What if, 30 days from now, you had a finished, well-crafted eBook sitting on your hard drive, ready to distribute and sell?
That might sound next-to-impossible to you, but it’s not.
Every November, over 200,000 people worldwide take part in NaNoWriMo — “(inter)National Novel Writing Month”.
NaNoWriMo participants aim to write 50,000 words during the month, and tens of thousands of them manage to do it.
If those writers can do that, you can write a 20,000 word ebook in a month.
And I am absolutely not talking about some scrappy, thrown-together document. You’ll have more than enough time to properly plan, organize, and edit your eBook as well.
Think I’m pulling your leg?
Here’s how to do it:
Pick your topic (Days 1–2)
Maybe you’ve got an idea in mind already: a book you’d really love to write.
Go ahead and write that idea down, and then store it in a safe place.
Leave it there for the next 30 days.
Yep, seriously. You’d probably have a great time writing it … but chances are, it’s not what your audience is looking for, so it’s not going to sell.
A great ebook idea needs to be:
- Specific. Don’t try to write the definitive guide to your topic: it’s overwhelming for your readers, and it doesn’t leave you much room for your next eBook.
- Useful. If you do consulting or coaching, what problems come up again and again? Do your blog readers always ask for posts dealing with a particular issue?
Ask your audience what they want, and give them a few possibilities to choose from.
You’ve only got two days here, so you won’t have time for a full-blown survey — but you can tweet out a question, or put up a thread on your Facebook page.
Be prepared to be surprised!
Once you’ve got a solid idea, you can …
Create an outline (Days 3–4)
Your outline is your roadmap.
It lays out the territory ahead, and lets you spot any tricky patches before you’re half-way through the first draft.
There’s no one “right” way to outline, but one or more of these might work well for you:
#1: Draw a mindmap. Put your topic or ebook title in the centre and start adding ideas to it as they occur to you. Use lines or arrows to create connections. At this stage, put everything down, however big or small — you can tidy the entire thing up later.
#2: Work backwards. Start at the end: what do you want your reader to be able to accomplish once they’ve finished your ebook? Then take a step back — what will they need to know before they can do that? And what about before that?
#3: Write a list. If you’re already extremely familiar with your topic, you’ve probably got an outline in your head. Start writing a list: what chapters or major sections will your ebook need? Once you’ve got the big pieces in place, write a list of 3–5 key points for each chapter/section.
#4: Examine other eBooks and books. Look through several chapter lists to see what topics appear in almost every book. Is there anything that you’re missing from your outline?
At this stage, it’s worth considering whether each chapter (or each section) could have a consistent structure.
This will make the writing process much easier and faster: you’ll have fewer decisions to make.
For instance, your chapters could follow a simple pattern like this:
- Quotation at the start
- An example mid-way through
- Practical exercise at the end
Once you have a clear outline and, if possible, a structure in place, it’s time to …
Start writing (Days 5–25)
This is where the bulk of your time will be spent: 20 of your 30 days.
If you’re aiming for a 20,000 word ebook (around 80-100 pages, assuming you’re including a few images) then that breaks down to writing 1,000 words a day.
Yep, that’s a sizeable commitment –- but, the trade-off is, you’re going to get your ebook done within a month, instead of having it drag on for a year or more.
Here’s a few tips to speed up your writing and get to 1000 words a day:
- Work on your ebook at the right time of day. If you’re focused and motivated in the mornings, write in the morning. If you’re at your best at 10pm, do your writing then.
- Turn off distractions when you’re writing. You might want to switch off your internet connection entirely, or use a program that blocks it for a certain period of time.
- Use a timer. Set a timer for 30 minutes, then write until the time is up. Having the minutes ticking away is a real help when you need to stay on-task.
- Don’t stop writing. If you need to check a quick fact, look up a link or add a screenshot, mark the place with yellow highlighter or something else highly visible — and come back to it later.
- Don’t edit while you write. Maybe you just can’t get the first paragraph right: it doesn’t matter. Leave it and move on. You can come back to it at the editing stage (and you may find that it works fine after all).
Aim to write every day for these 20 days — even if you only manage a couple of hundred words on some days.
The more you make writing a habit, the easier it becomes.
But you’re not done yet. You still need to …
Redraft your eBook (Days 26–28)
Ideally, you’d put your eBook aside for a while before revising it — but you’ve only got a few days left.
So, to see your eBook with fresh eyes, print it out — or transfer it onto your e-reader.
Read through the whole thing in one go, and make a note of:
- Any material that you’ve covered in more than one place
- Any missing information that you left out during the writing
- Chapters that would flow better in a different order
At this stage, don’t agonize over every word.
