How to Write Your First Ebook (Part 1)

Last month, I introduced the idea of creating an ebook as a way to promote your website. In this article, I want to walk you through the process of creating your ebook. To simplify this endeavor, I’ve broken down the ebook writing process into a simple ten-step process:

1. Decide to write your ebook
2. Find base article(s)
3. Write the thesis statement
4. Create title
5. Create outline/table of contents
6. Write the body of the ebook
7. Choose publishing format
8. Add additional content
9. Edit/Proofread
10. Publish

Keep this list handy as your guide, and I believe you should have no problems writing your first ebook.

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DECIDE TO WRITE YOUR EBOOK

This sounds like an obvious step, but you do need to decide to write your ebook before you sit down and start typing. Unlike the normal writing you do for your website, writing an ebook requires additional investment in time and effort in order to create a piece of work you want to publish. Not only are you spending more time writing, you will spend more time planning and editing as well. So when you feel you are up for the challenge, start searching for your topic and work towards creating an ebook that your readers will enjoy.

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FIND BASE ARTICLES

Why reinvent the wheel when you can simply improve the one you already have? Odds are, you have written some great content on your website in the past that you can use as the foundation for your ebook. The question is, “Which articles are they?”

If you use services like Google Analytics to track your website activity, you can search your site to find what articles are frequently visited through web searches. Articles with high “page view” results show interest by the general public on your topics. If the public is interested in those articles, then the odds are good that they will be interested in your ebook on the same topic(s).

If you don’t use any tracking programs, consider searching your site for your more popular articles based upon user comments. Community involvement is a clear sign of interest. Additionally, the comments provided on those articles can clarify why the readers were interested, and can help you narrow the focus of your ebook.

Now the question is, “Why were these articles so popular?” Take some time to read through the articles (and comments, if any) to see if you can identify any problems you might have answered or useful information you provided for your readers. Use this information to search through your own site for any additional content you’ve created that can be used as complementary information to provide additional substance for your ebook readers to enjoy.

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WRITE THESIS STATEMENT

When I initially started drafting this guide, the next step I had listed was “Create your title,” but I think creating your thesis statement first is more important. A thesis statement is a summary of your ebook explaining your purpose for writing it. This statement is for you, and not necessarily your readers. Use this as your guide when creating your outline and for when you start writing so you can keep your ebook on topic.

If you choose, you can use the thesis statement in your work in a few ways. You can include it in the Foreword (if you choose to write one) of your ebook, or you can use it as the summary for your ebook if you post it on an ebook distribution site.

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CREATE YOUR TITLE

You have identified the purpose of your ebook, so now let’s work on creating the title. The title (along with the cover which we will cover later) are your two biggest marketing points for your ebook. Since you’ve identified the key points of your existing articles, try to capture them in a concise way that captures the readers’ attention while providing them a sense of what the ebook is about.

Don’t be afraid to incorporate “buzz words” into your title. Are you writing “The Five Steps to Higher Web Traffic” or “Origami Made Easy?” What about “The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Hamburgers” or simply “How to Write Your First Ebook Successfully?” The use of buzz words can help capture a potential readers attention, especially if there are other ebooks on similar topics.

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CREATE OUTLINE/TABLE OF CONTENTS

Something I tend to do when writing articles for my websites is create an outline. By breaking down my thoughts with an outline, I can add, subtract, and/or rearrange the items until I account for all the points I want to make in the article. This helps me make sure that article flows from one point to another in a logical format. Not only helps you in writing a coherent ebook, but makes it easier on your readers to follow you points to the end.

You outline will eventually become the basis for your Table of Contents. Even in short ebooks, a Table of Contents is needed to make it easier for your readers to quickly find the section they are looking for (this is important if you want your ebook to become reference material later on). Depending on what word processing system you use, you can link your Table of Contents with the various sections of your ebook. That way, the page numbers will automatically update as your type.

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WRITE THE EBOOK

Now that you have the skeleton of your ebook, time to add the body. In this case, the body is simply the core text of the ebook (additional items such as images, videos, and other content will be addressed later).

Before you start typing, ask yourself how you are going to present yourself to the reader. You may not be aware of it, but you have a distinct writing style. Do you write with long, flowing paragraphs or do you start paragraphs after every three sentences? Do you create bullet-point lists? Are you frequently quoting others? Do you ask numerous questions like this?

Your writing style – the style that your readers have come to expect – should carry over into your ebook. This is an extension of your personality and reflects a more genuine tone in your work, and being genuine makes your work more interesting to read (compared to something that comes across as flat). However, you are creating a “professional” piece, so you need to balance your personal style (that your existing readers expect) with a polished tone that a new reader would expect from an “expert” in your field.

This concludes part one. While the goal of this exercise is not to sell your ebook, you still want it to be of value. You are writing for quality, not quantity, so be sure to work on your outline and ensure that all the points you are addressing tie-in with your primary subject. Your readers will thank you for the time your place into your work, and in turn, might repay you with increased web traffic.

(Click here to read Part 2)