By Paul Jackson
Are YOU ready for the eBook authoring adventure? Do you have what it takes to author an eBook?
Is there an eBook author inside of you? Are you not sure whether or not you have what it takes
to write that book that’s been living inside of you for years? Are you reluctant to start writing
your eBook, fearing that you won’t complete it?
Let’s examine your attitudes, skills and knowledge that you bring to the eBook authoring process.
Let’s look at some key questions you can ask yourself to see if your "readiness" for embarking on
this authoring adventure is obvious.
The following questions are not meant to cover everything you should know about yourself before
beginning the authoring process but they will give you a good idea where you stand. You may be
surprised at some of the criteria mentioned.
This is not your conventional assessment of what it takes to author an eBook. Criteria like
knowledge of the subject area, experience with the problems addressed in the eBook, familiarity
with members of the target market for your eBook, and previous work done on your eBook topic are
assumed.
This is a reflective look at what you should and could bring to the eBook authoring process. It’s
the non-conventional criteria that will be addressed here.
Remember that we are talking about eBooks not pBooks (standard published books) and therefore the
attitudes, skills and knowledge you require are different. eBooks are a marriage of creative writing
(for non-fiction primarily) and eBook technology. Your eBook is designed to be viewed on a computer
monitor. Your eBook is very much like a living web page. You have at your disposal for use in your
eBook the wonders of internet, web and eBook technology. Writing is but one part of the eBook
authoring process.
Every step of the eBook authoring process is affected by the fact that eBooks are inventions of
technology, software programs, creative writing and the World Wide Web among other aspects.
Consider: The Ten Steps of eBook Authoring:
I Idea
II Reflection
III Commitment
IV Big Picture
V Chunking
VI Writing
VII Editing
VIII Publishing
IX Marketing
X Celebrating
There is not one step in this process that will not require a different way of thinking compared to
the conventional ideas of writing a book. That’s not to say that there is no carry-over from pBook
to eBook. There is much in common but it is also necessary to approach the writing of an eBook with
a much different audience in mind that the one who would normally purchase your book at a book store.
As an example, the fact that your customer will not be able to physically touch your eBook before
purchasing it means that your "Big Picture" idea of a jacket for your pBook now becomes a look at
an eBook cover graphic digitally reproduced but no less appealing than your standard pBook cover.
In fact, cover design for eBooks is sometimes even more important than for a standard book.
Another example is the technological expertise of your target market. eBooks don’t require any
special skills to use them properly but it does require that your target market have access to a
computer, know how to download information from the internet, and regularly seek answers to their
questions from the web.
All of these issues and plenty more make the eBook an interesting, exciting, worthwhile, and
rewarding venture into authoring. Add to this list the fact that your expertise level will be
enhanced in the same way a standard published authors’ would be but at a much reduced cost. You
have complete control your eBook all the time. You make much more money selling eBooks than
standard book unless you are already a well-known author. You can become a published author
quickly and inexpensively while maintaining control of all aspects of the eBook authoring process.
You can share your expertise with a world-wide audience 24/7.
Leave a written legacy of your knowledge and expertise. Author an eBook.
5 Key Questions
Question #1
Do YOU relish the opportunity to share your expertise, knowledge, and skills?
The excitement generated when someone downloads your free eBook or purchases your "expertise" makes
your work well worth the effort. eBooks provide an opportunity, at a very reasonable cost, to target
a world-wide market of people sharing your interests.
The Internet is the number one source of instant information. Your eBook should be written to address
the needs and problems of your target market. Your objective in writing your eBook is to share what
you have learned with others. You will be seen as an expert. Your job is to help people solve
problems by sorting through the glut of information available to your readers and get right to the
heart of the problem.
Readers want instant solutions to problems. They want the delivery of the eBook answers immediately
without leaving the office or home. Readers appreciate the time you have taken to help them solve
their problem. Making contacts with "like minds" is a bonus, especially for the author.
Do you have something about which you are passionate? About which you have experience? About which
you have gained insights and knowledge that would be of value to others? About which your wisdom
would best be shared before it is lost forever?
So the very first question you have to answer is do you have an interest or area of expertise that
you are anxious to share with others. Your passion for the subject will carry you throughout the
entire eBook authoring process.
Are you interested in sharing your knowledge, skills, attitudes, and passions with the world?
Question #2
Are YOU willing to continue along the road of life-long learning? Are you willing to improve your
computer literacy, word processing skills, and Internet savvy?
