How to Write an eBook
by Helene Malmsio
The hardest part of writing is the first sentence. When you look at the whole project, it seems like
an impossible task. That's why you have to break it down into manageable tasks. Think of climbing
a mountain. You are standing at the foot of it and looking up at its summit vanishing into the clouds
How can you possibly scale such an immense and dangerous mountain?
There is only one way to climb a mountain - step by step. Now think of writing your ebook in the same
light. You must create it step by step, and one day, you will take that last step and find yourself
standing on the summit with your head in the clouds. The first thing you have to do, as if you
actually were a mountain climber, is to get organized.
Instead of climbing gear, however, you must organize your thoughts. There are some steps you should
take before you begin. Once you've gone through the following list, you will be ready to actually
begin writing your ebook.
Beginning Steps to Writing an ebook
First, figure out your ebook's working title. Jot down a few different titles, and eventually, you'll
find that one that will grow on you. Titles help you to focus your writing on your topic; they guide
you in anticipating and answering your reader's queries. Many non-fiction books also have subtitles.
Aim for clarity in your titles, but cleverness always helps to sell books - as long as it's not too
cute. For example, Remedies for Insomnia: twenty different ways to count sheep. Or: Get off that couch:
fifteen exercise plans to whip you into shape.
Next, write out a thesis statement. Your thesis is a sentence or two stating exactly what problem
you are addressing and how your book will solve that problem. All chapters spring forth from your
thesis statement. Once you've got your thesis statement fine-tuned, you've built your foundation.
From that foundation, your book will grow, chapter by chapter.
Your thesis will keep you focused while you write your ebook. Remember: all chapters must support
your thesis statement. If they don't, they don't belong in your book. For example, your thesis statement
could read: "We've all experienced insomnia at times in our lives, but there are twenty proven
techniques and methods to give you back a good night's sleep."
Once you have your thesis, before you start to write, make sure there is a good reason to write your book.
Ask yourself some questions:
 Does your book present useful information and is that information currently relevant?
Will you book positively affect the lives of your readers?
Is your book dynamic and will it keep the reader's attention?
Does you book answer questions that are meaningful and significant?
If you can answer yes to these questions, you can feel confident about the potential of your ebook.
Another important step is to figure out who your target audience is. It is this group of people you
will be writing to, and this group will dictate many elements of your book, such as style, tone,
diction, and even length. Figure out the age range of your readers, their general gender, what they
are most interested in, and even the socio-economic group they primarily come from. Are they people
who read fashion magazines or book reviews? Do they write letters in longhand or spend hours every
day online. The more you can pin down your target audience, the easier it will be to write your book for them.
Next, make a list of the reasons you are writing your ebook. Do you want to promote your business?
Do you want to bring quality traffic to your website? Do you want to enhance your reputation?
Then write down your goals in terms of publishing. Do you want to sell it as a product on your
website, or do you want to offer it as a free gift for filling out a survey or for ordering a product?
Do you want to use the chapters to create an e-course, or use your ebook to attract affiliates
around the world? The more you know upfront, the easier the actual writing will be.
Decide on the format of your chapters. In non-fiction, keep the format from chapter to chapter fairly
consistent. Perhaps you plan to use an introduction to your chapter topic, and then divide it into
four subhead topics. Or you may plan to divide it into five parts, each one beginning with a relevant anecdote.
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