Learn How to Write an eBook + Ideas
eBooks are growing in popularity daily. Stats show that the rise of eBooks started with COVID-19 when individuals could not purchase books physically. However, that doesn’t mean that they weren’t popular before. eBooks make up a significant portion of the total sales worldwide. Additionally, they reduce wastage and lower production costs. eBooks are more convenient and easily accessible. Instead of carrying several books, you can carry multiple books all in one device.
If you are considering writing a book, specifically an eBook, you have come to the right place. This article will help you learn how to write, publish, design, and promote your eBook. Learning how to create an eBook can also help marketers interested in building a comprehensive content marketing strategy. So, let’s jump right into the world of eBooks and learn how to write an eBook from scratch!
Learn how to write your eBooks pitch: Pitch Perfect: Conquering the Publishers with Your Book Idea.
What is an eBook?
An eBook is also known as an electronic book (the small e stands for electronic) or a digital/virtual copy of any book. You can view an eBook through almost any device; however, the most adaptable device for pure readers is the Amazon Kindle. With an eBook, you can customize the font and size of the font of your book. Devices adapted for readers only provide them with comfortable reading features that enhance their overall reading experience. Ebooks are an important marketing asset with multiple digital ‘pages’ that deliver information to readers. In addition, they are often packaged as PDF documents so readers can share them.
Why Should I Write an eBook?
There is no hard and fast rule that you must write an eBook. Still, with the world switching to more digitized platforms and buying/downloading more books, you are reducing production costs and indirectly saving the planet! If you are planning to start writing a book and need some guidance with that, Book Creating can help you write an eBook from start to finish.
If you’re considering writing an eBook, it can be a great way to pursue a hobby or start on a professional basis. Writing an eBook is a safer option compared to traditional publishing, especially if you’re concerned about your story’s appeal to a wide audience. With traditional publishing, if your book doesn’t resonate with readers, you may end up with unsold copies and incur losses. On the other hand, with an eBook, you can leverage SEO and digital marketing to target readers interested in your book’s genre. This targeted approach is not feasible with physical books.
What is more important is that if you have a creative plot stored in your mind, why limit it to being wiped away in the first place? eBooks are a great way to start in the story and narrative writing sector.
Some of the more notable benefits of publishing an eBook are that you can maximize your reach, reach a wider audience through the power of analytics, and learn more about your audience’s demographics.
This means you can see which genres are preferred by a certain age group. An eBook can also establish and build credibility for your business and brand in a short period of time.
Apart from that, with an eBook, you can limit your expenses and provide value to your audience in an accessible way.
How to Write an eBook?
Now that you have gained insight into the eBook economy and how it works, it’s important to keep this information in mind as you learn how to create an effective eBook. Remember to follow these steps before you start writing and publishing your own eBook. It’s best to keep in mind that even the best writers gain inspiration and assistance from others, and many even hire professional ghostwriters. With Book Creating, you can access the best ghostwriters for your eBook regardless of the genre you have in mind. Our team is ready to provide you with diverse characters and plots that will keep your readers engaged!
Are you enjoying this read so far? Here’s a blog that can help you protect your eBook: Learn How to Copyright a Book in 6 Easy Steps [2024 Updated].
1. Know Your Target Audience
No matter what business you wish to pursue in life, the first thing you must know is who you want to target. After that, you want to learn about their demographics, such as age, gender, and race. Before you decide on writing your eBook, you have to ask yourself these questions:
- Will my target audience find my eBook engaging? If yes, why?
- What matters will be my eBook address?
- Will my eBook be helpful in any way to my audience? Even if it is for the sake of entertainment purposes only?
- How will I promote my eBook to the right audience?
- Will my eBook be unique against the market?
These are just a couple of questions one can ask themselves before you start writing your eBook. It is important to know that these questions are important. By hiring a professional eBook service they can help you gather this information and tell you what genres are popular among what group of people. They do rigorous research before writing a book. Without research and learning about your audience and which audience to target, you can forget “who you are writing this eBook for.”
2. Do Market Research
This is the second most important factor to consider when writing an eBook. Once you discover the kind of audience you want to write for, you do some research about what other topics are competing with one another and determine whether they are currently viable in the market. By researching, you can highlight the keywords most relevant to your genre and the topic you intend to choose. You can use tools such as Semrush or Moz to help you get better insights on keywords and what is ranking more, which can help you gain more traffic to your eBook.
Additionally, through research, you can compare existing printed books and eBooks that cover similar plots to the ones you are leaning towards. This way, you can see which plots were a hit and which weren’t, and then you can discover ways to improve your plot and make it better. Through research, you can learn about the audience and what they want more, so you can fill the gap with your eBook genre and provide that audience with the kind of story they want to read.
