This post is by Gabriela Loschi.
Is there any difference between writing a book and writing an e-book? As a fruit of technology, e-books offer a unique niche and, much like other industries and products that have been revolutionized by technology—the video, music and photography industries—there are some specific points you should consider.
Ebooks, unlike printed material, offer incredible flexibility . . . and there’s no doubt about the ability to self-promote an e-book, which makes it easier for indie authors. If you already have writing skills, you’ll just need to take note of some digital best practices and, of course, identify your goals. Below are some tips to help you successfully write and publish your e-book. (Keep in mind you can always adapt it to other formats later.)
Choosing Your E-Book’s Subject
The choice of your topic is essential and you’ll need to use your expertise and knowledge in the same way as if you were writing a book to be printed. Web tools such as Widbook allow you to receive feedback from users and professionals in order to enhance and improve your writing. Widbook also offers the option for you to collaborate or co-write with other users, which can also influence your book’s theme.
Identifying Your Audience and Goals
When you decide on your ebook’s topic, you should get to know your readers and their expectations. And, of course, if you learn about the needs of your target, you should also write about important topics to help them and get attention to your books.
Most readers want to be surprised—and never bored. For example, if you are writing a romance novel, look to arouse emotions in your readers in addition to delivering a good story. On the other hand, people who read nonfiction expect to gain information on the subject and have more knowledge than before they read your content. In nonfiction writing, it’s helpful to bring unexpected information, unusual facts and accomplish original interviews, or even write about your own experience. This means: create content your readers will not find anywhere else, or they will tend to think that “Google” can solve their problems, rather than your books.
By knowing the topic of your e-book and your target audience, you are better able to offer the results your readers expect—or even go beyond their expectations.
Writing Your E-Book
Some people say you shouldn’t write a single word before researching your theme, target, and market. Others say if you have an idea, go ahead and put it on the computer. This is more a matter of personal preference. Don’t procrastinate, but also be sure to do enough research.
Some people believe e-books should be shorter than printed books, but that is not necessarily true. It all depends on your own goals. If you intend to sell you book for a higher price, you might want to increase the number of pages. Offering your writing for free in writing communities is a good way to get noticed, as is providing a sample of your work—such as a 20-50 page e-book. Above all else, though, what matters is the focus on quality and originality.
Choosing Your E-Book’s Cover
Never underestimate the power of a first impression, i.e., your book cover. You want your work to be noticed, and the cover may be the only chance you get to grab a reader’s attention. The same goes for the title. Make them eye-catching, interesting and appealing to capture a potential reader’s attention quickly.
Sharing Your E-Book
So why should you write an ebook? To be a part of the book publishing revolution! People today look to the Internet for information. Platforms like Widbook are front and center in this industry change, helping to redefine the publishing process and helping you and your books gain exposure by better positioning you in search results. Writing an e-book is a good way to gain credibility and popularity. And writing an e-book on communities such as Widbook—which offers collaborative tools—is also a great way to improve your writing.
So go ahead and get started writing and getting noticed. Good luck!
Tell me your opinion: Have you ever considered self-publishing an e-book?