Obviously, fix any glaring typos or mistakes that you spot, but avoid getting too bogged down.
Spend these three days focusing on cuts, re-ordering and additions.
This might mean cutting out unnecessary tangents, juggling sections or paragraphs around, and adding in any hyperlinks and quotes that you didn’t have time to look up earlier.
At this point, your ebook might look finished.
But there are two days left, and you’ve still got time to …
Make final changes (Days 29–30)
These two final days can turn your eBook into a professionally finished piece.
Print out the ebook again, or view it as a PDF.
Read through slowly, checking every sentence and word.
Particularly, look out for:
- Clumsy or confusing sentences
- Misspellings (especially commonly confused words like “its” and “it’s”)
- Missing words — surprisingly common, and often hard to spot when you’re reading at a normal pace
And now …
Hurrah! You’re the proud author of a finished eBook!
Well, you will be that proud author 
Which means it’s time to get out your calendar and write “EBOOK” onto every page of every day for the next month.
Yes, writing an ebook takes time, effort and energy. Yes, the next month looks incredibly busy already: but every month looks incredibly busy, right?
If you write a small, free eBook, you’ll have a great piece of promotional content.
Or, if you write an eBook to sell, you’ll be able to make money for months, even years, from just one month of work.
Right now is the best time to write.
One of the quickest and simplest ways to give yourself a motivational boost is to make a public commitment to your goal — so, write a comment below and tell us to look out for your finished ebook next month!
About the Author: Ali Luke is speaking at BlogWorld LA on “How to Write Ebooks That Practically Sell Themselves”. She’s the author of the Blogger’s Guide series of ebooks, including The Blogger’s Guide to Irresistible Ebooks.
Believe it or not, I actually wrote my first eBook with in a week. It’s not a large eBook because it’s only 50 Twitter Tips but you’d be surprised at how many people have purchase my book. I’m selling it for cheap on my website so people can advance themselves with Twitter with real tips and not some fake tips you find on the internet.
A week is impressive — congrats!
I think clear, specific tips are always going to be popular.
Thanks Ali Luke! I have at least 3 books brewing in my brain and was never able to get past a simple outline. 30 days huh? mmm….
I’d call that more of a guide than a book, I think that the term “e-Book” gets thrown out too easily these days, but the advice still stands.
Nice job getting that done, but is it really worth it to sell something via PayPal for only $1 (due to fees, sales holdings, etc.)?
When internet marketers started offering ebooks, some were as short as 10 pages. I think that was because most people didn’t know what to expect. There is still some advice that they can be 20-30 pages and I disagree with that. That is a report or a booklet maybe.
At the 80 to 100 page length though, I think you’re getting into an area where you can say it’s a book. Some non-fic print books are very short, children’s paperbacks and some other kinds of pocket paperbacks are in that range as well.
Also, unless it’s fiction where the expectation is still a couple hundred pages or more, I think for non-fiction, books need to be long enough to convey the information/provide value, while not being overwhelming at the same time. It’s a delicate balance for sure.
I agree with you on the shortness of some ebooks for sale out there.
However, a $7 ebook that is full of useful facts or “how tos” that really work and are only 15-25 pages are fine. I’d rather buy a 15 page ebook that gives me something of real value than an 80 page one that’s full of waffle and could’ve been half, or even a third of, the length.
I think the days of ebooks on sale for inflated prices, full of “borrowed” content, or let’s face it, complete rubbish, are disappearing thanks to some really professionally written, quality ebooks that really help and advise.
eBooks have opened up avenues for people with something to say to share it with others as never before. I’ve bought a few print books from “good bookshops” that turned out to be duds.
The motto: “You can never buy enough books” stands true for ebooks too.
Some printed books are also extremely short (I’m thinking of “gift” type mini-books). I’m fine with short ebooks, so long as the sales page makes it clear that they are short.
I’ve seen lots of other terms used (ebooklet, mini-ebook, mini-guide) — but the truth is that there is no agreed standard for how long an ebook “should” be!
As Tom points out, a short, focused ebook can be much more attractive than one that’s been padded to meet a page-count.
That’s awesome! I’d be curious to know how many of those Twitter Tip ebooks you sold for $1. I go the opposite approach… my Facebook eBook is $50, but it’s more than 60 pages of content, and it took me about two months to write. But I wonder if spending a week on an eBook for a lower price, which sold more, is a better investment of time.
Writing an ebook is going to take a long time. But breaking down into number of words and dividing them with the number of days, it seems to be do-able now. It is really incredible how this can possibly done.
