Wanna to write an eBook for Free

Wanna to write an eBook for Free

A person asked me how to publish own content without spending a single penny! 

Yes, it is possible. I myself published a book. 

Publish ISBN book in 7 days and no need to be dependent upon others. Market your book yourself. In case, no copies sold then also you will not loose money. Writing a book add to your personality and it grooms you with a set of new skills. It is a passion which may not give enough income but satisfaction is guaranteed. 

Everyone would like to put his or her words in the form of an eBook. In today’s virtual world, it is not much difficult. In case, the person has abilities of drafting the content and designing the title page followed by proof-reading or editing; then it can be done without paying a single penny. The eBooks can also be sold online and can be circulated freely. Let’s discuss the essentials of writing an eBook.

1.                 Exceptional Idea: 

There are millions of eBooks available and there will be rarely any issue upon which eBook may have not been written. Before writing an eBook, it is must to have an exceptional idea on which basis, the eBook should be written. It is well known ‘An idea can change the life’, it works here. Firstly, explore the ideas and select one which can be transformed into an eBook. It is required to think again in detail of that idea, and chalk out what can be written in a particular order, to pass the learning on a specific topic or to narrate a case or to simplify anything difficult to understand or to tell a story in an interesting way etc. For example, the information about criticism for anything, can easily be found but why the things happen to be criticized, is not explained by authors, that is required to be pointed out. When I am asked to write my first book, I opted a title on which information is nowhere easily available i.e. Trainer's guide to Evaluation of Training. 

2.                 Gathering data or relevant information: 

It is must to firstly collect the data by reviewing literature so that the eBook cannot be proved as a repetition of already existing information. It is must to gather the relevant information from various sources including books, journals, magazines, and websites of great interest. After collecting the data, edit the same and frame useful information in an organized way to present in the form of eBook. At this stage, it is must to keep in mind, what are the requirements of target audience so that the eBook can easily be sold in the market. What will be the titles of chapters, titles of paragraphs and sub-paragraphs, order of each information, and finally structure of the eBook. 

3.                 Thinking and Writing: 

After finalizing the structure of the eBook and existing information in hand, the author should explore the intellect and put the same after deep thinking in a simple way to pass the knowledge. Some authors start writing from the first lesson, some start from the middle of the eBook, and some start writing from the last lesson to first; it depends upon the author’s desire. 

4.                 Review and rewrite: 

More the editing, more the useful information will be inside the eBook. It is must to review the written content again and again before finalizing it in the form of eBook. It is a never-ending process; however, the author may decide at which stage he launches the eBook’s final content. Revising the content as per the latest updates in the concerned area, is must to make the eBook useful. The content may be rearranged, revised, reframed, rewritten keeping in mind the need of the target audience.

5.                 Finalizing the touching title: 

The title of the eBook should be so touching and self-describing so that the readers or target audience be agreed after listening the title of the eBook to buy it. For example, “You Can Win” was a nice title and created interest in the mind of potential readers to have a copy of it.  

6.                 Adding attractive cover page: 

The cover page is the first look of the eBook and the success of the eBook depends to a great extent upon it. The attractive cover page itself is a marketing tool because it is firstly noticed by the readers. If possible, then hire a professional designer to design the cover page.

7.                 Testing the eBook’s content and seeking improvements: 

Before publishing the eBook, it is must to test it by offering it for review by the experts, potential readers, to have comments for the changes (if required). Beware, only offer the eBook to the confidential and trusted people so that it cannot go in the hands of someone who can steal the information and get it published. On the basis of feedback, the eBook can be improved before publishing. There is always scope for improvement, in case there is requirement to revise to a great extent, then it may be decided to revise it in the next edition.

8.                 Compiling the eBook and finding out keywords: 

It is must to describe the keywords from the content detailed inside the eBook. The keywords should be selected on the basis of both the requirements of the target audience and contents detailed inside the eBook.

9.                 Formatting the eBook: 

The formatting is must before publishing at an online platform i.e. KDP, Smashwords, Lulu etc. The formatting of an eBook is an art and requires learning. It can also be done by using a software.

10.             Selection of publishing platform: 

Once the manuscript or eBook’s content is ready to publish, it is required to select the appropriate publishing platform. It depends upon the target audience which publishing platform will be appropriate. In case, the target audience is computer savvy students then the eBook may be launched at Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and marketed at Amazon. On the other hand, if the target audience is senior and old people who prefer to read hard-copies, then it may be decided to launch the book in digital libraries with a copy in hard-paper to be sold in the market. The authors also consider the privacy protection, royalties offered by the publishing platform, and availability of the target audience before finalizing the publishing platform.

11.             Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): 

The eBook is written and promoted mostly on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) because it provides the feature of formatting the eBook and a marketplace without charging a single penny. The KDP also provides feature to read the eBook at Kindle. Nearly 70% of the price of each sold copy of eBook is provided to the author. But at this platform, it is must that the author’s target audience use Kindle for approaching the eBook.  

12.             Publishing platforms other than KDP: 

There are many other platforms for publishing the eBook i.e. Smashwords, Booktango, Lulu etc. Each platform accepts the manuscript and then publish it in the form of eBook. The interesting thing is that they don’t charge money for publishing it. However, they charge for editing and marketing the eBook. It is also necessary to go through the terms and conditions and look how much royalties each platform is providing for sale of each copy. At present, the Lulu is most appropriate in such case, offering up to 90% of the royalties.

13.              Self-publishing by using a specific software: 

There are software available for self-publishing an eBook, for example, Calibre software converts HTML files into ePub format without charging a single penny. If the content is available in the form of MS-Word document, then it is required to firstly save the .doc or .docx file into .html format and then convert it into an ePub format using Calibre software. Second software normally used for publishing eBook is Adobe Acrobat Pro version. It creates the .pdf file with protection through password. Only the users with password can read the contents of the .pdf file. Third software which can also save documents into .pdf with password is OpenOffice.org, an office suite freely available online. With the change in time, there are many options being available online and an author can opt any for publishing the eBook without paying a single penny.

14.             Promoting the eBook: 

After publishing the eBook, it becomes necessary for promoting the eBook to earn the revenues. The YouTube, FaceBook, Google Communities, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media platforms can be used to promote the eBook. The authors can also link the eBook on StumpleUpon and promote its picture through Instagram or YouTube Clips.    

In nut shell, firstly write contents of an eBook in MS-word document, then use OpenOffice.org to convert it into .pdf with encryption or password. The use Google Docs to convert it into a format ePub meant for eBook.

*Copyright © 2018 Dr. Lalit Kumar. All rights reserved.

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