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How do you create a great looking ebook?

by svedski
27 replies
I don't mean the cover, but the inside of it.
Are there any templates I can buy? Right now my ebook looks like a word-document. Not good. I want it to look professional.

However, I do not want a bunch of crazy graphics, colored backgrounds etc. It should be simple to read and digest, just professional looking.

By the way, it sounds like I'm ordering a perfect ebook template from you here. No. I'm just asking for some tips that can take me in the right direction. :rolleyes:

Thanks
#create #ebook #great
  • Profile picture of the author 4DayWeekend
    For mine I usually just create a background in Photoshop (that I use on every page) and then put the text in a text box in the middle.

    I think it does the job perfectly but you do need some Photoshop skills. The good news is that if you don't have any you can probably outsource the creation of one graphic pretty cheaply
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  • Profile picture of the author KuhNoodle
    Well as good place to start is to reference some great looking ebooks that you've read or come across. Look at what they did and try to replicate, or imitate what they did. I'd recommend putting your own spin on it though. We all have our own specific style choices.

    And some of the best informatory I've ever read in ebook has been in books that looked like word documents. It's the content that's going to make your book, not the look of it.
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    • Profile picture of the author svedski
      Originally Posted by KuhNoodle View Post

      Well as good place to start is to reference some great looking ebooks that you've read or come across. Look at what they did and try to replicate, or imitate what they did. I'd recommend putting your own spin on it though. We all have our own specific style choices.

      And some of the best informatory I've ever read in ebook has been in books that looked like word documents. It's the content that's going to make your book, not the look of it.
      Yes, but how do I do this though?
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael D Forbes
    If you are using MS Word, using a good header and footer, or a vertical sidebar, goes a long way toward making things look great. Inline graphics (photos, charts, anything to support your text) can spice things up also.

    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author Cassano 10
    you can do it using adobe Indesign, or give it to a professional.
    but be aware for the ebook size.
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  • Profile picture of the author ashloren
    I just hired a company called Vook in New York to turn some of my blog posts into an eBook and they did an outstanding job. It reads correctly on all mobile devices, tablets, ereaders and I got both a .mobi and a .epub file. I highly recommend them if you are after a professional eBook.
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    -Ashly Lorenzana
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  • Profile picture of the author svedski
    Thanks for the answers.

    I downloaded a trial of Indesign, even bought a great looking ebook template. I have no idea on how to use it though. So, I'm going to create it in Word instead.

    All I want to know is how to create titles, subheads, footers and pagenumbers. I've tried to search on Google for about an hour, but haven't been able to find anything useful.

    Anyone have an idea on how to add these things automatically?
    I want the footer + pagenumber to be added automatically for every new page that is created.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan Emanuels
    Indesign is really good. You could even make your pdf interactive. Have an opt in into your pdf and/or a buy form. I am lucky to have knowledge of those secrets.
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  • Profile picture of the author svedski
    Why is it so bloody hard to create an ebook?
    I don't get it. I've searched for hours and I can't find a single template to use. I've bought expensive InDesign templates but I have no idea whatsoever on how to create an ebook out of them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    It's only as hard as you make it. There's nothing wrong with using Word which you're familiar with, and using one of the built-in design options. InDesign is a stellar application, but has a long learning curve.
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  • Profile picture of the author johnben1444
    You might want to hire an expert for proof reading and then add a cover page, table of contents, preface, foreword, introduction, section headers, chapter summaries, bibliography, dedication, about the author, etc, etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Stolpioni,

      I don't know what version of WORD you have, but I use WORD 2010.

      From the main menu on the left, go to -----> File -----> New

      Across the top of the resulting screen you will see "Available Templates." These are templates that you have stored on your computer and can access immediately. Note especially, "My Templates." This is where new templates that you find or buy can be stored so you can access them easily in the future.

      Below this area of available templates is "Office.com" templates. There you can purchase lots of different templates and have them available for your use as well. Check out the three folders called "books," "newsletters," and "reports" as any of these types of templates could be used for a book.

      Before you go out and purchase a lot of new templates, which you can do by searching "MS WORD book templates" in Google, understand that you can take any document from the Internet, save it as a WORD template in "My Templates" and use it for your own book. Of course, you won't use the content that will be found in the saved template but you can use the design, the "look and feel" of the template. You can also change anything you want, fonts, colors, size, placement, etc. for individual elements. Don't use any graphics (images, artwork, etc) as those will be copyrighted.

      What would be important is for you to go into the WORD help section and study "Save as a Template" or "Create a Template." It's not difficult to learn how to do this if you just print out the steps and follow them exactly. It will allow you to find a template you like, save the design to your computer under "My Templates," and then use that design in the future as often as you like. You can also create your own design template from the best features you see in other templates . . . from scratch.

      I hope this helps a little.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author troy23
    There are some good templates that come with Word and that's all you need.
    They are not going to judge you on your design skills, more the content in your book. and whether you've corrected spelling errors, formatted correctly etc.
    I've always used Word templates and sold a bolt load of books over the years.
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    • Profile picture of the author James Fame
      Microsoft Word, Adobe Indesign are great tools. You'd need to search for tutorials on Google yourself though. Good enough to start with.

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  • Profile picture of the author Romeo90
    I use this for all my eBooks:

    Speedy Profit Creator | eBook Creation System
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  • Profile picture of the author usfemail
    Use Open Office to create your ebooks. I personally think it is easier and much more friendlier for writing ebooks than Microsoft Office.
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  • Profile picture of the author TimS
    There are a lot of formatting options available in Word. Make sure that you make good use of the header and footer and add decorative lines and fancy text boxes. I've done all of my ebooks in Word and then converted them to PDF
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  • Profile picture of the author ncotta
    Create a simple header or footer. Or add a custom background image to the back! Design is important yes, but the quality of information is more important!
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  • Profile picture of the author AJMontoya
    There are people on Fiverr that do a really good job. Might be worth a try
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  • Profile picture of the author VA2011
    Microsoft has some great templates on their website. Or if you don't want the trouble, Fiverr is what I recommend.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tiptopcat
    It is a little confusing trying to figure out what it is that you are looking for. An ebook is essentially a word document, typed up using the different fonts and font sizes that you choose.

    You can add a header, a footer and page numbers. You can add a contents page too.

    Then you will be saving the thing as a PDF.

    If you are saying that you do not know how to format your document then as others have suggested, find someone who will do it for you. Fiverr.com is a great option.

    Victoria
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  • Profile picture of the author onlinesolutions1985
    You can create an eBook using PDF file.
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  • Profile picture of the author FostinWD
    You could do a great looking design with Adobe InDesign.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    I assume you turn your word doc into a pdf when you are finished with it. That alone makes it look a bit better. Is there a particular reason why you want it to look "better" than that?
    I have written a few ebooks and I just use pdfs and various fonts and colours as needed and I never have any problems.

    I think that sometimes people think that "being fancy" will make more sales when the bottom line is that your content is what really matters.
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    Cheers, Laurence.
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  • Profile picture of the author KevinW
    I use WORD to create the ebook and then convert it to PDF with this free online solution: PDF Converter - Convert to PDF Online Free
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  • Profile picture of the author SheaK
    If you have microsoft word 2007 or later you can just save it as a pdf file. You can just use the word custom styling/shadowing options as well and it almost always makes an ebook look professional. Like you said though, don't get too over technical, a little more basic mixed with good fonts and screenshots in the right places always looks good.
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  • Profile picture of the author bwh1
    I use Powerpoint as it has more design features than Word.

    I have a Fiverr GIG where I do this up to 10 pages. There are others around.

    Not difficult if you know how to do it.

    G.
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