It’s Time to Write the Book You Always Wanted to Write
Everyone has one book inside them, so the saying goes. But most people aren’t willing to put in the time to coax it out. With the rise of self-publishing tools and eBooks, it has never been easier to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and hammer out that book you have always wanted to write.
In addition to providing a creative outlet, eBooks are a great low-cost way of earning some extra cash. If you already have an audience to leverage, are an industry or authority, or simply have something to say that people want to hear or read, you can establish a lucrative side income through the publication of your first eBook.
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What is an eBook?
An eBook is the common name given an electronic book, a book available to readers on a computer, tablet, mobile or electronic reader. eBooks are structured in a similar way to traditional books, with pages and chapters through which readers navigate.
Because eBooks do not occupy a physical space, they are cheap to produce and easy to distribute once purchased. In keeping these costs low, authors are able to write eBooks that target a highly specific audience or niche. If only a few thousand people buy the book from all over the world, traditional publishers may not be able to recover the printing and distribution costs. But if only a few thousand people buy eBooks, all the sales are essentially profit.
Where to Start?
You likely have the entire book lurking in the recesses of your brain. You just need to draw it out. Start with an idea. What do you know more about then everyone else? Start with your basic idea or premise, for example Building a Website for Beginners. Then expand on that idea. Think of what each chapter or section can cover and how each section would tie into the next.
Put the basics and fundamentals at the beginning. Then the more complex and elaborate concepts closer to the end. Alternatively, if your subject matter can be broken down into a chronological timeline, it might be worth structuring your book chronologically.
The Writing and Editing Process
Once you have an outline and an idea of the book’s flow, it is time to start writing. This might take some time, and everyone approaches it differently. Some have a minimum word count they aim to hit each day others will write for a set period of time. Much of your approach to writing will depend on your personal preferences and availability.
When you have completed a first draft, do nothing. Let is sit and ferment for a week in a darkened draw. Don’t even think about it. When you come back to it a week later, you want to be able to look at it with fresh eyes to spot areas improvement. If you are reading and re-reading the manuscript each day, you won’t be able to achieve this.
In the editing process you may need to rewrite or restructure chapters. Don’t be afraid to ditch sections that aren’t working. The better the final product is, the more likely it will sell. Therefore, investing time in the editing process is a valuable business decision to maximize sales later.
Once you are satisfied with the text, all that remains is to add a cover, market your product and get it on the digital shelves. Then sit back and watch the sales pile up.