Writing an eBook may have crossed your mind at least once or twice—or probably more. You might have even tried to attempt it once. If you have, then you should give yourself a pat on the back. Trying to sit down on your own and attempting to type your own first eBook shows baby steps toward determination.

If this is your first eBook, it is more likely that you will make a couple of newbie mistakes. Here, in this short comprehensive guide, we will look at the most common eBook writing mistakes that first-time writers make and how you can overcome these mistakes. So, let us get right into this.

11 Common eBook Writing Mistakes

Our award-winning writers have gathered the most common eBook writing mistakes that newbie eBook writers and writers in general make often. Here, we will cover common mistakes along with the best ways to counteract these mistakes. Hiring a professional ghostwriter for your eBook is the first best solution out there. However, let us jump into the list.

Are you interested so far? Give this a read as well: The Difference Between Copywriting and Ghostwriting: A Detailed Guide

1. Having an Unspecified Goal

Trying to find treasure without a map is nearly impossible unless you possess some magic power. The same concept applies here. When it comes to writing your eBook, you need a goal in mind and not just any goal. You need a specific goal that will act as a roadmap and direct you the right way along the lines of your eBook. The main mistake made by novice authors is writing their first eBook with an unspecified goal.

Regardless of what project you have in mind, you need to proceed when there is a detailed and concrete plan, and the author has to know why he is using his time and resources for the specified task.

Ask yourself: What is my goal?

This mistake can be addressed and discussed in two distinct points of view. The first is from the perspective of the author, and the second perspective is from the reader. From the perspective of the reader, you need to concentrate on the type of problem your eBook will solve for its readers. For example, if you plan on writing a recipe cooking guide for dummies, your target readers should be those who literally do not know anything about cooking. So your eBook should address that and solve those issues for them in a simple way. Basically, it’s a way the “dummies” can understand (no hard feeling here 😅.)

Think twice about why your readers may wish to buy your eBook. Would you be able to encourage them to get your eBook and finalize the transaction now? Would it be such an eBook they would turn to time and again?

When we talk about the point of view from the author’s side, it is different. You, as the author, may wish to gain a steady income through this method. Or do you want to strengthen your expert position in this field? Or… maybe your eBook is a way to spark your reader’s interest in your other product that you wish to sell? For example, you come up with recipes for dummies and sell cutlery, so you advertise your cutlery through that eBook.

Take Tasty, for example. They create their own recipes, sell their own merchandise (cutlery and kitchenware), and publish eBooks that promote them.

Are you interested in writing a business eBook? Here is a guide to help you out with it: How to Write a Business Book: A Detailed Guide

2. Writing an eBook about an Alien Subject

We know that writing about alien topics that are out of this world or get the reader’s mind lost in thought is a dream come true. But you need to be very careful. Before you want to write about something different or not common, it is mandatory that you do your research. The author always has to study the subject extensively before presenting it to the world.

The most important part is that the author must choose the subject he is familiar with. If you plan on writing a fictional novel, then, of course, your imagination can go wild. But even then, it should stay within such limits so that the reader does not get confused about the novel. Now, that is a major mistake to avoid.

However, it is safe to write a nonfiction novel in which the subject matter is connected to the reader’s interests and possible everyday lives and work duties. You should be able to address concerns and issues that happen on a daily basis and that are relatable. Moreover, writing about a topic which interests us makes the eBook writing process less tedious. However, if you plan on writing about something unfamiliar, you may need to put a lot of effort and dedication into making sure that the information you add to the novel is accurate. Try sticking with a familiar topic which does not require a mountain of effort.

Here are a couple of horror subgenres to inspire you: Top 25 Horror Subgenres Book Ideas for Your Next Project

3. Your eBook Topic Does Not Match the Target Readers

Our project ideas cannot be based on personal, intimate hunches. We may know who belongs to our target group of readers, but we still need to specify why our idea is right from the start. To do so, it is important to find out more about the needs of our target readers.

It is worth spending some time examining the most frequently searched phrases and keywords on the Internet. You may inspect all relevant discussions about the topic made on portals and social groups on the Internet; this way, you can find out what kind of problems your ebook could solve.

4. Copy Cat with Competitors

Taking inspiration is one thing, but copying is a huge blunder. This is a common mistake most newbie eBook writers make because they assume they can copy their competitors and make something better. On the contrary, this will lead to plagiarized content, which can lead to more problems that you would not want to address. Normally, when another author is successful, we think that copying their content or the strategies they used is simple. However, this is a complete illusion. The illusion is that by copying, you will achieve similar or greater results.

Say you even manage to do this as a first-time author, and it will bring your reputation down. Your first impression as an eBook writer will go down. Readers are very smart when it comes to similar content, so it is important to keep an eye out for that. Copying content is such a behavior which can easily put you at risk of wasting energy, time, and resources. Moreover, you will not want to get into facing legal consequences for copying another writer’s content.

5. Writing Without an Outline

Before writing an eBook, you should have some outline or blueprint laid out in front of you. It is a common mistake that new eBook writers make out of excitement or clumsiness. It is best to start with the table of contents. It is obvious that with progress and time of work, your introductory idea for an eBook will be modified. You will have to create an overview. This is important because having such a document that you can revise frequently and go back to should protect you from erratic and directionless writing.

