“Writing a book is hard; you should only consider it if you have a passion for it!” This is what you’ll mostly hear online whenever you try to express your desire to write a book. While we’re not saying that this is entirely false, times have changed, and there is more than one way to get your ideas on paper. Most authors online often complain because they preach their books via traditional publishing, which is, most of the time, taxing, time-consuming, and a hit or miss when it comes to success.
If you don’t want to go that route, you always have the option to self-publish, and if it’s more of a low-investment personal project, then write an eBook instead. Writing an eBook is a great idea for beginner-level authors who want to know what it means to be a storyteller. It also proves a great tool for marketers to build content marketing strategies. A well-crafted eBook can establish your credibility as an industry expert, through which you can guide them towards your business.
If you fall into either of the two categories, you must know how to write an eBook first. Learning how to write an eBook can be a door to new and exciting opportunities. If you want to unlock that door, then follow our seven-step eBook writing guide for beginners to help you draft your first copy from scratch. Whether it’s your dream to make a six-figure monthly passive income, grow your audience, or build your brand, in just five minutes, learn the way to create your first successful eBook.
What is an eBook?
Before we learn how to write an eBook, it’s only fair that we learn what it is first. eBooks is short for Electronic books. They are digital versions of any printed book, brochure, or guide that you can access through smartphones and computers.
Another question to ask is, why go for one? Well, to put it simply, eBooks have brought about a shift in traditional reading, as they reduce the need for physical copies and make books readily available on devices with Internet access.
There is a debate among the reading community about eBooks and paperbacks and which one is a superior option. While this is purely subjective, Amazon used it as an opportunity to bring about the Amazon Kindle store and e-readers in 2007 to promote eBook reading. This resulted in a growing population of individuals buying eBooks and reading them. Last year, on Amazon alone, there were about 2023, there were 98.2 million users enjoying eBooks. With such a large market of readers, it presents an opportunity to build a large audience and bring in potential profits.
Another major reason to write eBooks is because it boosts credibility. Writing a book shows that you have extensive knowledge about the subject. As it is readily accessible to users, it portrays you as an industry expert. It’s the reason why companies consider eBooks in their marketing plan: they greatly boost audience engagement and lead to profitability.
The 7 Steps of Writing an eBook
If you’re a beginner and driven to learn how to write an eBook, here are seven simple steps that are the foundation for your success:
1. Identify Your Target Audience
Before you wonder what to write, it’s crucial that you know who you are writing for. One beginner-level mistake most new writers make is not considering their target audience before they engage in writing. You must know who you’re writing for, as it helps choose the right topics and marketing platform. It’s not just narrowing down gender or age range. But rather, dig deep down to learn everything about who you’ll be writing for. Make an imaginary persona and consider everything from their location, interests, hobbies, and pain points. The better you’re able to visualize them, the better you’re able to relate to them:
To get an idea of your target audience, here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What topics will my eBook cover?
- Who will benefit from my eBook content?
- How will be able to I reach my target audience and desired demographic groups?
- Why will my target audience find my eBook interesting or useful?
2. Choose a Relevant Topic
Next on how to write an eBook is topic selection. Once you’ve got a good idea of who you’ll be writing for, you must ask yourself what you should write about. Now, most often, beginners make mistakes here as well. And that mistake is choosing an overly broad topic. Not narrowing down on what you want to focus on can lead to problems down the road.
Consider it this way: most readers on the internet prefer to read content aimed towards a specific problem. If they can find an eBook covering everything about that specific problem, they’ll most likely buy it.
If you still have trouble choosing what to write about, consider your industry and audience. Assess your skills, talents, and advice you generally give to your audience. Is there a particular topic or problem you have extensive knowledge of that people often ask about? Consider that as the main topic your eBook will be about.
3. Conduct Thorough Research
Once you’ve pinned down a specific topic for your eBook, next is determining whether there is a market for it or not. Although eBook writing won’t cost you any money, you’ll still be investing something far more precious: Your time. With time on the line, you don’t want to make the blunder of covering the subject without realizing that dozens of eBooks are already present that have covered everything there is to the topic. While there’s no rule against writing on the same topic, you won’t get the same reach if it doesn’t offer something new.
That’s why initial research is important before you start your initial draft. Here are some research tips to get a clear-cut idea about your narrative approach and whether your chosen topic will sink or swim:
While we agree that this step is the most time-consuming out of all the steps on how to write an eBook, you should know that the more time you invest here, the more clarity you’ll have about the topic and the different ways to write about it. That’s why it’s crucial that you leave no stone unturned. Get as much information as you can. Participating in groups, message boards, and forums provides insights into the interests and needs related to our eBook subject. Once you’ve finalized a topic and are clear on how to address it, then we move on to the next step.
- Use keyword tools to find relevant terms for your eBook's topic.
- Compare existing books and eBooks to see if there's a viable market segment.
- Explore the topic to understand the community interested in the eBook's themes.
- Assess if there is a genuine demand for our content through keyword research and community interactions.
4. Outline the Chapters
Your eBook length is also a crucial factor when it comes to success. You don’t want to just trail on pages about a problem and only give it a brief solution. Neither should you derail from the subject you’re covering. If there is one thing that readers hate while reading, it is not having clarity. It’s not just the readers that will feel frustrated; you will feel the same while writing. A proper start, middle, and end will ensure a better reading flow and give your book more structure,
To get that structure, the best way is to prepare a chapter outline first. This will prove to be a solid foundation for your eBook. It will work as a guide, allowing you to place facts where they can make the best impact. It will also help define the book’s tone, style, and eventual conclusion. This way, you’ll end up with a guide on what to write, allowing you to structure your content tactfully, leaving no room for errors.
