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What's your eBook writing process like?

by ckbank
19 replies
I've been meaning to create my first eBook to sell on Clickbank. I've started writing many times and always end up scrapping a project even at 15, 20 pages. This is mainly due to the fact that unlike books at Barnes and Noble, eBooks on Clickbank and other online venues are comparatively shorter in content and more expensive. I still haven't developed the mentality to charge someone $36.95 for 10,000 words of content. But it seems that's sort of the norm. Many eBooks being sold on blogs and Clickbank seem to have high number of pages, but they are usually double spaced or spaced at 1.5 and the fonts are big. It's true some eBooks provide secret techniques and lots of value, but being a noob, I can't get used to the idea of charging so much.

That's one reason I've been quitting projects. Another reason has to do with the process itself. When you create eBooks, do you use certain tools and resources to format your eBook and along the way, how do you judge the quality of your work? I guess I'm just throwing many things out there in one post, but that's probably because I'm overwhelmed.

All in all, what's your eBook writing process? Tools used, formatting, deciding on number of pages, pricing, title, having low # of returns, and etc.
#ebook #process #writing
  • Profile picture of the author TimothyTorrents
    I never actually wrote a E-Book before but a compiled a list of helpful tips about writing a E-Book anyways. You can check them out here.

    5 Tips on How to Write a Ebook | Aim Down Your Sights
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  • Profile picture of the author Ron Killian
    Who says you HAVE to charge $36 or any high price for your ebooks? Actually many, many ebooks, or short reports sell at lower prices, such as $7 for example. Might not be big profits, but it's better than getting $0 from ones that don't get finished. Just a thought.

    Also, just as important, at the very least save those small ones you do write, they could be great lead magnets you could use for building a list.

    I am not great writer, but I have found, as many experts say, you need to write now and fix later. Just get it all out and edit later. I know I get bogged down when I stop to fix every little mistake.

    Kinda sounds like you start one then you start doubting yourself or the content, I've done that. Why not write something and ask people here to look at it. Gives you an idea if your doing good or headed in the right direction.

    As for tools, I use MS Word, I need that spelling and grammar checker

    Price depends on the content really. One page can be worth $100. On the other side 100 pages of crap is worth nothing. Not much of a answer, but it really does depend.
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    • Profile picture of the author ckbank
      Originally Posted by Ron Killian View Post

      Who says you HAVE to charge $36 or any high price for your ebooks? Actually many, many ebooks, or short reports sell at lower prices, such as $7 for example. Might not be big profits, but it's better than getting $0 from ones that don't get finished. Just a thought.

      Also, just as important, at the very least save those small ones you do write, they could be great lead magnets you could use for building a list.

      I am not great writer, but I have found, as many experts say, you need to write now and fix later. Just get it all out and edit later. I know I get bogged down when I stop to fix every little mistake.

      Kinda sounds like you start one then you start doubt yourself or the content, I've done that. Why not write something and ask people here to look at it. Gives you an idea if your doing good or headed in the right direction.

      As for tools, I use MS Word, I need that spelling and grammar checker

      Price depends on the content really. One page can be worth $100. On the other side 100 of crap is worth nothing. Not much of a answer, but it really does depend.
      Very well explained. Thanks you Ron. By the way, I believe your writing sounds fluid and you're good with the grammar. That means you are a good writer.

      I guess you are right about the price. It's just been my experience that most eBooks are being sold around $50. But then, I don't go on and buy eBooks every day. I guess I don't know the market that well. I'll try and stick to one project and see how it ends up.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

    That's one reason I've been quitting projects. Another reason has to do with the process itself.
    The main reason, in your case, is habit-pattern.

    I'm not trying to "have a go at you" but you never follow anything through as far as making any real money from it, and that's ultimately why you've been here 3 years and are constantly chopping and changing everything you do, and asking for pure beginner-level advice on something totally new and different all over again ... and again ... and again.

    I'm trying to be helpful, not rude: you just need to FOCUS: Follow One Course Until Successful!

    I know you were young when you started, but so was I ...

    The website in your signature-file isn't terrible at all (apart from all the gratuitous social media buttons and toolbars which will put many visitors off, not add to their experience, and will clearly cost you some opt-ins). I know it's very new. Why not stick with that, come up with a sensible marketing plan, work at it, keep working at it, pay attention to it to the exclusion of all your other online plans, and see if it can produce some real income for you?

    Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

    All in all, what's your eBook writing process?
    It won't help you.

    Concentrate on being an affiliate in the acne niche. It's not a bad niche. For once in your life see something through and make some real profits with it. And stop asking people how they write e-books. It doesn't matter!
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    • Profile picture of the author ckbank
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      The main reason, in your case, is habit-pattern.

      I'm not trying to "have a go at you" but you never follow anything through as far as making any real money from it, and that's ultimately why you've been here 3 years and are constantly chopping and changing everything you do, and asking for pure beginner-level advice on something totally new and different all over again ... and again ... and again.

      I'm trying to be helpful, not rude: you just need to FOCUS: Follow One Course Until Successful!

      I know you were young when you started, but so was I ...

      The website in your signature-file isn't terrible at all (apart from all the gratuitous social media buttons and toolbars which will put many visitors off, not add to their experience, and will clearly cost you some opt-ins). I know it's very new. Why not stick with that, come up with a sensible marketing plan, work at it, keep working at it, pay attention to it to the exclusion of all your other online plans, and see if it can produce some real income for you?



      It won't help you.

      Concentrate on being an affiliate in the acne niche. It's not a bad niche. For once in your life see something through and make some real profits with it. And stop asking people how they write e-books. It doesn't matter!
      Thank you Alexa. Very good observations about my habits. I probably ask questions I know the answers to, but I guess I do that because even though I have the knowledge to complete most IM projects, I just want to feel a sense of assurance that I'm on the right track. But you are right about focusing. When it comes to IM, I can't focus. It's weird. I just get excited by all of the possibilities to make money and keep jumping from project to project. Lastly, you've made my day by saying my website is okay. To hear that it at least doesn't suck helps a lot.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

        Thank you Alexa. Very good observations about my habits. I probably ask questions I know the answers to, but I guess I do that because even though I have the knowledge to complete most IM projects, I just want to feel a sense of assurance that I'm on the right track. But you are right about focusing. When it comes to IM, I can't focus. It's weird. I just get excited by all of the possibilities to make money and keep jumping from project to project. Lastly, you've made my day by saying my website is okay. To hear that it at least doesn't suck helps a lot.
        Not at all ... you're welcome. I just wanted to say "thanks" for not taking my post the wrong way. I was slightly anxious that I might have come across rudely (not my intention at all!) so I'm really relieved to look back at the thread and see you've taken what I rambled on about exactly as I intended it - thank you, and good luck with that site!
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        • Profile picture of the author ckbank
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          Not at all ... you're welcome. I just wanted to say "thanks" for not taking my post the wrong way. I was slightly anxious that I might have come across rudely (not my intention at all!) so I'm really relieved to look back at the thread and see you've taken what I rambled on about exactly as I intended it - thank you, and good luck with that site!
          Thank you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rose Anderson
    CK,
    The best way I know of not giving up somewhere in the middle is to have your outline set-up in advance. As you do your research, make notes on any topics that are worthy of becoming a chapter.

    Try to find unusual angles that haven't been beat to death. Even familiar subjects can be interesting if you find a unique way of writing about them. Tell stories, show examples, offer check-lists, talk about the history or back story, list step-by-step directions, or throw in some humor (when appropriate).

    After you've covered the subject in the best way you can -- then decide on price. Don't try to add extra filler just to get the book to a certain amount of pages. You'll end up with a watered down product.

    Rose
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  • Profile picture of the author contentwriting360
    Banned
    ckbank,

    I have no issues in divulging to you how Content Writing 360° writes e-books and reports. However, I really don't see a significant impact in what you want to know, not because our style is ineffective, but because you don't need somebody else's style or format in writing.

    Did you read Alexa's comment? That's a good one. Being a jack-of-all-trades is good but most people are good at one thing and are average in many things. I am not trying to discourage you or anything like that.

    Experiment with your style. Observe. Compare the results when you were writing in Style A and now that you're writing in Style B. Gather the feedback of your buyers, affiliates, colleagues and friends. Don't lose your heart on your current style, if one person's comment isn't something you expected to hear. After you gather these data, identify what's common to their feedbacks. Then, apply that style they want when you write your next e-books. As they say, rinse and repeat.

    Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with.
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    • Profile picture of the author ckbank
      Originally Posted by contentwriting360 View Post

      ckbank,

      I have no issues in divulging to you how Content Writing 360° writes e-books and reports. However, I really don't see a significant impact in what you want to know, not because our style is ineffective, but because you don't need somebody else's style or format in writing.

      Did you read Alexa's comment? That's a good one. Being a jack-of-all-trades is good but most people are good at one thing and are average in many things. I am not trying to discourage you or anything like that.

      Experiment with your style. Observe. Compare the results when you were writing in Style A and now that you're writing in Style B. Gather the feedback of your buyers, affiliates, colleagues and friends. Don't lose your heart on your current style, if one person's comment isn't something you expected to hear. After you gather these data, identify what's common to their feedbacks. Then, apply that style they want when you write your next e-books. As they say, rinse and repeat.

      Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with.
      Oh, I'm absolutely comfortable with whatever style I may use. I asked the question mainly to understand the technical side of creating the eBook. You know, things like formatting, intro, and etc.
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      • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
        Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

        Oh, I'm absolutely comfortable with whatever style I may use. I asked the question mainly to understand the technical side of creating the eBook.
        You asked the question because asking questions if soooo much easier than actually doing something.

        Here's what you should do. This is what I did when I was sitting around for months and then years fooling myself thinking I was a marketer.

        Sit your ass down in front of the computer. Open up Word or whatever program you use to write. Close all the tabs on your browser, you know, facebook, twitter, Warrior Forum, all the time-wasting bullshit.

        Then type this into Word as your title, How I Overcame Procrastination & Found Success In Internet Marketing. That's your eBook.

        Now you're thinking, I don't have any idea what to write. Yes you do. And if you don't, then imagine what it might be like to actually take some action.

        See, there's a big market for a book like this. There are literally hundreds of people on this forum who would buy it. And for any author to have credibility he or she should have actually had success with their topic.

        Here's the key. You already know what you need to do. Coming here endlessly asking different versions of the same question is marketing masturbation.

        Start by telling your story. Only you know what that is. But I'm sure it's similar to most. Then talk about your wakeup call. That's today. You decided you weren't going to be sitting around like a doofus any more, that you're going to actually take action. Commit to writing 500 words.

        Don't stop until you've got them, even if it sucks and it's a bunch of gibberish. Do it anyway. Then look at what you have and improve it. Don't stop until you have something worthwhile. You'll be surprised at how good you'll feel once you start to get some momentum.

        You already know what to do, so just do it. If you feel like you want to stop, keep going anyway. Single-minded determination. You'll be surprised at what you can accomplish. And when you're finished, then you can come back here and show everyone what you've done.

        That's the only way. If you keep on jumping from one silly idea to another you're never going to do squat. So.... JUST FREAKIN' DO IT! Good luck.
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        • Profile picture of the author ckbank
          Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

          You asked the question because asking questions if soooo much easier than actually doing something.

          Here's what you should do. This is what I did when I was sitting around for months and then years fooling myself thinking I was a marketer.

          Sit your ass down in front of the computer. Open up Word or whatever program you use to write. Close all the tabs on your browser, you know, facebook, twitter, Warrior Forum, all the time-wasting bullshit.

          Then type this into Word as your title, How I Overcame Procrastination & Found Success In Internet Marketing. That's your eBook.

          Now you're thinking, I don't have any idea what to write. Yes you do. And if you don't, then imagine what it might be like to actually take some action.

          See, there's a big market for a book like this. There are literally hundreds of people on this forum who would buy it. And for any author to have credibility he or she should have actually had success with their topic.

          Here's the key. You already know what you need to do. Coming here endlessly asking different versions of the same question is marketing masturbation.

          Start by telling your story. Only you know what that is. But I'm sure it's similar to most. Then talk about your wakeup call. That's today. You decided you weren't going to be sitting around like a doofus any more, that you're going to actually take action. Commit to writing 500 words.

          Don't stop until you've got them, even if it sucks and it's a bunch of gibberish. Do it anyway. Then look at what you have and improve it. Don't stop until you have something worthwhile. You'll be surprised at how good you'll feel once you start to get some momentum.