It’s the same for any big project, really; if you break it down, it looks so much more possible! Hope you give ebook-writing a go, Alan.
I’m giving it ago like one week ago before this post is published. One thing I learned is to stop editing while writing which I found that most people think the same after reading this post.
Reading your comment made me realize that this is equally applicable to video projects as well.
Very interesting post. I think a 30 day e-book is possible, if we follow the guidelines and are truly motivated. I would try this. It is always nice to try and see how well we can do something we have never tried before.
It’s absolutely possible, though I’ll admit it’s a bit of a challenge (unless you’re very used to writing a lot of content). Good luck if you do give it a go, Marianne!
This outline is extremely detailed and informative. Thanks!
Thanks, Dewane!
Hey Ali,
That’s cool. I’ve always wanted to do NaNoWriMo, but I never thought of doing it for an ebook.. That’s a clever take on things. I’m too busy with managing my own blog that I probably don’t have time to weave a work of fiction, but maybe I can string together an ebook.
Maybe we can call it NaEBoWroMo.
Maybe not… Doesn’t quite roll off the tongue…
Haha! Yeah, I think we’d need a better name
It’s tough to balance writing something longer (whether that’s an ebook or a novel) with writing a blog — but it’s also extremely rewarding, and an ebook can bring some valuable extra attention to your blog.
While it’s not specifically stated in the article, it seems as though you support the use of free writing. Do you recommend the book “Accidental Genius” as a source for information on how to do this more effectively?
I’ve got no strong feelings about free writing (also known as “morning pages” or “private writing”) — it works for lots of people, though it’s not really designed to produce something for public consumption (like an ebook).
I haven’t read “Accidental Genius”, I’m afraid! From a quick glance at Amazon, there are used copies available for under a dollar — so it’s probably worth a try.
Ali: Great write-up. I love your process.
For me, that $3 timer has been one of the best investments I’ve made. I definitely use it to help me stay focused when I need to be. Where I get stuck in this process is in drafting my outlines. A simple bullet list will do, but every now and then, I get stuck.
See you in LA!
Cheers, Ricardo! I find timers incredibly useful when my focus is slipping.
Catch you in LA…
Simplicity is a wonderful thing! It’s been a struggle to figure out how to go about what seems to be such a daunting endeavor, but this article does a fantastic job at putting things in proper perspective. What better time to write a book about building websites than when I’m in the process of creating one for myself? The site planning process becomes the outline for a book! Thanks for the great article!
Thanks Bob! And that sounds like the perfect time — whenever I’m doing a “step by step” bit of an ebook or ecourse, I find I have to go back over the whole process to make sure I don’t leave anything out.
Many thanks indeed for this priceless info. I’ve had so many ideas about my specialist area in the past 2 years the blogs aren’t enough and I’ve felt fit to burst! Now I know I have an outlet! I’m so excited I won’t sleep tonight so might as well stay up and write! And just to get a few of life’s experiences down I just started on my first semi-auto-biographical novel and it’s like magic…Many thanks indeed Ali.
The biggest obstacle for me has been determining my topic (really refining it down to something meaningful and specific) and just getting started. Biting that bullet and making it happen. Bookmarking this page – and one week today, the month-long countdown begins!
Hurrah!
Best of luck, Ruth — hope the month goes brilliantly for you!
Coincidentally, I have 35 days (including today) to write my first ebook, a ghost-written ebook for a client. Lucky for me, I got to skip the outline and idea processes. But I will definitely be referring to this post over the coming month and in the future, when I secure some time to work on producing a few self-written ebooks.
An excellent process. I would add two things to it:
on day 31, have Shane Arthur edit your ebook. <— blatant plug for Shane!
while that's going on, figure out where and how you're going to market it – and expect that to take longer than you want it to
#AwShucks.
When I’m ready with my Editing Hacks book, I plan on purchasing Ali’s Irresistible EBook for the template she offers. I haven’t seen anybody else offering that, and I’m guessing that should be the first thing people should begin with when writing an ebook.
Aw, cheers, Shane! The templates are very much an extra, with the ebook itself being the main attraction, but I hope you find them useful
Haha! I think having someone else edit your ebook is a great idea (either paying someone, or at least asking a few friends to read it through). If you’re trying to finish within a month, there’s not much time to run it past someone else — but if you’ve got an extra couple of weeks, it’s a great idea.
