Tag: ebook writing
How to Write a User-Friendly eBook
Right now, someone, somewhere will be embarking on the writing of an eBook. Why? Some do it to make some money; itís one of the easiest ways to start an online business.
Others do it to share information they may have for those in similar financial, social or medical situations; maybe you want to share how you beat cancer or how you got out of debt.
Whatever your reason, there are some basic rules to consider that will make the final product more professional and. So, let look at some of them.
Anyone that embarks on writing an eBook will undoubtedly have read many as well. You will know from this that you must write in an appealing way that maintains the readerís attention. After all, you want them to read ALL your eBook donít you? Plus, youíll want them to come back for more if you are building an online business.
There are many tricks you can use to keep your readersí attention.
Anecdotes give practical examples of what you are trying to explain. These give readers confidence that what you are saying really does work. They are also a great way of explaining complicated topics.
Images are also a powerful tool. They can make topics clearer and they will stick in a readerís mind longer than 5000 words of text. They also break the eBook up and give the reader ìmarkersî to parts that interest them.
Note-boxes or sidebars are also good for summarizing a point or providing additional information. Like images, they break the text up and make the reading experience more enjoyable.
Write in a conversational style so the reader feels that you are talking just to them. This way they feel that they are the only one benefiting from your information and that makes it more valuable to them.
Donít write long sentences or paragraphs. They become difficult to read and detract from the experience. Your eBook is more likely to be put down and not picked up again.
You should also change the length of your paragraphs and sentences so you donít send your readers to sleep. Blocks of text that are all the same length will lose the readerís attention and youíll be lucky of they are awake by Page 10!
We mentioned earlier the use of images as a way of breaking up text. It may be that you canít use images to any great extent; but there are other tricks.
A very powerful one is the use of numbered and bulleted lists. Even with the most basic of word-processing programs you can include different types of bullets and even use custom pictures as bullet icons. These make your topic easier for the reader to absorb and also to give them a mental break from blocks of text.
Finally, think about the design of your eBook. Select a font that’s easy to read, and stick to it. You may be tempted to change fonts as a way of trying to make it more interesting. Donít. All it does is confuse your readers and they will switch-off.
I recommend either one and a half or double line spacing. Spacing the lines too far apart make it difficult for the reader to track where they are. Too close makes it dull.
Also, choose a font size that is in proportion to the line spacing you are using. You can get away with a larger font (say 14 point) with 1.5 line spacing but 8 point will look weird. Experiment with different combinations to find one that suits you but remember – what looks OK on the screen may look dreadful in print. Think about how your readers are probably going to read the final eBook (most print PDF eBooks ñ the idea of the paperless world is myth!).
Lastly, add page numbers and a header to each page with the title of your eBook. Iíve lost count of the number of times I have been infuriated by the number of eBooks that donít have page numbers. Also, adding a title in the header is a good way of reminding the reader what they are reading and who wrote it. Donít overcrowd headers and footers but use them wisely to give branding to the eBook (your company name or web address if you sell online).
Most importantly, don’t forget to do a proper spelling and grammar check. You can even go to somewhere like elance.com and get someone to proof read it for you (for a fee). Itís worth it to end up with a credible eBook.
Like it or not, you and your topic will be judged by the standard of spelling and punctuation. Donít shortcut on quality for fear of some criticism. Itís better to find out before it is published.
That’s it! By following the simple steps above you have just written your eBook. All that is left for you to do is publish it online and get visitors to your website so they can read it. But those topics are a whole new ball-game and best left for another day.
More info’s and free registrations (restricted to pros), please join our live seminar
Step-By-Step Guide to Writing eBook
Writing eBooks can be highly beneficial and profitable – but where do you start? This step-by-step guide will show you how to manage what may seem an impossible task.
Writing information products (eBooks) is one of the most popular ways of starting or developing an online business.
Why? Because the subject range is unlimited as is the angle or perspective you can bring to a subject. Plus, it can cost nothing except your time to create it. Everyone that has a computer has a word processor (even if it’s WordPad) and PDF creators can be found for free (PDF is still the best way to distribute eBooks).