Even if you are confident of the general idea and plot of your eBook, you still should not forget about the main goal of your work. Keep in mind that your eBook must form a solution to the reader’s problem, and this idea should be written out for your outline. For you to keep up with the main idea and the purpose of your whole eBook, you should have all subdivisions and chapters of your eBook organized, orderly and systematic.

Learn more: How to Monetize Your eBook? [Top 13 Strategies]

6. Writing the Introduction First

Writing an introduction seems like the right thing to do, right? Since the introduction is the first thing that will be read first. Well, we are here to tell you it is not worth it to write an introduction at the beginning of your eBook first. This is because, first of all, it is not possible to predict or to make out which content is exactly in your eBook and what possibly would be in it. Having a good outline does not mean that you have to write everything about what you have planned for in the introduction. You might make the decision to take some topics or parts out later on in the chapters. So, that means some of the initial objectives will have to be changed in the meantime.

Would you have any idea how much editing that would take? No. Well, you would not want to either way, so do not make this mistake.

If you decide to write your introduction first, you may have to rewrite your eBook after you have finished it. Knowing this, it is better to leave the introduction until the end of the eBook. The content about the eBook will help you write a really good introductory section, which will encourage your readers to continue with your eBook.

7. Writing an eBook Without a Proper Schedule

You will not be able to complete your eBook if you work on it only when you have time and are willing to do so. Constant delay will make you feel annoyed, and you won’t meet your own expectations.

To help with the eBook, create a fixed schedule that breaks down the elements into specific tasks accompanied by completion dates. Remember to create achievable goals, taking into account your abilities and the amount of time you can spare to work on your eBook.

8. Editing and Writing At the Same Time

It may seem like you are killing two birds with one stone, but in reality, you are making it more difficult to reach the completion goal for your eBook. Writing and editing at the same time means that you have to spend much more time working on your eBook. While this approach may not sound wrong, it sadly is. The fact that you have to constantly switch from the zone of writing and then move to the zone of editing simultaneously is brain-wrecking. The constant shift from writing to editing and editing to writing knocks off your rhythm. Each time you correct a small mistake or a mistake you just spotted, it makes you lose your direction and concentration.

Most newbie eBook writers believe that it is a fast or efficient process of writing. However, it kills the momentum.

This is why professional eBook writing agencies take the whole eBook writing process step by step in a calculated and organized manner. This helps make the editing process more objective and simplified. It is important to remember to see your eBook from the perspective of the whole structure, not just to focus on the single sentences.

A helpful read for you: 10 Advantages of eBooks Over Printed Books.

9. No Coordination Between the Editing and Proofreading

It is challenging to spot all your own errors in the text; hence, it is worth employing the right person for this task. If we search for somebody who can edit the whole content of the book and deal with structure, style, logic, consistency, grammar, orthography, and punctuation, we should use the help of a professional editor. The editor will analyze your text and suggest all necessary changes.

Another professional who could see your eBook just after the editor is a proofreader. This person deals with all the mistakes remaining after the typesetting process, including incorrect formatting, wrong hyphenation, and other linguistic errors that were not corrected by the editor.

10. The Mistake of Not Keeping a Backup Copy

Backup is mandatory. The job of a writer is not a walk in the park, which is why backup is necessary. Having a backup is the best way to protect your eBook from being deleted or losing the original eBook file. Backup eBook copies will save you from unnecessary stress and worries. This means that you should have at least two or three files with you.

Backup eBooks just keep your file safe from any potential errors. For example, if the laptop crashes or your file is deleted by mistake, Whatever the case may be, you must be careful about your files for your eBook. Otherwise, all your hard work will literally go down the drain.

11. Giving Up Too Early

It is common for newbie eBook writers to lose their motivation too early at the beginning of their careers. Any author may lose their enthusiasm and inspiration at times. It is important to be able to motivate themselves no matter how many times they need to. If the eBook creation comes with a delay, maybe it would be a good idea to analyze the schedule one more time before readjusting it to your specific abilities. Setting attainable and realistic goals with the help of productivity is more important than holding to very high expectations or excessive self-demands.

That is why our major advice here is to hire professional help who can guide you and do the work for you throughout the eBook writing journey. Do not be mistaken, however, into thinking that you are not the brains behind the eBook. By all means, you will be. At the end of the day, your name will be on the cover of your eBook. That is why ghostwriters are called ghostwriters for a reason.

An informative read: Best eBook SEO to Increase Traffic and Sales.

Ready to Avoid These Mistakes?

Writing an eBook is not as simple as you may think. While it may seem like that on the surface, it is best not to judge it. All mistakes during the process of writing an eBook can be avoided as long as you are aware of them. The more you keep reading blog posts and articles about writing techniques, it should protect you from making silly blunders and make the work process pleasant instead.

“What will make these mistakes more avoidable?” you ask.

Well, hiring professional eBook writing services is what. BookCreating offers a wide range of eBook writing services with a seasoned team of ghostwriters, proofreaders, editors, and more. Regardless of the genre you wish to write your eBook about, our team of exceptional ghostwriters can do that for you. Keeping you informed and in the loop the whole way. Are you ready to avoid these common mistakes newbie eBook writers make? Contact us today and kickstart your journey successfully.