          You already know what to do, so just do it. If you feel like you want to stop, keep going anyway. Single-minded determination. You'll be surprised at what you can accomplish. And when you're finished, then you can come back here and show everyone what you've done.

          That's the only way. If you keep on jumping from one silly idea to another you're never going to do squat. So.... JUST FREAKIN' DO IT! Good luck.
          LoL, that actually would be a great eBook. You rock.
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          Now that's what I call Guerrilla Marketing.
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          • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
            Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

            LoL, that actually would be a great eBook. You rock.
            Thanks. If you don't write it I probably will.
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            • Profile picture of the author CurtisSWN
              My best tool is the MS Word outliner. I wish other programs incorporated it. Anyway, I find it is the best way to throw up concepts on a screen, even if I'm scouring the web, and rewriting material in my own words.
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              • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
                For non fiction...

                I only write about what I know. So if I don´t know about something, first stage is research. Just read and read and read some more, and watch videos... (and keep notes of the links to go back).

                At some point I have the feeling that I´m ready. Then just sit and write fast, let it flow the way it comes. This gives me something that is half book, half outline.

                I go back and add the additional layers. Also check my own ideas and beliefs and complete the information.

                In this stage I also add images and inserts, graphs and mindmaps, if they are part of the book.

                After this, there is still a third round for proofreading.

                Then it goes to the editor.

                For fiction... well, it finds its shape in stages. I just keep rewriting until it feels right.
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            • Profile picture of the author ckbank
              Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

              Thanks. If you don't write it I probably will.
              Do write it my friend.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vanilla Gorilla
    It seems as if you're not confident in your product. I'm a personal trainession. r and I char$80 for a 1 sesession. To someone that knows the science behind exercise and nutrition will probably. Find that price to be outrageous. But to those that see the benefits from it are gladly willing to pay. If your book provides a service that someone else is in need of, the price does not matter.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      My process? I sit down and start typing. But before I do that, I make DAMN
      sure I know the subject matter.

      Yes, I follow a standard format (ToC, intro, meat, conclusion, resources) but
      it's not something that I think about anymore after 9 years of this stuff.

      However, I did create a product creation PDF just in case I ever lost my memory
      and had to look up all this stuff. So the process IS written down somewhere.

      Mama didn't raise no fool.
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  • Profile picture of the author TiffanyLambert
    All in all, what's your eBook writing process? Tools used, formatting, deciding on number of pages, pricing, title, having low # of returns, and etc.

    1. Forget number of pages. You'll have much more success if it is whatever it NEEDS to be. Whether that means 14 pages or 140 - forgetting about page volume will help you exhaust your topic.

    2. Pricing? Priced right for the market. IE: If I'm writing a course for a free platform, common sense tells me it might be bought by many people who can't afford to invest in a site with graphics, etc. Or maybe they don't want to. If I'm writing a comprehensive soup to nuts course, it'll cost more than a specific idea (ie: a course on Internet Marketing as a whole versus a course on getting your emails to convert).

    3. I start out by gathering resources - both print books and online resources to educate myself (if necessary - sometimes it's all coming from the top of my head).

    4. I then use Word to create the title page, TOC holder and chapter outline. For the title, I like things that tell me what the product actually IS. Nothing vague and confusing where I have to go sit through some horrid 45 minute video sales letter with no fwd or rwd button to find out. So be clear in the title - and short is good.

    5. Formatting? I do 12 point font Arial for main text, 14 point for subheaders, and 20 point for chapter titles. Just make it look neat, not all scattered. I've seen eBooks where the margins are all over the place from page to page.

    6. Convert into PDF using whatever tool you want - Adobe, whatever.

    7. The low # of returns issue is all about whether or not you did what you said you were going to do. If you say you're going to teach someone how to blog, then you don't skip all that initial "set up stuff" because you assume they're going to know how to do that. You detail everything. Screen shots or accompanying video screen captures (I use Camtasia, but you can use Camstudio free). If your product is ethical, exhaustive (complete) and written in an easy to digest manner (meaning no half page paragraphs, no stuffy lingo), then you'll keep refunds low.

    Tiff
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