You may be familiar with the term “eBook,” but how exactly does one write one? How do you format your eBook so that it looks presentable on a mobile device or computer? What is the difference between an eBook and an “ePortfolio”? These questions and more can be answered by reading this article.
What Is an eBook?
An eBook is a digital version of a printed book. It is similar to a PDF file or a Microsoft Word document, and can be used on devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptop/ desktop computers. Unlike a PDF file or Microsoft Word document though, an eBook can be updated and changed easily by its author. This makes them extremely useful for a business that may be subject to frequent changes, as is often the case with marketing and sales material.
When Do You Need an eBook?
If you are going to publish a digital version of a book, it is almost certainly going to be an eBook. Whether you decide to publish your eBook professionally or independently is up to you, but the majority of businesses currently choose to do so independently. Why? Costs. It is cheaper to hire someone to edit a good-quality eBook than it is to pay for premium placement in a trade magazine. It also makes it easier to edit and update the content as needed. In a nutshell, you may want to consider using an eBook for a number of reasons.
The Pros Of Using An eBook.
There are a number of benefits to using an eBook. One of the main advantages is that you do not need a physical bookhelper to read one. You can carry your eBook in the palm of your hand, and use special tools such as an eReader to turn pages, search for text, and highlight important sections. You may also download the eBook to a device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, in order to read it on the go. When you have completed your session, you can delete the content from your device and recycle it back into an eBook.
Another advantage of using an eBook is that you are not limited by the number of pages that the book will have. The majority of printed books come with a number of pages, but if you are writing an eBook, you are the author, and you can decide how many pages you need. This, in turn, makes it easier to write a shorter eBook. Remember: you can always add more content if you feel that the existing material is not sufficiently comprehensive.
Try Different Formats
As a rule, it is a good idea to try different formats to determine which one works best for your eBook. If you decide that an eBook in PDF format is the best option available, that is what you should use. What does this mean? It means that if you write your book in Microsoft Word format, you should convert it into a PDF file before you publish it. Why? When you publish the file in PDF format, you can send it to anyone, and they will be able to read it – regardless of whether or not they have the software to view PDF files. What you should avoid, however, is using a word processor to edit your eBook as it will almost certainly cause you more problems than it is worth. Try different formats, and see which one works best for your eBook.
Special Character Sets
If you decide that the default Latin alphabet does not have enough characters to represent the dialects and accents that you are planning to use, you should consider using a special character set. There are three types of special characters: ligatures, ornaments, and discretionary ligatures. Let us take a look at each one.
Ligatures are used to join two or more characters into a single glyph. One of the great things about using ligatures is that you are not limited to the 26 letters of the English alphabet. Once you have joined two or more letters with a ligature, you can add more letters to the combination. For example, the ‘ae’ ligature can be used to join the ‘a’ and the ‘e’ into a single composite character.
Ornaments, as the name suggests, are used to decorate words and sentences. They can be used to highlight important words and phrases, or to add an extra touch of authenticity to a publication. Ornaments are usually used in pairs, one on top of the other. The first letter in a pair of ornaments is identical to the one that follows it in the alphabetical sequence. For example, the letter ‘t’ and the numeral ‘8′ are paired together because they are the eighth and final letters in the alphabet. This means that when they are placed alongside each other, they form the number ‘8′. You should use ornaments when you want to add that extra touch of authenticity that an eBook can benefit from.
The Cons Of Using An eBook.
There are some disadvantages to using an eBook. One of the main ones is that, if you are converting a physical book into an eBook, there is a good chance that there will be some content that does not translate well into digital form. What do I mean by this? If you are not used to writing in a word processor, you may find that there are words and phrases in the book that you cannot put into your own writing. Also, if you have ever written a book, you will know that it takes a lot of time to convert it into an eBook format. You basically have to go through the entire manuscript, and re-arrange the content so that it can be read easily by a tablet or mobile phone screen. Once you have done that, you have to make sure that the formatting of each individual page is correct. For this, you will need to use a special tool that checks spelling, grammar, and numbering throughout the manuscript.
What if I told you that there was a way to write a book, and publish it on an eBook within a day? Would you believe me? There is a way, and it involves using a product known as ‘DocuSign™ EasyBook™’. What is EasyBook™? EasyBook™ is a platform that allows you to write and publish a book, and all within a day! Here is how it works:
1. Create an account with DocuSign™.
2. Upload your book file in whatever format you have it in (including PDF, DOC, and CHM).
3. Answer a few questions about the book, such as its length, number of illustrations, and any other pertinent information. You can also add an abstract or executive summary if you are writing an academic book.
4. You will then be presented with a list of books that DocuSign™ thinks that you might like to write. Choose one, and click on the button to continue. (You can also add more books to your To-do list if you want).
5. You will then be presented with a preview of the book. If you decide that this is okay, click on the button to continue. Otherwise, you can go back and remove the book from your list. (You can re-add it later if you want).
6. Once you have chosen a book that you want to write, click on the button to continue. You will then be asked to enter the number of copies that you want to order. (Make sure that you order the correct number of copies; it is not easy to go back once you hit the ‘Place Order’ button).
7. You will be asked to login to your Amazon Payments ™ account if you are planning to purchase the retail version of the book. (You do not have to have an account with Amazon Payments ™ to use this service).
8. You will then be asked to confirm your order by entering a payment method that you have set up with Amazon Payments ™. (If you do not have an account with Amazon Payments ™, you can create one here).
9. Finally, you will receive an email from DocuSign™ with your order details. Your book will then be written and published on the EasyBook™ platform within a day or two. It is the perfect alternative for those who want to publish a book, but do not have the time to do so themselves.