Considering writing an Ebook? Smart move! An Ebook is an excellent place to dip your toes into being a writer (without the hefty price tag of that comes with producing a physical copy). It's also a great way to generate side income while you pursue a larger writing career. You can also take a successful Ebook and create a hardcover or paperback should you choose.
As a writer, you probably know this. No doubt you've considered taking on the world of Ebooks and taking over your reader's kindle. So why haven't you?
Some common reasons we hold back are:
You don't know where to start
You don't think you have the time
You're not sure what to write about
You're not certain how to market it
If this sounds familiar, don't let it stop you! Anyone who has published an Ebook before has experienced the same concerns and challenges. The trick to overcoming them is to do your research. Find out what genre you like, read some other Ebooks within said genre (and figure out what authors you like or think you could write similarly to), and then develop your story.
For the purpose of this post, we're going to assume that you're writing this Ebook as an author looking to help other authors. The same principles can be applied to Ebook writing in general, but for the sake of this example, this is our advice.
Writing Pro Tip 1: Ebooks make great incentives for joining your email list or a "freebie" to offer during a giveaway or book sale.
Developing Your Idea:
1. Fall in love with your idea: Picking your idea is typically the easiest part of this process. Chances are if you're reading this, you already know what you want to write about. But if you don't a great rule of thumb is to pick something you're going to enjoy writing not what you think will earn you quick cash. Picking big market topics such as self-help, a cookbook, or some sort of diet book simply because you think it will sell isn't the best decision and here's why: the market is inflated by a ton of people who are thinking the exact same way. What you'll end up finding is that only those with credentials, industry expertise, or those who are well connected within said industry are truly finding success. Better to pick something you're actually passionate about, what you have knowledge in, and what you're qualified to write about. Doing so ups your chances of seeing your novel through to the end.
2. Do your research: No matter what genre you've chosen, a little research is probably in order. Whether this is for a specific nonfiction topic, for a battle scene in your fantasy Ebook, or even just location or historical facts it's good to prep ahead of time. If your aim to provide expertise or to help your audience learn a new skill, but aren't sure what you want to help them with, you have only to look at what blogs, books, magazines, and newspaper articles you're most interested in. You'll begin to see patterns of article topics that appear again and again- these are popular because people request them or because they draw the most readers. Choosing one of these within your niche will likely achieve similar results for your Ebook.
Writing Pro Tip 2: Using an Ebook format for a companion novel to your main series can be the perfect way to boost your readership. Disclose side adventures, world-building, and character backstory relating to your series. Then let your readership know it's been published.
3. Be aware of your time constraints and plan accordingly: Make no mistake, writing an Ebook is still time-consuming. True it is shorter than a regular book (about 2,000-2,500 words, or 300-350 words per section) but you're still fundamentally writing a book. Be honest with yourself about your time constraints, limitations like other jobs or childcare, and plan accordingly. Setting goals and a timeline for when you would like your Ebook to be published can help you stay focused and on track, making this a doable project as opposed to one started but never finished.
4. Use your resources: If you already have a social media following, a blog audience, are part of a Facebook group, or an email list use them. You've already got an audience who is willing to help you refine your topic and are the people most likely to purchase your Ebook once it's published. Struggling to come up with a relevant topic? Take a look at what questions or problems people within your audience are bringing to light. This is a great place to start because it means that this is a shared issue that people are interested in learning about. Need further help? Consider sending out a survey using Google Forms or another survey site to find out what topic or title resonates most with your target audience.
5. Explore your intended genre: A great way to boost your skill level and see what sells in your chosen genre is to- you guessed it- read other Ebooks. While it sounds more like play rather than work, there is a practical reason behind it. Seeing how the competition writes and what types of themes, settings, tropes, and character arcs exist within their pages will ultimately help guide you through the process of writing your own. With Ebooks you've got a smaller threshold to work with given the smaller page number required so if you're not used to writing this way it can be challenging to have to narrow your story's plotline.
6. Write within the guidelines: Double-checking the requirements of your genre before you write is a smart move, especially if you're trying something completely new or branching out of your writing comfort zone. Each genre is going to have certain rules or guidelines that matter and a specific audience that reads them. For example, a romance writer needs to write for adult women whereas a Young Adult writer needs to tailor their writing to a younger demographic. Where it gets tricky is when you begin mixing genres such as sci-fi fiction, paranormal romance, fantasy romance, or sci-fi thriller. Taking a moment to see what goes into each category can help you market your Ebook later when you actually have to label it by category appropriately.
Writing Pro Tip 3: Ebooks are also a cost-effective way to publish short stories, poetry, or another small collection of works. Test the waters with an digital version and if you find your novel is successful in the marketplace, consider creating a paperback version.
Writing Your First Draft:
7. Outlining is still your best friend: That's right folks, making an outline for your Ebook is still the best approach. The number one reason for this is your limited word count. For novelists who are used to writing around 50-100,000 words per novel, it can be challenging to find yourself in new territory where you have substantially less words to work with. That's where planning comes in. When you make a guide, you're far more likely to stick to your word count and not overwrite. It also means less editing has to occur in the aftermath, which in turn means a cheaper editing bill and less time fixing all your mistakes.
Relating:
8. Limit distractions: Creating a time and special place for you to sit down and write can help you finish your Ebook in a timely manner. This is important for all writers but especially those with a multitude of distractions such as day jobs, kids, spouses, and daily responsibilities. If you're able to stick to a certain time of day and a certain amount of words per session, it will help keep you accountable. Still getting distracted? Try using a blocking tool such as Dark Room, or Writeroom which allow for full screen writing. For other suggestions check out 7 Distraction-Free Writing Environments for Authors by The Book Designer.
9. Defeat writer's block: Writer's block is the enemy of all writers. Have you ever opened a blank word document and stared at the screen for a few hours? If you have, then you know what it feels like. You would think that with Ebook writing this wouldn't be the case, but if you're new to writing or have never tried your hand at writing a novella you may find that your motivation dies after the first few chapters. To help you get back on track consider the following:
Taking a break and doing a small, meditative task
Taking a walk out in nature
Imagine you're writing an email
Try free-writing or using a writing prompt
Do you think that writing an eBook is a daunting task? Would you like a step by step guide to show you how easy it is to write a great eBook? Would you like to earn money online publishing books? With the birth of self publishing eBooks, the days of using a publisher are over. I will show you exactly how easy it is to research a topic and then write a great eBook that will earn you money. By investing a few hours each day, you can write an eBook from scratch within 7 - 14 days.
Quick Review:
1. Fall in love with your idea: Choose an idea you really like, not what you think will sell.
2. Do your research: Take time to collect relevant facts, check dates, and double-check historical information.
3. Be aware of your time constraints and plan accordingly: Be realistic about how much time you have each day to write and plan accordingly.
4. Use your resources: Working with a per-established audience? Use them to your full advantage.
5. Explore your intended genre: Read other Ebooks in your genre to know what you're up against.
6. Write within the guidelines: Double-check all genre guidelines, especially if you're mixing genres.
7. Outlining is still your best friend: Planning will save you time, money, and keep you from over-writing.
8. Limit distractions: Find a consistent time and space for writing. Limit online distractions using an internet blocking tool.
9. Defeat writer's block: Keep writing by taking a break, walking in nature, pretending you're writing to a friend, or by using a writing prompt.
Writing an Ebook may seem daunting at first, with these 9 tips you can get started with confidence.
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