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How to Write an eBook

You may have come across eBooks and wondered how you could create one. eBooks are great, and it’s not a surprise that yearly sales can reach up to $191m in the U.S.A. These types of books provide an excellent way to expand your knowledge, offer value to blog visitors and your skills as a content curator.

However, it’s not easy to write an ebook if it’s the first time you are working on the task. Fortunately, this guide looks at the definition of an eBook, a few tips, and other relevant factors to consider when creating one.

What Is an eBook?

An eBook is an acronym for an Electronic Book. It refers to a digital book consisting of images and content that one can read through an electronic device such as a phone or laptop. Even if it might be a book, it’s sometimes available without a printed version.

The books are sometimes available in snippet versions online to help make it easy for shoppers to access its content. eBooks have become popular over the past few years because they are affordable, readily available, and shareable.

9 Steps in Writing an eBook

There is more to writing eBooks that meet the eye, and the typical steps involved include:

Research for A Topic

Choosing a topic is vital because it will guide the content you will write in your eBook. You need a clear vision of the specific topic that suits your ability to produce content. It can be a topic on your hobbies, any exciting topic, a field of study, lifestyle, and various other aspects.

Also, consider the perspectives that your readers have to share on the subject during the research process. The internet will be a powerful resource for you in the research process, as it contains data from different authority sources.

Or use techniques such as surveys to understand the needs of your audience better. Google Forms is a powerful resource you can use to perform the survey process. You can share the link on social media or use a landing page to drive visitors to your book downloads.

Then, find a way to organize the information collected to outline any common key-phrases or subjects. A thorough research process should help you reveal particular trends and patterns vital in creating a concise eBook.

However, use these trends you encounter as a guide on narrowing down your topics for the book. Avoid answering all your research questions in a single eBook, as you may lose focus down the line when writing.

The good thing is that content length is not a significant issue when writing eBooks, and you have the freedom to go either long or short. During the research process, also consider the availability of:

• Previously printed books or literature on the topic.
• The questions readers regularly ask around the topic.
• The specific issues and challenges readers face based on your topic.

Develop an Outline

After narrowing down your preferred set of topics for the book, develop an outline for each of them. Use Google Docs or Microsoft 365 for this process as it’s highly convenient. These are powerful digital resources that ensure you never lose your work and provide convenient remote access.

Microsoft 365 might be a paid version, but it’s excellent if you plan to work with someone like a mentor or editor remotely. Google Docs is also amazing, but it may lack some features you may find on Microsoft 365.

Your outline should feel somewhat loose at first, as you are just researching for suitable content ideas. Focus on putting out as many chapter ideas as possible, and then organize them into a successive manner.

As you write out different topic chapters, you will notice several themes coming up in mind. Using this approach offers a helpful way for you to group topics conveniently. There is no absolute number or template for chapters that you have to use for eBooks.

The only helpful suggestion is to ensure the chapters are well organized with numerals and letters. Doing this will make it easy to track the level of each topic, which you can edit later on. Think of the chapter outlines like a road map for getting to your destination.

Plus, making your chapter outlines detailed will help make the writing process highly convenient. During the process of developing an outline based on the needs of your readers, consider their:

• Age.
• Demographics.
• Values.
• Goals.
• Lifestyles.

Plan for the Writing Process

You have to be well organized when writing your book. Each part of the writing process has to blend well like the components of an automobile. Each piece, whether small or large, is vital for the overall result of your project.

The first recommendation is to curate each chapter of your book uniquely first. Once you are ready with your topics, remember the following:

Connect your ideas and evidence on the topic. Doing this will ensure you never run out of ideas for writing and always stay in line with the eBook subject. Using resources such as powerful topic statements should be helpful for this process.

Remember the information needs of your readers. Using this approach is vital in curating content using the right words and language tone to suit your audience. It helps them read the entire book and ensures they find it easy to ingest the information presented.

Realize the Importance of Each Section of Your eBook

Usually, the traditional eBook has a summary, introduction, body, and conclusion. Today, most people have short attention spans, and they mostly peruse through sections to determine whether a book is worth reading.

The introduction and conclusion sections are the most crucial as they should contain detailed perspectives of the book. The best recommendation for you is to write these sections once you are through with your eBook’s body.

Or, you can write these sections and edit them once again when you are through with the writing process. Ensure you remember all the concepts involved in writing a concise and thorough introduction.

