Expert Tips: How to Write a Killer E-book

Writing an e-book seems like a serious undertaking. Some people may get intimidated when they have to begin writing, especially when they stare at a blank page. Writing a killer e-book doesn’t have to be difficult if you follow some expert tips.

Choose a Topic and Title

One of the most important decisions you can make when you want to write a killer e-book is the topic. Sometimes the topic has already been chosen for you while other times you have the ability to choose. Regardless, once you have a topic, come up with a great title for your e-book.

A great title will not only inform readers what the book is about, but it also creates interest in the book. A boring title won’t catch attention and readers may pass by your book for one that sounds more interesting. Keep in mind that you can always go back to improve the title once the book is complete.

Get Inspired

Look at other e-books with similar topics, but don’t try to copy! Instead, use them as inspiration. Find out what makes them successful and where they fall short. Then, you can create an e-book that is better than others that have been written on the same topic. Take plenty of notes and use your creativity to spark ideas that you can incorporate into your masterpiece.

Make an Outline

An outline will help guide you through the writing process. It becomes your roadmap for writing the e-book and keeps you on course. The outline should break down the details into useful and relevant sections or chapters. Once you have an outline you can work with it and revise it if needed. Your outline will help give you a complete understanding of how to structure your e-book.

Research, Research, Research

Once you have the topic and an outline, it’s time to do some research. You want to make sure that you have the latest and most relevant information from reliable sources. Remember that the Internet is full of many undependable sites, so be very careful when you gather the information for your book.

Keep in mind that information changes over time, especially when you’re gathering statistics. Therefore, you need to be careful to find the latest sources with the most recent studies and data possible. Double and triple check resources and make notes so you can provide an updated version of the book if new data is published.

Write Interesting Chapters

People like to read e-books on a variety of devices and they often prefer to read and skim in short chunks. To make it easier and more enjoyable for readers, break up the information into a series of chapters. An e-book generally might have more chapters than a standard book, but each chapter will be shorter in length.

Break down the information into sections based on the flow of the book. You want to make sure that the chapters flow from one to the other in a seamless manner that builds interest along the way. You can also include links to important details, useful data, but only when the sources are of high quality. Also make sure that you give the chapters unique titles that will pique reader’s interest.

Write Short Paragraphs

Readers enjoy reading in short bursts. This is particularly true of e-books because readers may be accessing them on their mobile devices, catching small bits at a time. To make the book more conducive to the way readers read, write paragraphs that are relatively short in length. Try to keep them to a maximum of four or five sentences in length.

Use Lists and Bullet Points

The written word can be a little boring and most people like to skim and read as quickly as possible. Try to break up the pages with the use of lists and bullet points, but only when they make sense. The idea is to create an interesting space with the words and blank white areas of the page. Remember that when you convert your manuscript into an e-book you may need to make some adjustments in order to give it appealing flow.

Proofread, Edit and Rewrite

Most people don’t write a perfect book immediately. It takes some time to review and revise the book to make it the killer e-book that you know is possible. Once you’ve proofread and made any revisions necessary, put the book away for a day or two. Then, come back to it with a pair of fresh eyes. You will be able to see areas that need improvement or revision.

Even better, you can find an editing service that will proofread and edit the book. They will provide you with possible revisions. You may also want to have others read the book and offer opinions. Writing groups and clubs are ideal places to get objective opinions about your book.