Writing your first ebook can seem like a daunting task. But like many projects, it won’t seem so bad if broken down into manageable chunks. Not all projects are successful, so don’t be too disappointed if your first e-book isn’t a bestseller. Whatever the outcome of your first e-book, you can at least say “You did it.”

Like many things in life, what often seems impossible can be accomplished with the right attitude and the right equipment. It could be a marathon run, climbing a mountain, or finding a place to park at the grocery store.

If you want to play golf, you will need clubs, balls, and some practice. There is no guarantee that he will become another Tiger Woods, but he will become a golfer.

If you want to write an e-book, you will need a computer, software, and some instructions. Assuming you have a computer and software or access to them, here are some instructions.

State your reasons

Your reasons for wanting to write an e-book will have a big impact on its success. It can be for financial gain, promoting a business, advancing your career, education, personal satisfaction, or something else entirely. Whatever your reasons, write them down. It will help you motivate yourself if the going gets tough.

Choose your theme

There are countless topics you can write about. It is wise to choose something in which you have an interest or knowledge. It is worth spending time on this. The more you know about your topic, the easier it will be to write about it.

Choose your title

Once you have chosen your topic, you will need a title for the e-book. It’s worth jotting down a few different ones before deciding which one to use. This will help you keep your focus and may give you other ideas. The title should give a clear indication of the content of your book. An attractive title can help sell it, but remember to balance this clearly to keep it in context. I have written two examples. Feel free to use them if you have a sense of humor.

A paradise for clubbers – Golf in Ibiza

20 minutes late: the future of trains

Choose your audience

The subject and style of your writing will determine your audience. Decide who your desired audience will be. Age, gender, culture, social background, and education are factors you may want to consider. What you write should be aimed at the desired audience.

Write your thesis statement

Although it is possible to write your e-book without a ‘thesis statement’, it is not recommended. If you are not familiar with this term, there are many sources available that will provide you with all the details you need. Unfortunately, there are some differences of opinion that can lead to confusion.

The ‘thesis statement’ deserves a separate article, but for now I have written a general definition of a thesis statement for eBooks. This may leave the door open for criticism, but it is a small price to pay if it eliminates some of the confusion. More importantly, it will give you a base from which to start. Use it only as a guide. If you want a more specific definition, Google is a good place to start your search.

A thesis statement is a sentence or two written to clearly show the reason (s) for your e-book and what you hope to write about.

Although I have referred to this as a general definition, keep in mind that your actual statement should be as specific as possible.

Think of it as the foundation of your e-book. It should contain the following:

1) Your topic

2) Your opinion on the subject

3) A supporting reason for your opinion

4) The meaning of 1), 2) and 3)

Create your document

Now that you have the foundation, you can start writing.

A standard application like MS Word is a good option.

As you write your paper, you can review your thesis statement at any time until it is published. This provides a good degree of flexibility.

Choose the format and layout of your document, including chapters, headings, and introductions. Depending on your topic, you may want to add photos, anecdotes, or testimonials that will hold the reader’s attention.

Since an e-book is generally read from a screen, you may want to break up the text more than a printed book. Experiment with a few different sources and look in other e-books for ideas you can use. Check your spelling and save your document regularly. MS Word has an automatic recovery function. This is useful if you don’t save your document regularly and then experience a system crash. Always make a backup copy of your document. As a precaution, you should also save a copy on other media, such as a CD.

Choose the format of your e-book

This is a personal decision. You can decide to create an executable file (.exe) or a portable document format file (.pdf). It is by no means an exhaustive list, here are some points to consider before choosing.

EXE files are compiled using an e-book compiler

EXE files may offer functions that are not available with PDF files

EXE files can only be read on a PC

EXE files do not require any other software to be read

EXE files are easy to open, easy to identify, and are good viral marketing tools.

EXE files can be susceptible to viruses, although some compilers offer virus protection.

You can find more information about the best compilers at

http://www.ebook-site.com/ebook-compilers.html

PDF files can be created with Adobe Acrobat

PDF files can be created with various other third party applications

PDF files are an industry standard

PDF files can be read on both PC and MAC

PDF files require reading Adobe Reader

PDF files are highly unlikely to get infected

You can find more information about PDF files on the Adobe website.

Create your e-book

Create your e-book in the format of your choice.

Congratulations, you are now an author.