Also unique would be the availability of a table of contents in the introduction section of the eBook. It serves two leading roles, which are:

To present the books’ structure to the reader so they can navigate easily through the written content.

To let the reader access specific book aspects conveniently, which is a benefit of electronic books.

Ensure each aspect of your table of contents is clickable so that readers can easily navigate through the content. If your topic is complex, divide it up into subheadings with detailed information. It will help you stay focused on a specific line of thought for each part of your book.

Amazon recommends the use of a table of contents and offers coherent instructions for this process. Try and ask questions to determine the things people want to learn about your topic. Start with forums such as Reddit, Quora, and any other industry-related discussion forum.

Users ask several questions each day, and you need to research each of these topics. The good thing with the tools mentioned above is that they feature convenient search box functions you can use. Based on this information, you can adapt your design, CTA, and tone of voice to suit your writing needs.

Edit Your Book

Alongside researching your topic and curating the content, editing the book is one of the most critical writing procedures. You have to prioritize time carefully for editing your eBook. For instance, never edit your text as you write, as this can be a huge time waster.

A better alternative would be to write the book first and then edit it later once you feel it’s complete. Many writers overlook the importance of editing written content. Issues such as typos are signs that you are not professional with your work.

So, ensure your eBook looks perfect because it’s a sign of value to readers. The common editing aspects for eBooks include:

• Structure – check the organization of aspects such as chapters, heading topics, and the accompanying subheadings. Ensure you include the correct phrases and sentences to capture the attention of readers.
• Grammar issues – ensure your article does not contain any errors such as typos and inconsistent punctuation issues.

Remember to make a copy of your eBook during the editing process. Do this as you might be making significant changes to the text structure, which requires an informed approach. Sometimes, you may delete a topic, only to realize you need another section of the book.

If you plan on editing the book yourself, realize that most of the time will involve re-reading the same content. You will have to do this to remove any verboseness, unwanted content, or fluff. It’s a process requiring lots of mental energy and dedication of time.

Ensure you prepare your schedule ahead of time, so you never move to the next step without editing your work correctly. So, if your book is over 100+ pages, consider revising it in sections over a few days.

If you find it difficult, you can outsource the task to a competent and reputable writing service. Find a reputable service to avoid any malicious acts, such as someone releasing your book without your consent.

Create Your Cover

While it’s essential to create a good cover, you will be surprised by the number of people who never consider its importance. You don’t want to put out all that effort in writing, only to have your efforts compromised by a bad book cover.

A book cover introduces readers to your book and gives them a clear perspective of what to expect. If you find it hard to make a book cover design, you can also outsource the process or use free templates.

You can also use platforms such as Canva to help you curate high-quality covers. It’s a simple but notoriously powerful tool you can use to create an “eBook cover” template. Just visit the graphics library section, and choose a suitable template for your needs.

Then, you can customize it with whatever patterns, shapes, and styles you prefer. Try and go for a consistent book-style so that it makes your work look organized.

Publish and Promote Your Book

Like any product, people can only find your eBook once you share the information about its existence. Thus, the last step in your journey should be to advertise and sell the eBook. You have various options for this process.

The ideal choice relates to the goal you have for the book. For instance, if you want to sell the book, you can use Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, or Google Play Books. However, marketing a book is no walk in the park, and you might have to consider DIY channels for this process, including:

• On your blog – provide a specific section for downloads that is highly convenient. It offers organic search value as it answers common queries that people ask. If your eBook is in PDF format, ensure you include snippets of it on your homepage so that Google can crawl its content.
• Use a landing page – it’s a sole page from the rest of the content on your website, and it offers a base for visitors to access your marketing campaigns. Ideally, it should contain only a single link to download your book.
• Social media – social media is another powerful tool to use for driving traffic to your eBook. You can share information about your eBook on Facebook or Twitter and share the links to different groups.
• Email marketing – email marketing will help you drive traffic to your new book. Consider sending relevant emails to relevant email about your book and reasons they should check it out.
• Paid advertising – if you have the budget, consider investing in paid advertising solutions. You can use display campaigns or social media for this purpose.

