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When Writing An Ebook, What Do You Do First?

by Long Beach Nathan
9 replies
Since part of this subforum is about creativity, I thought I'd post this here. Feel free to move the thread if there's a better place for it.

I wondering what general steps you all take when you're preparing to write an ebook. Do you just create a general outline, or is there more to it than that? I think the biggest area of concern is just catagorizing the whole thought process.

Thanks.
#ebook #writing
  • Profile picture of the author andreabolder
    Hey Nathan,

    Here are the first steps I followed when creating my first ebook:

    1. Determine your target market - is there a market for your product/topic/services/etc.
    2. Determine if there is a need - what problems, challenges does the target market need solved
    3. Outline the benefits and solutions your ebook would provide

    If your book can deliver on all 3 of these key points you can get to writing...

    Pat Flynn of SmartPassiveIncome.com has a really great ebook: ebooks The Smart Way smartpassiveincome.com/ebook
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  • Profile picture of the author ProScribe
    Assuming that you have already identified a market for your book that is willing and able to pay for it, and you have researched the key problems that the target market has I would then move onto my mindmapping.

    Just write down everything that you know about that topic. Once you have a mindmap of your book, number each of these ideas in the order that you would like them to appear in your book.

    Use this to create an outline. Once you have an outline the process is pretty quickly. I usually tackle whatever topic I already know the most about to get some momentum going and then work from there. You don't need to handle the topics sequentially, just treat each one like it was an article or a blog post.
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    • Profile picture of the author derekd
      Whether writing an ebook or writing a piece of music, for me the first step is to come up with the "intent". The intention behind it sets the tone for what the title should be, what the contents should be, and then later on the structure.

      A clear sense of direction and intent is what I personally have traced back as the first step in my successful creations whether or not I'm even aware of it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Absolute Logo
    I haven't written very many but when I Do I normally design a cover first! I think that helps me get motivated to complete the book.
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    • Profile picture of the author Long Beach Nathan
      Originally Posted by andreabolder View Post

      Hey Nathan,

      Here are the first steps I followed when creating my first ebook:

      1. Determine your target market - is there a market for your product/topic/services/etc.
      2. Determine if there is a need - what problems, challenges does the target market need solved
      3. Outline the benefits and solutions your ebook would provide

      If your book can deliver on all 3 of these key points you can get to writing...

      Pat Flynn of SmartPassiveIncome.com has a really great ebook: ebooks The Smart Way smartpassiveincome.com/ebook
      Thanks, that's food for thought. Also, I've checked out the ebook. There's a few pointers that I'm glad I'll be able to use from it

      Originally Posted by Hils View Post

      Once you know there's a market, personally I think the title comes next - writing an irresistible title. That way, if making a promise in the title, I can be sure to write to fulfil it. Many would disagree though, preferring to leave this til the end and use a working title.
      Thanks. Sometimes I think about the power of name whenever I'm thinking about the next article or whatever it is I'm going to work on. I think it can be pretty inspiring.

      Originally Posted by ProScribe View Post

      Assuming that you have already identified a market for your book that is willing and able to pay for it, and you have researched the key problems that the target market has I would then move onto my mindmapping.

      Just write down everything that you know about that topic. Once you have a mindmap of your book, number each of these ideas in the order that you would like them to appear in your book.

      Use this to create an outline. Once you have an outline the process is pretty quickly. I usually tackle whatever topic I already know the most about to get some momentum going and then work from there. You don't need to handle the topics sequentially, just treat each one like it was an article or a blog post.
      Thanks! I'm going to make use of that.

      Originally Posted by derekd View Post

      Whether writing an ebook or writing a piece of music, for me the first step is to come up with the "intent". The intention behind it sets the tone for what the title should be, what the contents should be, and then later on the structure.

      A clear sense of direction and intent is what I personally have traced back as the first step in my successful creations whether or not I'm even aware of it.
      Thanks. That's one thing I need to keep in mind.
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      • Profile picture of the author JRCarson
        It can help to write the pitch page first.
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  • Profile picture of the author danlew
    Here's what we should do before writing an eBook:

    1. Pick your niche
    2. Think of something that some people who are having problems that is related to your niche
    3. Create your eBook with some solutions to the problem

    It seems that eBooks that creates solution to the problem is going to work at all.
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