With the Kindle in its infancy, and limited options when it came to E-readers, it was impossible to know what kind of impact it would have on the world of publishing. However, since its introduction in 2010, and thousands of books being released every month, it’s safe to say that the Kindle has had a major impact on the world of literature as we know it.
If you’re thinking about exploring the world of e-books, or want to try your hand at writing one — this guide is for you.
Choose Your Genre And Theme
The first step to writing a successful Kindle book is to choose your genre and theme. Even though the Kindle was first designed for the English-speaking world, with over 500 million books sold already, there are still plenty of opportunities to make money from writing in other languages. If you’re looking to break into the foreign-language market, you have to decide whether you’ll specialize in literary fiction or memoirs or suspense or westerns — there are literally hundreds of sub-genres and themes you could choose from.
If you’ve picked a genre and a theme you’re passionate about, it makes the whole process of writing a book a little easier. Not only will you be able to connect with other authors in your niche, but you’ll also have a much clearer idea of what kind of book you’re trying to create. As a general rule of thumb, literary fiction tends to be very trendy and popular, while some of the other genres mentioned above can be quite esoteric.
Take the time to explore the different genres and themes available and choose the one that seems right for you. Don’t worry about going over or under what others might consider a bestselling guideline—instead, follow your heart and write what you love.
Determine Your Product’s Features
There are four defining factors of a product that make it different from others of its kind: features, benefits, flaws, and price. When it comes to a Kindle book, you have various features that set it apart from other e-reader products, such as the adjustable font size, the ability to highlight and take notes in the text, and the fact that it has a backlight. You also have the option of adding more features through hardware or software updates — making your product unique in the marketplace.
When customers purchase your product, they’ll have certain expectations about what it should and should not have. Determine what these expectations are and decide accordingly whether you’ll include or exclude certain features. For example, if the expectation is that the book should have a certain number of pages, and you don’t want to disappoint your readers, you might decide to cut corners and remove some of the frills in order to save on production costs. Remember that whatever features you do or don’t include, the end product will still be branded with your company’s name.
Format Your Book For The Kindle
In addition to choosing your genre and theme, you have to decide how you’ll format your book for the Kindle. There are three basic options: ePub, PDF, and Mobi — with the latter two being the most common ones. While ePub is definitely the most popular format, a lot of readers prefer reading print books, so it’s not like you’ll be depriving yourself of an audience.
For the best experience on the Kindle, stick with EPUB 3—with or without audio — as this will ensure that your book looks as good as new every time someone opens it on their device. That being said, Mobi has the advantage of being the simplest and the most accessible option. If you’re new to e-books, go with the Mobí primer — it’s easy to use and gets the job done. If you’re looking for an even more streamlined experience, consider the Kindle’s Light PDF version.
Decide Whether To Self-publish
If you decide to self-publish, the next crucial decision you have to make is whether or not to go independent. When you self-publish, you’re in full control of the process, from concept to design to production. You’ll only need to secure financial backing from a traditional publisher if you decide to go the traditional route — otherwise, you’re free to go indie. While it’s great to have the freedom to be able to write what you want and make your own decisions, you have to weigh the financial opportunity before you.
If money is no object to you and you want to take the opportunity to be as creative as you can be and don’t want to be restrained by traditional publishing rules, go indie. However, keep in mind that you’ll have to bear all the financial risks yourself. Independent self-publishing is a great option for experienced writers who want to try their hand at writing a book — provided they have the freedom to be creative and make their own decisions.
Choose A Pseudonym
If you decide to self-publish, the next crucial decision you have to make is choosing a pseudonym. A pseudonym is a fake identity you create for the sake of your book. Choosing a pseudonym is a great way to keep your identity secret while also being able to connect with others who share your passion for literature. Since most literary fiction authors are either anonymous or use pseudonyms, it’s a great fit for you if you want to write a book exploring themes related to literature or if you want to write in a genre associated with literature. Once you have your pseudonym ready, all you have to do is take a short brifit and start writing.
It’s crucial to determine why you want to write a book in the first place — if you don’t have a clear purpose, it’s difficult to choose the right genre and theme. Once you’ve determined a purpose, it’s easier to choose the right tools for the job.