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How to Write an eBook on a Mac

The eBook industry was valued at around US$16.9 billion in 2018 and is projected to hit nearly US$23.9billion by next year. (Statista)

With the growth of eBooks comes the growth of the need to write them. But, if you’re on a Mac, how does one go about writing an eBook?

The following steps will show you how to write an eBook on a Mac so that you can become more familiar with the process and ensure that your efforts lead to a successful venture.

Step one: Set up the book’s contents

The very first thing that you need to do is to set up the content of your book. This includes researching and gathering the necessary materials for the book. (You’ll find a list of tools that you need to gather information with in the appendix at the end of this article.)

The best place to start is with the outline. This is a very detailed document that will organize and outline the material in your book. You can use a simple table of contents to keep track of the material and help you navigate through your content more easily. You can also use the outline to create a more detailed Table of Contents at the end of the document. (You don’t have to do this in a word processing program. You can use a tool like Good Reader to create a Table of Contents for you.)

Step two: Create a cover for the book

The cover of your book is one of the most important parts. If you’ve ever seen an Agatha Christie novel, you’ll know what I mean when I say that a cover can determine whether or not someone buys your book. (In fact, the vast majority of eBook sales are determined by the cover of the book.).

The cover should be a high-quality image that portrays the content of your book. The best guides to creating a cover for your eBook will tell you to use free software such as Photoshop or a similar tool to create a mock-up of your book cover. (If you’re on a Mac, there is a handy tool called Mocko that can help you create covers for your eBooks. You can find more information about it in this article.)

When creating a cover for your book, it’s vital to keep the following in mind:

  • The cover should fit the content of your book
  • The cover should be engaging
  • The cover should match the mood of your book
  • The cover should be memorable
  • The cover should fit the brand identity of your book
  • The cover should be functional
  • The cover should be shareable
  • The cover should be discoverable
  • The cover should be somewhere on the internet
  • The cover should be a reflection of you as an author

Step three: Create a detailed Table of contents

Now that you have your cover, you can start work on the Table of Contents for your book. (You don’t have to do this in a word processing program; you can use a tool like Good Reader to create a Table of Contents for you.)

The Table of Contents is a great indicator of the content of your book as it is an overview of the material included in your document. You should include every necessary detail in your Table of Contents. This will make it easier for readers to navigate through your content more easily. You should also take the time to develop a plan before you start creating the Table of Contents. This will make the process much more organized and less chaotic.

Step four: Include a foreword

The foreword is a short piece of text that is included at the beginning of the book. It is an opportunity to introduce the reader to the material covered in the book and set the stage for what is to come. (You can use the foreword to explain the significance of the book or why you wrote it.)

If you’re writing an autobiography, you may want to include a foreword about yourself. You can use this opportunity to set the scene for the reader by telling them a little bit about yourself and your journey to becoming an author. This will make the reader feel that they are more connected to your story.

Step five: Create a biography of the author

A biography is a short piece of text that gives the reader more information about the author. You should include a biography for every major character that appears in your book. This will add a personal touch to the story and allow the reader to better understand the motivations and actions of your characters. Biographies can help establish connections with the characters and the setting of your story. They can also be used to explain the significance of certain objects, people, or events in the story. (You can use the resources in the appendix at the end of this article to help you with this process.)

Step six: Create a bibliography

A bibliography is a list of sources used in the creation of a particular work. Every author should include a bibliography at the end of their book. A bibliography can be especially useful for identifying sources of quoted material or material that the author specifically relies upon. A bibliography should include the following information:

  • The title and the author of the piece
  • The publisher of the piece
  • The location of the piece (i.e. the newspaper, magazine, or website where it can be found)
  • The date of publication (this is especially important for older works)
  • A short description of the article
  • The names of any witnesses or people who participated in the research for the article
  • The complete citation for the article (i.e. the page number where the article can be found)
  • If the publication is not available online, you can provide the URL where the article can be accessed

The resources in the appendix at the end of this article will help you with this process. Just remember to cite all sources appropriately in your bibliography.

Step seven: Proofread and edit the copy

Once you’ve compiled all of the material and are ready to publish your eBook, it’s time to edit the copy. The best way to do this is to use a copy editor who has experience in crafting books for the print market. (You can also do this yourself with a little bit of help from some friends.)

After you’ve edited the copy, it’s time to proofread it. Like with the editing process, you can use a word processing program or a free online tool to do this. When you’re satisfied with the result, it’s time to publish your book.

Hopefully, this article has provided you with a basic overview of the process to create an eBook on a Mac. If you’re a bit rusty on the topic, it’s a good idea to read one of the best guides to creating an eBook. This will assist you in getting started and ensure that your efforts lead to a successful venture.