There are many reasons why you might want to write an e-book rather than just making a regular blog post. One of the main advantages is that you can allow your fans to learn more about your books, characters, and stories simply by reading what you have to say about them. Additionally, you can give your e-book readers discounts or special offers that can’t be accessed from your blog posts. To help you along the way, we’ve put together some valuable tips on how to write an e-book free of charge.
Make It Short
Unless you have an incredibly long story to tell, we recommend you keep your e-book short. The shorter your book, the more you can fit in, the more you can reach a larger audience, and the more you can make money off of it. You want to make sure that your readers can be pulled in easily and that they feel that what they are getting is worth the time that they are investing in your book. If you think that your readers will have a hard time committing to reading a whole book, try publishing shorter chapters that can be accessed by anyone who wants to read them. You can also add a table of contents and a chapter list at the beginning to help your readers navigate your content more easily. In the end, you will have a much shorter piece with all the information your readers could need but won’t have to hunt down themselves.
Include Bullet Points
Another important thing to keep in mind when writing an e-book is that you should use bullet points rather than blocks of text for your sub-headers. The main reason for this is that many e-books are read on devices such as tablets and cell phones where it is difficult to format your text nicely. When you use bullets, it gives your text a more graphic and informal look which will make it appeal to a larger audience.
Include plenty of images
As we mentioned above, many people read e-books on their phones and tablets. To make your content more engaging and help your readers navigate your pages easily, you should include images in a number of different forms. This could include screenshots of your books, promotional images for your blog or social media platforms, or even images that you find particularly intriguing or relevant to your narrative. Ideally, you want to include images that help your readers visualize the events that you are describing.
Be Creative With Your Charts And Tables
The information that you include in your e-book will be of value to your readers, so make sure that the information is as accurate as possible. However, if you can, you should be creative with your charts and tables. You can include original paintings, diagrams, or even flow charts that you find in books or online that relate to your content. As long as you have a narrative that is engaging and easy to follow, creativity can help you make your e-book stand out among the rest.
Use Audio
Another great way to engage your readers while also providing them with valuable information is to use audio in your e-book. You can use an audio book that you have previously recorded or you can use online services to record audio stories or lectures that you have either found on YouTube or another digital audio platform. The possibilities are endless!
Once you have your audio, you can use a software program like Audible to allow your readers to download the audio file onto their phones so that they can listen while they are reading.
If you decide to use an audio book, be sure to read the blurb for the book before you start writing so that you have some idea of what to expect. Also, you should work with the publisher or the author of the book to make sure that you are using the correct pronunciation of the characters and that you are attributing the right quote or saying the right line.
Make Sure That Your E-Book Is Worth Reading
Finally, you want to make sure that your e-book is worth reading. Like we mentioned above, shorter is better when it comes to keeping your readers’ attention. Additionally, some of your readers may be more interested in certain topics or subjects than others, so by keeping your content concise, you are ensuring that you are catering to the needs and wants of your customers. Short books make for quick and easy reading, especially if you are on the move or while you are busy with other tasks. Just be sure to keep your content interesting and as unbiased as possible.
Publish Your E-Book On Various Platforms
There are many platforms that you can use to publish or distribute your e-book. Traditional book publishing platforms like Amazon and Apple Books allow you to reach the largest audience possible, while others like Createspace and Google Books give you the option to publish your e-book for free. Some publishers even give you complete control over the design of your book, which can be a plus if you are creative.
Ultimately, you want to make sure that you are publishing your e-book on as many platforms as possible to allow your readers to find you. If you decide to go the self-publishing route, make sure to use online marketplaces like Amazon, CreateSpace, and Hachette Book Group. These marketplaces make it easy for anyone to upload a book for sale, and they provide you with the tools to make your book look as good as new!