Tips for Writing an eBook

Congratulations on completing the guide on the basic steps of writing an eBook correctly. Now, follow up on these tips to help take your skills to the next level:

Learn About the Popular eBook Formats

There are several eBook formats out there, each with its drawbacks and benefits. The ones you have to learn about include:

• PDF Ebooks – these are best for viewing through handheld devices and computers. It’s one of the cheapest, most popular, and convenient ebook formats today. It’s easy to produce thanks to the availability of word to PDF software converters.
• MOBI – these formats are compatible with Kindle devices. Such eBook formats might still be familiar, but the newer alternative would be the AZW/AZW3 ebook formats.
• EPUB – it’s an acronym for “Electronic Publication.” It’s also another popular and convenient format for publishing books today. The book format is also easy to access on any device and offers an intuitive book navigation interface.

Use Images Correctly

Images are vital for any good eBook, and they are an excellent way to break up the monotony of vast collections of texts. Good images also help to capture the reader’s attention. A few guidelines to adhere to include:

• Try and place visuals below the headers below to make information convenient to process and perceive. Doing this will make information easy to break down.
• Place images on either side of your text, and ensure they align with the block height.
• Edit all photos to ensure they match the format and organization of your texts.
• Ensure you use original images to avoid any issues arising from copyright claims.
• Use good quality images that are relatable to your readers.
• Stock Photo platforms such as Adobe Stock and Unsplash are ideal for downloading images for your eBooks.
• Place images and photos strategically throughout the book. Ensure they relate to specific design principles, and maintain the product layout individually.

Work on Your Paragraphs and Column Structure

The arrangement and spacing between the text in your eBook have an impact on its readability. Take time to ensure you format your book correctly. While there is no definitive structure, the best rule would be to use any well-organized text structure.

Seek inspiration from other good books you have encountered in the past or any top-performing titles today. The best recommendation is to avoid huge blocks of text, which can easily throw off the reader’s attention.

Remember to add visual breaks between the content, as it will help break the monotony of the text. Some resources you can use to do this include lists, quick facts, and even well-organized blank spaces.

Some eBook readers sometimes don’t have an interest in the entire book but a specific page portion. Ensure your content has a logical structure to make things easy for such readers. You have to map out the book through a table of contents as we recommended earlier.

Doing this will make it easy for readers to specific content fast, rather than crawling endlessly through large blocks of text.

Remember the Concept of Readability

Remember that these concepts of readability are just the standard recommendations for writing any other text. However, for eBooks, you might have to take things a step further, as it will give you an edge over other writers.

A few helpful tips for your writing include:

Use the correct page hierarchy for the entire book. Realize that readers often notice images first, then headings, and finally the actual content itself. So, use images with the strategic goal of improving text readability.

Avoid using technical or heavy terms in your text. It can easily throw off the reader’s attention, and it’s good to aim for the correct readability score levels.

Maintain the right page margins and only have an exception for pages that might have large images. Both the lower and upper margins should look organized.

Focus on Exclusivity

Have the confidence to produce content about a specific topic so that your reader sees you as a source of authority. You have to speak like an expert and ensure you know your way around a particular topic area.

It’s the main reason we had recommended chunking out as many topics as you can on your preferred topic. Doing this will help you gain a better perspective on your chosen topic area. If you handle the research part correctly, you won’t come across challenges in producing the content.

Be on the lookout for various details other writers have missed out on in the past. It’s an excellent technique that will set you apart from the traditional eBook writer. Never settle for topics that seem outdated or are out of context.

The better alternative would be to focus on a single and unique topic. Then curate content around the subject after performing a thorough research process.

Use Text Checking Tools

Many expert writers prefer outsourcing the editing work to trusted writers. However, this is a challenge because finding a writer who understands your point of view is a challenge. Most text-checking tools feature the latest technologies so you can receive accurate information.

However, use these tools to help ease the writing process. You still have to do manual editing, even though it will be easier after using such devices. Invest in text-checking tools to detect plagiarism, grammar issues and to structure your content.

A few helpful tools to consider include:

• Grammarly – is an industry-leading tool that you use to check for grammar errors, typos, sentence structure, and various other issues.
• CopyScape – is a powerful tool that you use to check for plagiarism. It’s a severe offense that can cause your book to get banned from online platforms.
• Hemingway app  – use this to check the readability levels of text. Aim for a readability score of 60 and above.

Writing an eBook seems like a simple process, but you have to be well informed and consider a few critical factors. Your text has to be concise, well researched, and organized. Plus, you may have to consider marketing options for your book and invest in text-checking tools.

You may not master all these tips at first, but realize that you will improve as you keep using them to write more books.

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