Writing your first ebook may seem like a
daunting task. But like many projects, it won’t seem so bad
when it’s 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, what often
seems impossible can be attained with the right attitude and
the right equipment. It could be a marathon run, climbing a
mountain or finding parking space at the supermarket.
If you want to play golf, you will need
clubs, balls and some practice. There’s no guarantee you
will become another Tiger Woods but you will become a
golfer.
If you want to write an ebook, you will
need a computer, software and some directions. Assuming you
have a computer and software or access to them, here are
some directions.
Establish Your Reasons
Your reasons for wanting to write an
ebook will have a major impact on your success. It may be
for financial gain, promoting a business, advancing your
career, education, self satisfaction or something entirely
different. Whatever your reasons, write them down. It will
help to motivate you if the going gets tough.
Choose Your Subject
There are countless subjects that you can
write about. It’s wise to choose something you have an
interest in or knowledge of. It is worthwhile spending time
on this. The more you know about your subject, the easier it
will be to write about.
Choose Your Title
After you’ve chosen your subject, you’ll
need a title for the ebook. It’s worth writing down a few
different ones before deciding on the one you’ll use. This
will help to keep your focus and may give you some other
ideas. The title should give a clear indication of the
content in your book. A catchy title may help to sell it,
but remember to balance this with clarity to keep it in
context. I’ve written down two examples. Feel free to use
them if you have a sense of humor.
A Clubbers Paradise - Golfing in Ibiza
20 Minutes Late – The Future of Trains
Choose Your Audience
The subject 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 at your desired audience.
Write Your Thesis Statement
Although it’s possible to write your
ebook without a ‘thesis statement’, it is not recommended.
If you are unfamiliar with this term, there are many sources
available that will provide you with all the details you
need. Unfortunately, there are some differences of opinion
that may lead to confusion.
The ‘thesis statement’ deserves a
separate article of its own but for now I have written a
general definition of a thesis statement for ebooks. This
may leave the door open for criticism but is a small price
to pay if it removes some of the confusion. More
importantly, it will give you a base on which to start. Only
use it as a guideline. 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 reason(s) for your ebook and
what you expect 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 for your
ebook. It should contain the following:
1) Your subject
2) Your opinion on the subject
3) A supporting reason for your opinion
4) The significance of 1), 2) and 3)
Create Your Document
Now that you have the foundation, you can
begin writing. A standard application like MS Word is a good
choice. While you are writing your document you can revise
your thesis statement at any time up until it is published.
This provides a good degree of flexibility.
Choose the format and layout of your
document, including chapters, headings and introductions.
Dependent on your subject, you may wish to add photographs,
anecdotes or testimonials that keep the reader’s attention.
Since an ebook is generally read from a
screen, you may want to break up the text more than in a
printed book. Experiment with a few different fonts and look
at other ebooks for ideas you can use. Spell check and save
your document regularly. MS Word has an auto recovery
feature. This is useful if you don’t save the document on a
regular basis and later experience a system crash. Always
backup your document. As a precaution you should also keep a
copy on another media such as CD.
Choose Your Ebook Format
This is a personal choice. You may decide
to create an executable (.exe) file or a Portable Document
Format (.pdf) file. By no means an exhaustive list, here are
some points to consider before you choose.
EXE files are compiled using an ebook
compiler
EXE files may offer features that are not available with
PDFs
EXE files can only be read on a PC
EXE files don’t require any other software to be read
EXE files are easy to open, easily branded, and good viral
marketing tools
EXE files may be susceptible to viruses although some
compilers offer virus protection
More information on the better compilers can be found
here.
PDF files can be created using Adobe
Acrobat
PDF files can be created with several other 3rd party
applications
PDF files are an industry standard
PDF files can be read by both PC and MAC
PDF files require Adobe Reader to be read
PDF files are highly unlikely to become infected
More information on PDFs can be found on the Adobe website
Create Your Ebook
Create your ebook in your chosen format.
Congratulations you are now an author.
About The Author
Bryan Quinn is an IT consultant and
webmaster of several information sites, including eBook-site.com,
his first website.