How to write your first eBook

Writing your first eBook can seem like a daunting task. But like many projects, it won’t seem so bad when broken down into manageable chunks. Not all projects are successful, so don’t be too disappointed if your first eBook isn’t a best seller. Whatever the outcome of your first ebook, you can at least say ‘You did it’.

Like many things in life, the often seemingly impossible can be achieved with the right attitude and the right equipment. It could be a marathon race, climbing a mountain, or finding parking at the grocery store.

If you want to play golf, you will need clubs, balls and some practice. There is no guarantee that you will become another Tiger Woods, but you will become a golfer.

If you want to write an eBook, you’ll need a computer, software, and some instructions. Assuming you have a computer and software or access to it, here are some instructions.

set your reasons

Your reasons for wanting to write an eBook will have a huge impact on your success. It can be for financial gain, promoting a business, advancing your career, education, personal satisfaction, or something else entirely. Whatever your reasons, write them down. It will help motivate you if the going gets tough.

choose your theme

There are countless topics you can write about. It is advisable to choose something that you are interested in or familiar with. It is worth spending time on this. The more you know about your topic, the easier it will be to write about it.

choose your title

After choosing the topic, you will need a title for the eBook. It’s worth writing down a few different ones before you decide which one you’ll use. This will help you keep your focus and may give you some other ideas. The title should give a clear indication of the content of your book. A catchy headline can help sell it, but remember to balance it with clarity to keep it in context. I have written two examples. Feel free to use them if you have a sense of humor.

A paradise for clubbers – Golf in Ibiza

20 minutes late – The future of trains

Choose your audience

The topic and style of your writing will determine your audience. Decide who your desired audience will be. Age, gender, culture, social background, and education are factors you may want to consider. What you write should be targeted to the intended audience.

Write your thesis statement

Although it is possible to write your ebook without a ‘thesis statement’, it is not recommended. If you are not familiar with this term, there are many sources available that will provide all the details you need. Unfortunately, there are some differences of opinion that can lead to confusion.

‘Thesis statement’ deserves a separate article for its own purpose, as I have now written a general definition of a thesis statement for e-books. This may leave the door open for criticism, but it’s a small price to pay if it removes some of the confusion. More importantly, it will give you a foundation from which to start. Use it only as a guide. If you want a more specific definition, Google is a good place to start your search.

A thesis statement is a sentence or two written to clearly show the reasons for your eBook and what you hope to write about.

Although I have referred to this as a general definition, keep in mind that your actual statement should be as specific as possible.

Think of it as the foundation of your eBook. It must contain the following:

1) Your theme

2) Your opinion on the topic

3) A supporting reason for your opinion

4) The meaning of 1), 2) and 3)

Create your document

Now that you have the base, you can start writing.
A standard application like MS Word is a good option.
As you write your paper, you can review your thesis statement at any time until it is published. This provides a good degree of flexibility.

Choose the format and layout of your document, including chapters, headings, and introductions. Depending on the topic, you may want to add photos, anecdotes, or testimonials that will hold the reader’s attention.

Since an e-book is usually read from a screen, you may want to break up the text more than in a print book. Experiment with a few different fonts and look in other e-books for ideas you can use. Check spelling and save your document regularly. MS Word has an automatic recovery feature. This is useful if you don’t save the document regularly and then experience a system crash. Always make a backup copy of your document. As a precaution, you should also save a copy on other media, such as a CD.

Choose your ebook format

This is a personal decision. You can choose to create an executable (.exe) file or a Portable Document Format (.pdf) file. This is by no means an exhaustive list, here are some points to consider before choosing.

EXE files are compiled using an ebook compiler

EXE files may offer features not available with PDF files

EXE files can only be read on a PC

EXE files do not require any other software to be read

EXE files are easy to open, easy to bookmark, and good viral marketing tools

EXE files can be susceptible to viruses, although some compilers offer virus protection.

You can find more information about the best compilers at

http://www.ebook-site.com/ebook-compilers.html

PDF files can be created with Adobe Acrobat

PDF files can be created with other third party applications

PDF files are an industry standard

PDF files can be read on both PC and MAC

PDF files require Adobe Reader to be read

PDF files are very unlikely to get infected

You can find more information about PDF files on the Adobe website

Create your e-book

Create your ebook in the format you choose.
Congratulations, you are now an author.