That said, it is not always trouble-free. How do you get started and how do you manage if you have never written an eBook before?
Step 1 – Why Are You Writing an eBook?
First, 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? All very good reasons but don’t make it too obvious. Don’t come across as selfish – give something to get something back.
Then write down your goals in terms of publishing. Maybe your going to sell it as a product on your website, or offer it as a free gift or bonus eBook for your main product to increase its value?
Bottom line is, the more you know upfront, the easier the actual writing will be.
Step 2 – Know Your Subject
Next, and most important – write about something you know. This allows you to keep the book flowing, present credibility and shows your readers you have some insight on the subject – and hence maybe something to offer they may not have heard before.
Step 3 – Where to Begin?
Next, the hardest part of writing is – starting. When you look at the whole project, it seems like an impossible task. You have to break it down into manageable tasks.
It’s no different to anything else in life. Whenever you’re faced with a seemingly insurmountable task, there is only one way to approach it. Step-by-Step. Break it down into manageable mini-tasks and see the completion of each one as an achievement to celebrate spur you on. Reward yourself, even if it’s only with a break, a coffee or 10 minutes on the games console.
Step 4 – Get Organized
The next thing you have to do is to get organized. First, organize your thoughts. There are some steps you should take before you begin. Go through the following list of issues. When complete, you should be prepared and ready to begin writing your ebook.
Step 5 – Figure out your eBook’s working title.
Why? Because it gives you a focal point. Spend time on it, as it is something you should keep coming back to for inspiration. Always make sure you don’t deviate from it. Otherwise you’ll end up with an eBook where the contents do match the title. Jot down a few different titles, and eventually, you’ll find that one that will grow on you. Think honestly about it. Would YOU read it?
Step 6 – Write an Overview
Next, write out a brief overview. Your overview is a short paragraph, maybe two stating exactly what problem you are addressing and how your book will solve that problem.
Once you’ve got your overview fine-tuned, you’ve built your foundation. From that point, your eBook will develop, sentence-by-sentence then page-by-page and finally chapter-by-chapter until before you know; it will be finished.
Your overview will keep you focused while you write your ebook. Remember: all chapters must support your overview. If there is a chapter that doesn’t fit – delete it. For example, your overview could be something like: We’ve all experienced a weight problem at times in our lives, but I have discovered fourteen proven methods to help you get the figure you yearn for.
But if this is what you say, you must give fourteen proven methods. If you don’t, you lose credibility with your readers and they will be searching for ways to get a refund. At best, you will never sell them a follow-up product. This is where the real money is on the Internet. Repeat business not a one-off sale.
Step 7 – Review and Regroup
Once you have your overview, before you start to write, make sure there is a good reason to write your eBook. Ask yourself some questions:
* Does it give useful information and is that information relevant today?
* Will your eBook benefit your readers?
* Is your ebook interesting – will it keep you reader turning every page to see what comes next?
You also need to grab their attention early on and the best way to do this is to make them feel that you can answer their problems. After all, why did they buy the book? Make them feel they made the right decision and that you know what you are talking about.
Step 8 – Start Laying Out Your eBook
Next, write out chapter headings. You may or may not end up using chapters but it another part of the processing of breaking the job down into manageable steps to tackle one at a time. Breaking the job into smaller tasks (in this case chapters) will make it easier. It’s also the way to expand on your overview and see if your chapters address everything. Check – is there something missing that you said you were going to cover?
Remember – step-by-step manageable pieces.
Writing an eBook is like any other form of writing – be it a letter, a user guide, a report etc – you must know who your target audience is and write to them. This will dictate things such as style, tone, diction, and even length of your eBook.
When it’s complete, you could also use parts of each chapter to create an e-course as a way of promoting it.
Taking all the above into consideration, you could have your eBook finished in no time at all and ready to promote via your website. You could be well on the way to an Internet best-seller.
More info’s and free registrations (restricted to pros), please join our live seminar