5. Write One Chapter at a Time
Once you’ve conducted in-depth research and formed your chapter outline, it’s time to create your first draft. As the first draft, only focus on adding as much relevant information as possible based on the chapter. For nonfiction eBooks, this could include sources, statistics, links, and support claims. The more information you’ll cover, the better the final version will be.
One principle for writing your first draft is focusing on a single chapter at a time. While sure, it does sound time-saving to cover multiple chapters at once, the drawback is that you’ll end up with more fluff. Writing, in nature, is a linear process. The more you can interconnect ideas, the better sense it will create. When you’re writing multiple chapters at once, it could result in more repetitions to occur. For beginners who want to learn how to write an eBook, the best route is to choose one chapter and deal with it first before moving to the next one.
6. Refine Your eBook
Once you’re done and dusted with your initial draft, you move on to the most important steps of writing an eBook editing and Refining . Even the best first drafts need extensive edits before they get published.
Sure, your book might seem perfect after finishing it, but even when you’re careful, typos and grammar errors can occur. Moreover, you might find areas for improvement. Think of it this way: you’re an industry expert or a budding author about to publish your first eBook.
While eBooks have the power to put you in a positive light to your audience, the opposite is also a possibility. A single typo or a vague point could ruin your reputation. It’s crucial that before you even consider publishing your first eBook, you look at it with a fresh pair of eyes.
Go through it chapter by chapter, taking your time weighing on each page, paragraph, sentence and single word. If that feels overwhelming, you can always hire a professional editor to streamline and speed up the review process.
7. Design Your eBook
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but let’s be honest, appearance matters, at least in the context of eBooks anyway. How many times has it been that a book cover draws you to take a peek inside what’s written? If you want your eBook to have a solid first impression so it can compete in the sea of already existing content, then make sure you invest in cover design, format, and typesetting.
If you’re planning a budget for eBook writing, most experts would advise using the majority of it on eBook cover design. There is a logical reason behind that. When it comes to an eBook, you want to make it so that it catches the reader’s eye to the point that they want to read its blurb and decide whether they should buy it or not.
Most readers often won’t even give an eBook a second to judge if all it has is a blank canvas for a cover. So, you want to invest in the thing that matters most: getting your book off the virtual shelf. So, even if you do come up with a perfect bestseller, ensure the design reflects that in a way that gains the attention of the masses.
How to Publish an eBook
Even learning how to write an eBook will do you any good if you’re not prepared for the next part of the process: eBook publishing. Knowing how to do it can boost your content marketing strategy. Let’s cover eBook publishing and what you need to know to get started with the process. Let’s start with eBook format first:
Common eBook Formats
eBook format is, simply put, the way the digital file is stored and made accessible to the user. Understanding eBook format is crucial for creating a professional and accessible eBook. Here are some common eBook formats you should know:
- PDF: Widely used for its fixed layout and ease of reading on most devices.
- ePub: Popular for its adaptability to screen sizes, making it versatile for different devices.
- AZW: Used primarily for Amazon’s Kindle.
- MOBI: An older format that's still supported by Kindle devices.
- ODF: Open Document Format often used for text documents.
- IBA: Used for Apple’s iBooks.
With knowledge of formats and their templates, it will aid you in the design phase.
Choosing the Right Publishing Platform
Just as important is the right cover design when learning how to write an eBook. The same can be said when choosing an eBook publishing platform. These platforms help you reach your audience. It’s crucial that you choose the ones that make it possible. For that, you need to conduct extensive research and comparison. Here are some options to consider:
- Amazon: Amazon is the largest self-publishing platform, and it is ideal for authors at any level.
- Barnes & Noble Press: A strong alternative to Amazon, offering different publishing options.
- iBooks: Perfect for reaching Apple device users.
- Kobo Writing Life: A great choice for independent authors looking to join a community outside of big corporations.
Using eBook Aggregators
While one publishing platform can connect you with the right audience, what if there are multiple platforms from where your audience buys? What if you want to publish on multiple platforms at once? You need to rely on aggregators. They distribute and sell your book to various retailers and platforms. Here are some noteworthy ones to consider:
- Bookbaby
- PublishDrive
- Smashwords
- Draft2Digital
These services simplify the distribution process, allowing us to reach audiences on platforms reserved for specific devices like Apple or Android.
Promoting Your eBook
Once your eBook is published and available for sale, it’s crucial to promote it effectively. Building a website and utilizing social media channels are key strategies. Creating an online presence is essential not only for credibility but also to engage with a wider audience.
An effective online strategy can significantly impact eBook sales and help attract new readers. By employing these methods, we can ensure that our eBook reaches its full potential in the marketplace.
Conclusion
Learning how to write an eBook can be a rewarding journey for both aspiring authors and businesses looking to expand their reach. By following these seven steps – from identifying your target audience to promoting your finished product – you can create a valuable resource that resonates with readers and achieves your desired goals. Whether you aim to share your expertise, build your brand, or generate income, writing an eBook can be a powerful tool to achieve your objectives.
frequently asked question
The time required to write an eBook varies significantly depending on factors like length, complexity, and writing speed. While some authors may complete a short eBook in a few weeks, others may take months or even years for more in-depth projects.
No, you don’t necessarily need specialized software. You can use any word processing program like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or even a simple text editor.
eBook earnings vary greatly. Factors influencing income include pricing, marketing efforts, and the overall popularity of your topic. Some authors earn modest sums, while others achieve significant financial success.
Yes, you can copyright your eBook to protect your intellectual property. Copyright laws vary by country, so it’s essential to research the specific regulations in your region.
While not always mandatory, hiring a professional editor is highly recommended, especially for first-time authors. Editors can help refine your writing, improve clarity, and ensure your eBook is free of errors.
