A Ridiculously Easy Guide to Writing (and Selling) an eBook
"I want to write a book."
How many times have you heard this phrase? Forget it! How many times have you said it either to yourself or someone else?
If you look around, you'll find many people who want to write a book at some point in their lives. Still, only a few are able to do it.
Ever wondered why?
It's one thing to come up with an idea and another thing to convert it into a compelling eBook that's hard to put down. Many novice writers get carried away with the flow of ideas, while others lose their way in trying to create a perfect draft in the very first attempt. Writing an eBook is a long and complex process, but it doesn't have to be a daunting one (as it's generally considered).
Step-By-Step Guide to Writing and Selling an eBook
To help all the aspirant authors out there fulfill their dream of getting an eBook published under their name, here is a simple, step-by-step guide from our expert eBook writers:
1. Brainstorm to Choose and Refine an Idea
You may have several ideas lurking in your mind or just have one that you have been thinking about for a long time. However, when you are writing to earn money, you cannot choose a topic just on the basis of your personal preferences. You want to make sure that it's something that people would willingly pay to read.
Don't hesitate to ask for help if you're struggling to decide which idea or topic you should work on. Ask around - present the options to your friends and family members and ask them which topic would they love to read about the most. You can also run a small survey on a social media platform or take clues from question-answer websites, like Quora.
Once you have generated or selected the right idea, take your time to ponder over it. Your goal at this stage is to make sure that the idea is useful and interesting and then develop it. At the same time, you want to make sure that it's not vague or too broad - it should be specific.
2. Get Organized
As much as you feel tempted to start writing on the brilliant idea you have just developed, don't start it just yet. Resist your temptation a little more. It's essential to get things organized before you start writing to streamline the process.
Create a detailed outline with all the chapter titles and heading and subheadings. Also, it's a good idea to include a brief summary of the things that you are going to cover in each section. The structure of the outline will vary across different types of books.
If your topic requires research, do it now and collect all the data that you know you would need.
3. Write, but Don't Edit
One of the most common mistakes novice writers make is that they try to write and edit at the same time. Don't do this - it will make you lose the flow of ideas, slow you down, and will eventually lead to frustration. It's counterproductive, to say the least.
When you start writing, just write. Leave editing for later.
4. Edit
Mark Twain said, "Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words."
We wish editing would be as easy as Twain made it sound. Reviewing and editing an eBook is a long and complex task that requires focus, an eye for detail, and language proficiency. Furthermore, it often takes several rounds of reviewing and editing to create a perfect eBook, with no grammatical errors, coherent ideas, and strong arguments. No wonder many writers find it a tedious task and take help from professional eBook editors.
Note
Always take a break from your project before you put on the editor's hat. The length of the break depends on how much time you have, but at least take a day's break, even if you are on a deadline. This will help you return to the project with a fresh mind.
5. Get Down to Technical Details
Think your eBook is ready to publish? Not yet! (We feel you, fellow writer!) It's time to deal with the technicalities - formatting, to be specific.
While PDF is the most common file type for eBooks, it's better to have it available in multiple formats if you plan to sell it on the Kindle store as well (which you should). Offer your eBook in PDF, EPUB, and MOBI formats to give your customers the freedom to choose (it makes them feel in control).
You can either use any of the online conversion tools or hire a professional to do the formatting for you.
6. Design the Cover
The cover of the eBook holds as much value (if not more) as the hook of your book. It captures the reader's attention, raises their curiosity, and pushes them to make the purchase. In addition to being interesting and engaging, the cover should also communicate the subject matter of your eBook.
While you can take a look at some of the best-selling books in your niche to get an idea, do not copy. If this is not your forte, get it done from a professional cover page designer.
7. Put it Up for Sale
Finally, your eBook is ready to be published!
But, don't just rely on Amazon. If you really want your book to sell (whether to make money or name), it's a good idea to get it published on multiple platforms. Some of your options are Amazon, Kindle, iBooks, Smashwords, Kobo, Nook Press, and Barnes & Noble.
8. Market. Market. Market
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of marketing in the digital world!
Start marketing your eBook even before it's up for sale and continue doing it, consistently, even after its publishing and launch to keep your sales going.
To make the most of your efforts, use multiple marketing channels and methods.
9. Get Going!
Whether you have a vague idea somewhere in your head or a fully-developed one on top of your mind, follow these steps to convert it into a great eBook.
If the process sounds too long and/or complicated, you can always get help from a professional eBook writing service.
This guest post was written by Rob Davis, a ghost writer for eBook writing services. Working at Ghost eBook Writers, Dave trains people on the art of eBook writing - be it their own or as ghostwriters. He has helped numerous aspiring ebook writers fulfill their ambitions by holding their hand and leading them towards getting published.
