How to Write an Ebook
The hardest part of writing is the first sentence.
When you look at the whole project, it seems like an impossible
task. That's why you have to break it down into manageable
tasks. Think of climbing a mountain.
You are standing at the foot of it and looking up at its summit
vanishing into the clouds. How can you possibly scale such an
immense and dangerous mountain?
There is only one way to climb a mountain - step by step.
Now think of writing your ebook in the same light. You must
create it step by step, and one day, you will take that last
step and find yourself standing on the summit with your head in
the clouds.
The first thing you have to do, as if you actually were a
mountain climber, is to get organized. Instead of climbing gear,
however, you must organize your thoughts.
There are some steps you should take before you begin. Once
you've gone through the following list, you will be ready to
actually begin writing your ebook.
Beginning Steps to Writing an ebook
First, figure out your ebook's working title. Jot down a few
different titles, and eventually, you'll find that one that will
grow on you. Titles help you to focus your writing on your
topic; they guide you in anticipating and answering your
reader's queries. Many non-fiction books also have subtitles.
Aim for clarity in your titles, but cleverness always helps to
sell books - as long as it's not too cute. For example,
Remedies for Insomnia: twenty different ways to count sheep. Or:
Get off that couch: fifteen exercise plans to whip you into
shape.
Next, write out a thesis statement. Your thesis is a sentence or
two stating exactly what problem you are addressing and how your
book will solve that problem. All chapters spring forth from
your thesis statement.
Once you've got your thesis statement fine-tuned, you've built
your foundation. From that foundation, your book will grow,
chapter by chapter.
Your thesis will keep you focused while you write your ebook.
Remember: all chapters must support your thesis statement. If
they don't, they don't belong in your book. For example, your
thesis statement could read:
We've all experienced insomnia at times in our lives, but there
are twenty proven techniques and methods to give you back a good
night's sleep.
Once you have your thesis, before you start to write, make sure
there is a good reason to write your book.
Ask yourself some questions:
* Does your book present useful information and is that
information currently relevant?
* Will you book positively affect the lives of your readers?
* Is your book dynamic and will it keep the reader's attention?
* Does you book answer questions that are meaningful and
significant?
If you can answer yes to these questions, you can feel confident
about the potential of your ebook.
Another important step is to figure out who your target audience
is. It is this group of people you will be writing to, and this
group will dictate many elements of your book, such as style,
tone, diction, and even length. Figure out the age range of your
readers, their general gender, what they are most interested in,
and even the socio-economic group they primarily come from. Are
they people who read fashion magazines or book reviews? Do they
write letters in longhand or spend hours every day online. The
more you can pin down your target audience, the easier it will
be to write your book for them.
Next, make a list of the reasons you are writing your ebook. Do
you want to promote your business? Do you want to bring quality
traffic to your website? Do you want to enhance your reputation?
Then write down your goals in terms of publishing. Do you want
to sell it as a product on your website, or do you want to offer
it as a free gift for filling out a survey or for ordering a
product? Do you want to use the chapters to create an e-course,
or use your ebook to attract affiliates around the world? The
more you know upfront, the easier the actual writing will be.
Decide on the format of your chapters. In non-fiction, keep the
format from chapter to chapter fairly consistent. Perhaps you
plan to use an introduction to your chapter topic, and then
divide it into four subhead topics. Or you may plan to divide it
into five parts, each one beginning with a relevant anecdote.
How to make your ebook "user friendly"
You must figure out how to keep your writing engaging.
Often anecdotes, testimonials, little stories, photos, graphs,
advice, and tips will keep the reader turning the pages.
Sidebars are useful for quick, accessible information, and they
break up the density of the page.
Write with a casual, conversational tone rather than a formal
tone such as textbook diction. Reader's respond to the feeling
that you are having a conversation with them. Break up the
length and structure of your sentences so you don