Regardless of where you currently stand in terms of your knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding
computer and Internet technology, you will have plenty of opportunities to improve in these areas.
The option is always yours to learn what you need to know yourself or turn the step over to someone
who does. A big part of the adventure is learning how to enhance the message in your eBook through
the best techniques available to you. The Internet is all about information. Information sells if
packaged well. Information sells when the purchaser sees the benefits of the purchase to enhance
his/her life, solve problems or prevent mistakes.
By simply learning more about your word processing software you will have taken a big step! Purchase
a good instruction manual that has plenty of pictures, is bright in color and uses the actual images
you will see on your computer monitor to help you learn how to do things. The average person using
word processing software has only a superficial knowledge of what the software can do. Now you have
the opportunity to use this new-found knowledge in the best of all places - your eBook.
eBook technology, properly used, enhances your enjoyment in presenting the material and your audience’
s reading enjoyment as well. Consider for example that every single web page in the entire universe
can readily be placed into your eBook for easy reference. There is no need to reproduce tons of
material when a link from your eBook to a web site will do the same thing. Not only that, but the
reader doesn’t have to wade through material they already know. They can choose to follow the link
or not. Another marvelous use of eBook technology is that the reader who leaves your eBook to visit
a web page can just as easily come back to your eBook.
Color is another example of eBook technology at its best. You have the entire palette to use in your
eBook. Your eBook comes alive with color. There are no limitations unlike the standard pBook where
adding color means added costs and added costs mean higher prices and higher prices mean fewer sales.
You get the picture.
Considering this question about your personal learning curve, look at your decision to author an
eBook as an opportunity to embark on a tremendous learning experience. You take on the role of both
teacher (eBook author) and learner (eBook author) with one experience.
Do the "learning" possibilities excite you? You will learn as much about yourself as you will about
eBook technology and computers if you have the courage to take up the eBook authoring challenge.
Are you a life-long learner?
Question #3
Are YOU willing to do the research required for your eBook?
It is very probable you already have a fair amount of information readily available for the content
of your eBook. This can come in the form of personal experience, articles written by you, web site
resources, books and videos on the subject, workshop materials you have presented, and seminars or
training sessions you have done.
Research skills will be necessary to make your work accurate, relevant and up-to-date. One of the
most amazing aspects of eBook technology is the fact that you continuously update the information
in your eBook with relative ease. It won’t require producing an entirely new product and tossing out
the old books. All that’s required is an electronic update of your current eBook. And it costs
little or nothing to produce your new eBook. In fact it costs so little you could even afford to
give all previous purchasers a copy of the revised eBook for free! There are virtually no
distribution charges.
This "up-to-the-minute" research is a two-edged sword. As the author charged with providing your
readers with accurate information using the Internet and sorting through that information to find
what is truly relevant, you also have the obligation to keep your eBook updated. It’s not a problem
as an eBook. Your reputation will be enhanced among your readers. Their trust in you will make
up-selling other products and services so much easier. You’re credible and incredible!
Research isn’t just about providing your target market with valuable information. You must also
be prepared to do your market research as well. You must be willing to spend time "where your
target market hangs out". This means getting to know the right people, the right places, and the
right things that will help sell your eBook. In most situations, eBook authors are also active
members of organizations, subscribers to magazines and periodicals, attendees at conferences and
workshops that your target market is likely to frequent. You are a member of "the group". This is
called marketing research for sales and distribution of your eBook.
Of course, there are the technical aspects of the entire process that will also require some
attention on your part such as ePublishing. Publishing in the traditional sense is usually done
after a contract is signed and the publisher takes over the entire process. No so with eBooks.
You are the one! Don’t worry. It’s not that difficult. Remember, like any other aspect of the
eBook authoring process, you can always hire someone else to do it!!! ePublishing or compiling
is the term used to convert your book created using word processing software into a format that
becomes an electronic book (eBook) so your reader can make best use of it. There are many formats
to choose from. Adobe Acrobat - Portable Document Format (PDF) works with all platforms. Like all
of the eBook formats available to you, Adobe provides a free Reader so your eBook can be used.
Research in its various forms should be considered part of the dues you must pay to successfully
author an eBook. One aspect of eBooks that most appeals to authors and readers is that the writing
style is informal and the annotations and formal references used in University papers isn’t required.
