hate Marketing · May 11, 2026 · 33 min
• 24: How to Write a Bible Study or Devotional · May 5, 2026 · 24 min