This research process will help you determine if there is an authentic demand for the project you are working on. You join groups and online forums (it feels like you are going undercover, but that is what research is!).
Market research can always help you get better insights about your audience and can help you further investigate the gap in the eBook industry.
3. Choose Your Topic
Once you have identified the gap in the eBook industry, you can start deciding which topic to choose. You have organized your data according to the audience demographics and have done market research on them and the topic you intended to choose. Now, it is time for you to select that topic.
Ensure that your topic sparks curiosity and makes people wonder what your eBook could be about. The topic should try to match your eBook’s overall plot. It is a challenge, but that is where professionals come to help. Book Creating helps you rule out the best topics for your eBook by identifying well-researched topics that are progressing in the eBook and story writing industry.
4. Brainstorm Your Plot
You should brainstorm and develop links to the plot you have in mind for each chapter and the entire book. This way, you can stay on track with all the complexities of your book and ensure that your story matches up. Which chapter will have the climax, and which stage is nearing the end.
Brainstorming your plots into sections lets you know what to add and subtract from each paragraph. Then, you can connect certain theories or parts that can connect and make sense. In a way, brainstorming is like the blueprint of your entire eBook. And you would want to brainstorm so you do not get carried away.
5. Write One Chapter at a Time.
Now that you have done all your research and the investigating part, it is time to start writing your chapters. But not altogether. Take it one chapter at a time. If you write several chapters at once, even with your brainstormed map in front of you, you can lose your train of thought and mess things up easily. It is only normal for that mistake to happen.
So, to avoid that, you should focus on writing one chapter at a time and return to your blueprints to get back on track. Sometimes, most writers feel that they are missing some points when, in reality, they mean to add those points later to their story. So, there is no need to rush things into writing all chapters at once.
6. Edit and Proof-Read
Your eBook is not ready for the green light until and unless it has not gone through these two steps. Edits and proofreading are essential in the process of publishing an eBook. Even if you run it under AI tools for grammatical errors or whatnot, you will still need at least two to three people to proofread your eBook. This process becomes much easier when you hire a professional to do the work for you. They have a team of professional proofreaders who can help you get through the publishing process faster.
7. Design your eBook
While the content of your eBook is one of the essential factors to consider when creating one, the design and overall impression of your eBook can also make a substantial difference once it is published and available for sale.
You only have one chance to make a positive and lasting first impact, especially when you are trying to promote and sell an eBook in a popular, competitive, or highly saturated market. Using various professional creative assets can assist in developing a visually attractive and suitable eBook cover and design that is right for your business and brand. The more visually appealing and relevant a book appears, the more likely it is to receive clicks and sales.
What is Book Creating, and How Does it Work? Learn more about our services and how you can benefit from our Book-Creating Agency from A to Z.
How to Publish an eBook
Publishing an eBook is not a walk in the park. That is why professional eBook writers and publishers know how to provide the best strategy for your content publishing and how to speed up the publishing process. Here, we will look at the kinds of formatting used for eBooks and how they are compatible.
What eBook File Format Should You Use?
There are many eBook file formats to choose from. Depending on your end user, you should select the one that best matches and suits you well. Here are the most commonly used formatting types for eBooks:
PDFs are the most commonly used formatting for any online document or project. They are also known as the most popular formatting type for people. PDF stands for Portable Document Format. This format does not mess up the entire document’s headings and overall formatting style. It is known to be the best for eBooks that are meant to be read on the computer. If you are a digital marketer or are in the process of becoming one, know that PDF formatting is the best formatting type for you to select for your document.
MOBI
The MOBI formatting style originated from the Mobipocket Reader software, which was purchased by Amazon but later shut down in 2016. The MOBI file extension remains popular for eBook formatting as it is compatible with the major e-readers. The format may have some limitations; for instance, it cannot support video or audio, but it does support DRM, which protects copyrighted material from being copied or distributed illegally. The newer versions of Kindle formats are based on the original MOBI file types.
EPUB
This formatting file type stands for Electronic Publication and is a more flexible eBook formatting style. By that, it is flexible, which means that eBooks can reflow their text to adapt to several mobile devices and tablets. With this format, readers can view different pages easily and without any hassle. They are more helpful for viewing on smaller screens, such as smartphones (which are the most commonly used and preferred devices when it comes to viewing). However, most e-readers have mentioned that they like to use tablets to have a more comfortable reading experience, but when you are traveling, and so on, EPUB is preferred because of this aspect, as they are particularly helpful for viewing on smaller screens and the Nook from Barnes and Noble.
AZW
AZW is a proprietary eBook format developed by Amazon specifically for its Kindle devices and reading apps. It’s not universally compatible with EPUB, but it offers some advantages within the Kindle ecosystem. AZW is optimized for Kindle devices. This format allows you to read easily without any disturbances, and it induces features that are compatible with the overall layout, such as reflow, font adjustment, and embedded dictionaries that are perfect for Kindle devices. Additionally, footnotes, tables, and basic multimedia are supported.