In fact, your readers will welcome that fact that you can talk to them person to person in your eBook
and they will get the message. The research component in this question is more behind the scenes but
it’s an important consideration when embarking on writing an eBook.
Is research a dirty word for you or does it excite you?
Question #4
Do you see yourself as a team player?
Success in anything is seldom accomplished without the help of others. One of the most important
methods of leverage is working cooperatively with others to accomplish a particular goal. It makes
success quicker and easier. It's all about synergy-the concept that one plus one does not equal two
but eleven! Working together with your team you can accomplish more and do it faster than trying to
do everything yourself.
In eBook authoring there are many opportunities to work with others. In fact, it would be safe to say
that it is impossible that anyone could do it alone. Consider these aspects of eBook authoring that
may require the assistance of others.
Mentors can make a tremendous difference to your personal success as an author. Mentors can provide
the emotional support you require to keep you on task and encourage you to reach your goal. Mentors
can help with specific skills that you may be lacking like learning how to more effectively use your
word processing software. Mentors can be experienced writers with whom you can share ideas and
experiences. Mentors can be ‘experts’ in your topic that provide you with insights you might
otherwise have not thought about. And mentors can also be your proof-readers and editors when your
draft copy requires ‘outside’ approval and scrutiny.
Technical members of your team may be required to help you design and operate a web site in order
to sell your eBook. Technical expertise is often required to compile or ePublish your book from the
word processing software to eBook format. Graphic experts can help you design your eBook cover along
with other graphics used on your web site or for promotional purposes. Banners on sites and logos for
your eBook sales and ad copy many also require outside assistance.
And don’t forget those people who form your inner circle of friends, relatives and immediate family.
Without the support and encouragement of these people your eBook authoring experience will become
more work than adventure.
The last step of The 10 Steps to eBook Authoring is Celebrate. It’s no accident that this step is
included. The celebration is a team celebration. Without a team, you will not succeed. If you are
not a team player, you will find the authoring experience a difficult, in not impossible one.
Are you a team player?
Question #5
Is the entrepreneurial spirit alive in YOU?
Whether or not you have previous entrepreneurial experience you will be able to see how the
self-employed and small business operators make money. As an author you will become a small
business. Your active involvement in all aspects of the process is essential even though you
may not be doing some things like compiling your finished eBook. Learning the business of writing,
publishing, and marketing your eBook is fascinating.
It doesn’t matter whether you plan to give away your eBook as a bonus for purchasing other products
or services or use it to advertise your expertise or sell your eBook as a product, your
entrepreneurial skills will need to be addressed. Once more, your attitudes, skills and knowledge
will be tested. The learning curve will appear once more. You will become a self-employed author
operating a small business just like thousands of other small business owners. Be prepared for this
unique adventure. It’s exciting.
Time is your biggest investment in the authoring process. Some money will need to be spent to publish
and market your eBook. eBooks can be written, published, marketed and sold for an investment of a
few hundred dollars at most. Recouping your expense will be much easier than any other form of
publishing - self-publishing, standard publishing through a company contract, or print on demand.
Should you choose to sell your eBook you will generate life-long income in the order of 40- 95% of
the selling price of each book depending on the methods you choose to reach your customer. In
addition, your eBook authoring, related speaking engagements, and workshops qualifies you for tax
benefits as a self-employed person. An option always remains open to you to publish your eBook in
standard paperback or hard cover format.
eBooks are the "doors of opportunity" for anyone wishing to enhance their current careers, establish
themselves as an expert in their field, or begin a new career. Published eBooks put the author in a
unique position to build a business around this one eBook or other eBooks related to the first one.
Business opportunities are generated by your status as a published author. You will have the
opportunity to conduct workshops, host teleseminars, produce other products, provide additional
services like consulting or coaching, facilitate training sessions, do keynote addresses and of
course write other eBooks. Your eBook can become the center of your new entrepreneurial universe.
Does the entrepreneurial spirit in you lead you to eBook authoring?
There they are! Five questions worth your reflective consideration. Five questions that will help
you decide whether you have what it takes to author an eBook.
The decision is yours. Let the journey begin! It all starts with an Idea!
©2005
About the Author
Paul Jackson, a published eBook author and retired educator, clearly appreciates what it takes to
author an eBook. His experience as both a writer and an instructor helping people realize their
dream of authoring a book qualifies him to ask these very important questions. His business, eBook
Authoring Services, at http://www.ebookwritingandpublishing.com is a great starting point for
aspiring eBook authors.
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