For Wannabe eBook Authors - 5 Key Questions

Are YOU ready for the eBook authoring adventure? Do you have what it takes to author an eBook? Is there an eBook author inside of you? Are you not sure whether or not you have what it takes to write that book that's been living inside of you for years? Are you reluctant to start writing your ebook, fearing that you won't complete it?

Let's examine your attitudes, skills and knowledge that you bring to the ebook authoring process. Let's look at some key questions you can ask yourself to see if your "readiness" for embarking on this authoring adventure is obvious.

The following questions are not meant to cover everything you should know about yourself before beginning the authoring process but they will give you a good idea where you stand. You may be surprised at some of the criteria mentioned.

This is not your conventional assessment of what it takes to author an eBook. Criteria like knowledge of the subject area, experience with the problems addressed in the eBook, familiarity with members of the target market for your eBook, and previous work done on your ebook topic are assumed.

This is a reflective look at what you should and could bring to the ebook authoring process. It's the non-conventional criteria that will be addressed here.

Remember that we are talking about eBooks not pBooks (standard published books) and therefore the attitudes, skills and knowledge you require are different. eBooks are a marriage of creative writing (for non-fiction primarily) and eBook technology. Your ebook is designed to be viewed on a computer monitor. Your eBook is very much like a living web page. You have at your disposal for use in your eBook the wonders of internet, web and eBook technology. writing is but one part of the ebook authoring process.

Every step of the eBook authoring process is affected by the fact that ebooks are inventions of technology, software programs, creative writing and the World Wide Web among other aspects.

Consider: The Ten Steps of ebook Authoring -

I Idea

II Reflection

III Commitment

IV Big Picture

V Chunking

VI writing

VII Editing

VIII Publishing

IX marketing

X Celebrating

There is not one step in this process that will not require a different way of thinking compared to the conventional ideas of writing a book. That's not to say that there is no carry-over from pBook to eBook. There is much in common but it is also necessary to approach the writing of an ebook with a much different audience in mind that the one who would normally purchase your book at a book store.

As an example, the fact that your customer will not be able to physically touch your eBook before purchasing it means that your "Big Picture" idea of a jacket for your pBook now becomes a look at an eBook cover graphic digitally reproduced but no less appealing than your standard pBook cover. In fact, cover design for ebooks is sometimes even more important than for a standard book.

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