ODF
ODF stands for OpenDocument Format, and this file type is mainly for OpenOffice, a series of open-source content creation programs almost the same as Microsoft Office. While ODF is not known to be ideal for the final eBook distribution, it can be helpful before that, meaning the early stages of the eBook creation. For example, you can use ODF for drafting, editing, and collaboration.
IBA
IBA stands for iBooks Author (Documents) – now known as App. From the “i,” you can note that this formatting style is the proprietary format for Apple, Inc. IBA supports interactive elements like videos, audio, images, and more. It also supports strong DRM protection measures. Like most Apple software and products, it is not friendly with other software or devices and is mainly suited to e-readers that use Apple devices.
How to Choose a Publishing Platform
Publishing formats are online service platforms that act as intermediaries between authors and readers. These platforms provide various tools and services to help you get your eBook from manuscript to published and ready for purchase. Here are a couple of publishing platforms that support eBooks. They have made publishing much easier today and can be done with almost any file.
Amazon (KDP)
Amazon is the world’s largest self-publishing platform, available to writers, e-writers, and publishers with almost any level of experience. It is also a free eBook publishing platform among most indie writers. Amazon’s publishing platform is compatible with KPD (Kindle Direct Publishing), giving the author complete rights and creative authority.
For some individuals, navigating through the whole publishing process is difficult. In this case, by hiring a professional eBook writing company, you can leverage seasoned publishers who know their way around the Amazon book publishing platform.
Kobo Writing Life (Rakuten Kobo)
Kobo Writing Life launched in 2012 as a self-publishing platform. The key takeaway from this platform is that it includes “deep analytics,” which allows authors and eBook writers to trace and track sales in real-time. It is also referred to as a learning center for new users and first-time publishers, allowing them to sell their books globally. KWL is a free, open-source platform that supports PDF, ePUB, ePUB2/3, FlePub, and MOBI.
Nook Press (Barnes & Noble Press)
NP (Nook Press) is another self-publishing platform for eBook writers and publishers. It is fast and easy to use and lets you publish and sell print books directly to millions of readers. It has been one of the leading international book publishing industries for several years and has a strong goal to reach. They also offer a premium eBook platform. eBook file formats that support this publishing service are DOC, TXT, DOCX, ePUB, and HTML. This platform can be seen as a great alternative for those who wish not to use Amazon.
Apple Books
Apple Books is suitable exclusively for Apple users. It is compatible with all Apple devices.
If you are looking for ways to publish your eBook to several platforms simultaneously, you can use an eBook publishing aggregator. Some eBook aggregators that assist in this field are Bookbaby, PublishDrive, Draft2Digital, and SmashWords.
Once you decide on a publishing platform for your eBook, you are ready to upload and list your eBook for sale. During this process, you will have to market your eBook; that is the first step after letting your eBook out in the world. Marketing is one of the tough parts, but that is where you can hire experts to do the job for you and help you with the marketing process. Agencies that offer book marketing services can help you reach the right audience and a wider audience. This process involves where your book is promoted online and in stores through advertisements and social media channels. And if you are a regular writer, you would want to own a website that promotes and supports all the eBook writing projects you have done so far. With the right marketing services, optimized content and ranking words can help boost your eBook to a new level.
Establishing an online presence is tough, especially if you are a newcomer to the industry. However, it is important to know that eBooks are on the rise, and building credibility online will result in more eBook sales. Book Creating offers affordable solutions for expanding your reach online.
Want to write an attention-grabbing story structure? Read our blog “Your Guide to Writing a Successful Story Structure” to gain the best insights, tips, and tricks.
Choose an eBook Cover Design
Just because it is an eBook does not mean you don’t add a cover, right? Just like any other book, eBooks also deserve to have a flattering cover design that represents the book, giving the readers a view or a picture to remember once they start reading your eBook. It has to be related to your book and should resonate with the overall plot. Many writers get stuck on this part once they have finished making a masterpiece. You could look for free stock images, or you could opt for a customized book cover that is tailored to your book and resonates with the plot of your Book.
Upload Your eBook (Create an Account)
Once the platform is chosen and the file format is ready for your eBook, you can present your masterpiece to the world. Now is the time to promote yourself as a writer! Sign up for an account chosen for your platform and provide the necessary information. You’ll also need to fill out the book details, including title, author name, description, and categories or genres. These details help readers discover and understand your ebook.
ebook Ideas
If you are out of ideas for what to write for your new eBook project, here are a couple of ideas to get you started. First, you would want to ask yourself, “What would I want my readers to get out of this eBook? Are you someone interested in creating informative books such as Encyclopedias, or do you have the nook for a more dramatized and fictional drama genre? Whatever your plus point may be, there are so many kinds of eBooks and topics for you to choose from and make better versions of already existing versions. Here are a couple of ideas to help boost your creativity:
PlayBook
A “playbook” is a document people can use when taking on a new project or idea unique to them. Consider it a cheat sheet that helps your customers get better at what they do. When done properly, your playbook should give your customers all the information they need to excel with your product. For example, a software vendor for IT experts might create a “virus protection playbook” that makes support teams better at stopping viruses for their respective companies.
