Many of us are still under the misconception that writing an e-book is a cumbersome process. But in reality, it’s quite the opposite – thanks to the numerous platforms available to us. No longer do we have to settle for one option, which might be best for blog posts but not necessarily suitable for an e-book.
Thanks to the growing popularity of e-books, self-publishing, and digital nomads, more and more people are looking for ways to make money online. While some choose to blog, some others prefer to go the digital nomad route and travel the world while working remotely for digital companies.
If you’re curious about how to write an e-book, but don’t know where to start, read on – we’ve got you covered.
Step one: Set a goal
An e-book is essentially nothing more than a bunch of words on a page. But that’s not how most people think of it. When someone hears the word ‘e-book’, they immediately think of a paper book with illustrations that they can actually hold in their hands and feel soft against their fingers.
The truth is, there are many ways to present information to the public via electronic devices, and the e-book is just one of them. What you need to do before you start writing is to set a goal for yourself. Your goal should be fairly simple: do you want to learn how to write an e-book and are you looking for a source to teach you?
If yes, then you’re in the right place. On the other hand, if no, perhaps it’s not the best idea after all. There are plenty of other ways to get educated about writing without having to resort to a digital book. You don’t necessarily have to have a Kindle or Nook to write an e-book. Many people prefer to write on their computers using specialized software – something you can also do, regardless of whether you have a Mac or PC.
Step two: Decide on the topic
As we mentioned above, an e-book is essentially just a bunch of words on a page. But there’s more to it than that. When someone decides to write an e-book, often they’ll write on a topic that they’re extremely passionate about. This is something that can be very beneficial to you as a writer. Even if you don’t necessarily have the same viewpoint as the person you’re writing for, you can always find a way to integrate that into the content.
For example, in her book “How to Be a Better Daughter, Sister, Aunt, etc.” Christy Beck writes about being a mother and navigating the often-stressful world of parenthood. Although Christy and her mother don’t always see eye to eye on certain subjects, Christy manages to include lots of tips and advice on how to be a good parent in her book.
Choosing a topic that you’re passionate about can make a huge difference in how much you enjoy the entire writing process. Plus, it shows. Stephen King was once asked if he had any advice for writers who asked for his opinion on their work. He responded with a question of his own: “Are you passionate about what you do?” Writing with passion is vital if you want your readers to be engaged in what you’re writing. If you don’t feel fully connected to the topic, it’ll be very difficult to develop original insights that will make your work stand out.
Step three: Set the timeline
When we think about writing an e-book, we often imagine a lengthy process that will take months to complete. The truth is, setting the timeline can be quite the opposite. By setting a strict deadline, you’ll be able to fully focus on the task at hand without any distractions. For example, if you’re trying to write a book in less than a month, you might find yourself pulled in a hundred different directions. You won’t be able to write something of value if you don’t have the time to do it properly.
Step four: Choose a publisher
There are many benefits to getting your e-book published through a reputable company. For one, you don’t have to worry about getting your work “legally” stamped by a team of lawyers. Two, you’ll have access to a wide network of publishers who can reach millions of readers.
If you want to write an e-book and don’t know where to start, Hachette book publisher is a good place to look. They’ve been around for more than a century and have worked with some of the greatest authors of all time. When you get your book published with them, you can rest assured you’ll be sending your work to a company that knows what they’re doing.
Step five: Market the book
An e-book doesn’t actually exist until someone decides to buy it. The fact is, people will start finding your work online even before you’ve had a chance to publish it. Thanks to the growing popularity of blogs and websites, keywords and online reviews, many readers will discover your work even if you don’t get the credit. You should not underestimate the power of the internet.
To get the most out of this, you need to decide on a niche market. It doesn’t have to be a narrow niche – far from it. But you do need to find a small group of people who share your same interests. If you can’t think of an idea for a blog post, try looking for a community of people who fall within your niche. Maybe someone else in your niche has recently done something that can be used as inspiration for your next article. Or maybe there’s a niche industry conference that you can go to and meet other like-minded individuals.
Step six: Format the book
No, we don’t mean you need to cook the manuscript. We mean the actual physical book you’ll be sending to the printer. Even if you write an e-book in a word processing program like Google Docs or Microsoft Word, it won’t look the same as it does when printed in black and white on paper. There are several different fonts and types of paper you can use to make your book look as good as new – with the right formatting, it’ll be obvious that you used an electronic device to do the writing.
Step seven: Proofread the book
We’re big fans of getting feedback, especially when it comes to writing. If you’re looking for a professional opinion on your work, there are several individuals and companies you can hire to edit and proofread your manuscript. While it’s not essential to have your book edited by a professional, it certainly doesn’t hurt. Having a fresh set of eyes look over your work can really highlight some spelling errors and awkward language that you might not have noticed. Even if you’re still learning how to write, hire a professional to help you out. You’ll be thankful you did once you’ve published your book and found out how difficult it is to edit and proofread your own work.
Step eight: Publish the book
It’s important to remember that once you’ve written a book, you’ll need to find a way to get it published. Fortunately, platforms like Amazon and other digital retailers make this incredibly easy. If you decide to go the traditional route, submitting your book to publishers can be a difficult and time-consuming process. But thanks to platforms like Amazon, the process has become a lot less stressful and a lot more streamlined.
By taking the time to format and write your e-book, you’ll be able to take advantage of the ever-expanding world of e-books. Not only will you have the ability to reach more people via the internet but you’ll also be able to get your book in the hands of readers more easily than ever before.
Step nine: Promote the book
If you’ve written a popular e-book, it won’t be long before you start hearing about it from friends, family, and other acquaintances. Once someone discovers your work, they’ll start sharing it with others. In turn, those individuals might decide to purchase your work as well. This is called “word of mouth” marketing and can be extremely beneficial in getting your book noticed. While it might be difficult to get people to leave a review online, many bookstores and platforms like Goodreads and Amazon allow others to leave reviews as well – which might make a huge difference in your book’s promotion.