Personal Development and Self-Help
This eBook idea can help beginners with mindfulness and meditation. You can conduct research on the best strategies and compile those into one effective eBook. You can help people overcome and deal with stressful situations and provide tips on how to build self-confidence and boost self-esteem. This can be rephrased more as a life coach eBook since it guides readers to learn more about the power of positive thinking and practice de-stressing techniques for a better life.
New Research
Conducting an experiment or business survey is a great way to develop proprietary knowledge and become a thought leader in your industry. But how will you share your results with the people who care about them? You can create an ebook that describes the experiment, what you want to find out, the results of the experiment, and what these findings mean for your readers and the market.
DIY Crafts and Hobbies
If you are a creative individual or an artist, you can continue spreading your knowledge, helping young minds with the power of DIY crafts, and helping young children develop hobbies. You can create 30-day hobby challenges, DIY crafts for every occasion, baking recipes, learning the art of homebrewing, and more. The challenges are endless, and the hobbies are ongoing.
Case Studies
People love to read success stories, especially when they are stories based on real-life situations. How people survived, what they turned out to be, and so on. For instance, if you are proud of a particular person in your life and have learned about their success stories, of course, with their permission, you can write a case study about it and how they conquered their struggles. You can describe their challenges, how you connected with them, how you helped or solved their issues, how they progressed, if there were any downfalls, and how they bounced back from the situation. This is more like a real-life motivational story for your readers; people enjoy these!
Product Demo
The trickier your product is, the more your customers need a helping hand. If it has many ways to use it, or setting it up is a puzzle, offer a short eBook as a guide. This eBook can show them how to get the most out of your offer. For instance, start with a section on how to get your product or service up and running. Then, explain each feature and what it’s best for, one step at a time.
Read more: Promote Your eBook Through These 9 Brilliant Strategies.
Common eBook FAQs
Ideal Word Count of eBook PDF
If you write a novel, your eBook will probably contain 25,000 words. An average function novel consists of 70,000-80,000 words. You would include around 500-600 words for a children’s eBook.
Minimum Pages for eBook on Amazon
Although there are no official guidelines for the number of pages in an eBook, the average length is 50-100 pages. Amazon calculates your pages based on your manuscript file and then rounds that number off to an even number. Ultimately, your ebook length will depend on the niche that you’re writing about.
How Long Should an eBook Be to Sell
Short eBooks can be between a few pages and 5000 words. This makes a great lead magnet that you can offer as a freebie to grow your email list. Then, there are medium-sized eBooks that range from 5000 to 20,000 words.
How Long Should an eBook Be in Words
eBook length is measured based on word count, not on the number of pages. Kindle Singles (the short formatted eBooks) range from 5000-3000 words, whereas short stories can be around 5000+ words. The nonfiction genre is 10,000+ words, and Novels can range from 50,000+ words.
Are eBooks Profitable
eBooks are certainly profitable. However, you will have to sell many in the market for less in order to gain more. This is a strategy most writers use to promote their eBooks. Based on what we have mentioned in this article, you must keep in mind your audience and their density. This will be a plus point if you have done research before you actually start writing.
How is an eBook Structured?
There are three major partitions when it comes to writing your eBook: Front Matter, Body Matter, and Back Matter. When this structure is sorted out, you can start organizing your content into the eBook. eBooks typically have a system of chapters and supporting images.
What Can an eBook Be About
Your eBook can be about anything. eBooks are a marketer’s way of delivering unique and critical information to their customers. You can write eBooks for a cause, such as protecting the environment or a community, and research a certain disorder to create awareness about it. You can even write an eBook about how to train a pet! There is no limit when it comes to writing an eBook. The options are endless.
Learn more: How To Start Writing A Book Of Your Life? Tips To Start Writing.
Ready To Share Your Creativity Through an eBook?
eBooks are among the top converting and lead magnets a business can offer its audience. By creating an eBook, you deliver high value at a low price point, generating high sales and leads.
If you are on the journey of writing an eBook and need guidance, you can contact us at Book Creating. Our team is ready to deliver your next project’s hottest trending eBook ideas. We can help you achieve that dream of publishing your official book to add to the list at amazingly affordable rates. Together, we can help you create a story that will be loved and remembered and worthy of being passed on, where you will reap the rewards for this in years to come!