I think an ebook can definitely be drafted in 30 days, but I would take another 30 afterwards to really step away from it for a while and get some perspective before editing/rewriting. And I agree about skipping stuff you can look up later so you can forge ahead with the writing, but I don’t think the opening should be left in the air. I would spend 60-70% of my time and energy nailing that opening. It’s critical to everything that follows, in tone and structure and viewpoint. Finally, another good way to open is to introduce the challenge or problem the reader faces that this chapter will tackle. “Most people find …” or “We’ve all faced the problem where …” If possible, point to a study, trend, statistic or, as you suggest, a quote to support it. Then show how to solve it.
Great suggestions, Rob. Everyone writes differently, and I know that some writers do indeed find it best to spend plenty of time nailing the introduction. (The type of ebook you’re writing also makes a difference: some are essentially a collection of discrete chapters, others need more of a flow.)
This is great! It always helps to have specific steps on the way to a goal. Writing in chunks is nothing new to me, as that is how I deal with writing lessons and teacher helps for my Vacation Bible School programs: study, study, study, and then I sit down and write, write, write–huge amounts at a time.
I have been contemplating writing an ebook related to children’s ministry–most likely, specifically Vacation Bible School, as that is my focus. This is great timing for me. I think I will wrap up the children’s book I am finishing this week and plan to start this project next week. Even with taking a weekly Sabbath, and allowing for a break on Thanksgiving, I should have a quality ebook ready to go before December 1st!
There’s my commitment. Now mix in some real life and prayer; and it should be an interesting and exciting journey!
The only thing left to decide will be whether it should be a free offering/incentive or for sale. Any thoughts on how to make that decision?
(By the way, I have been reading a lot on your site lately, and have found it very helpful and well-written. Thank you for all the great tips!)
Tricky one on free vs paid, Sheila — and I think that it’s a decision only you can make! Do you see it as part of your business, or part of your ministry? Charging a few dollars could help people to value it and actually use it — on the other hand, providing it for free would be a good incentive for folks to share it, come to your website, etc.
Thanks for the input, Ali. My teenage son gave me an idea that I really like, which balances the two options: have the ebook available for purchase, but offer a free chapter as a bonus for signing up on Hasten Home’s (soon to be created) email list. I was thinking along the lines you were–that is, “charging a few dollars could help people to value it and actually use it.” That is my hope for my ebook, of course!
I do already have a whole lot of free material on my blog, and I plan on much more to come; but the ebook will be a helpful tool for sharing information with those who really want to go deeper.
I’ve been wanting to write an Ebook, but I admit I’ve been overwhelmed by the idea of writing one on my own. And like Ruth, I am having a hard time pin-pointing a topic. But I really like how your post has broken it down and made it manageable to do. Like eating an elephant! Thank you!!
Thanks Jodie! My biggest tip for choosing a topic is to ask your readers what they’d find most useful — that way, you know that you’re producing something valuable.
Ali,
You make some really great points here. Particularly the 30 minute time limit. I was surprised how much more effective i became with my writing when I was “under the gun” with a ticking clock. It really does work.
Steve
Yep! It’s something I always encourage writers to try at least once.
I do not have a problem in writing an ebook in 30 days. But I do have a problem marketing me ebooks.
Thanks for the information. This is very helpful as I will be writing an e-book in the near future.
Ali,
I love, love, LOVE this! In fact, I’m forwarding it to all my writer’s coaching clients. Half the battle writers face is visualizing HOW to get a book from head to paper, and your step-by-step plan is great.
Earlier this year I ghost-wrote a book for a client in 23 days; each day I posted tips on how I did it:
Day 1: I’m writing a book in 23 days (really!)
http://dianascimone.typepad.com/how_to_write_a_book/2011/05/day-1-im-writing-a-book-in-23-days-really.html
Thanks again for your great post!
Diana Scimone
Writer’s coach
http://www.howtowriteabook.biz
http://www.peapodpublishing.com
Thanks Diana! And wow, 23 days … that’s impressively fast! It’s awesome that you blogged about the process, too (I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to blog my ebook-writing in real-time..!)
Thanks for breaking down the process. You really simplified creating an Ebook on a step by step level. I’m sure it will be very useful for anyone looking to create an Ebook in the near future.
I’m planning on attempting NaNoWriMo for the first time this year. I was trying to figure out the best way to tackle everything and your outline makes perfect sense!! Thanks a million for it! I am somewhat prepping for it now as I want a bit of historical flare to it and need to make sure my facts are straight but it 30 days still isn’t too bad to write and still research at the same time!
Thanks from Serbia!
Good luck with NaNo, Kiki! Hope it goes brilliantly for you.
I know I can write 20,000 words in a month, because I’ve done it before, problem is that they are like 7-8 incomplete ebooks I started writing!! lol
I think I will give myself a challenge to write a 20,000+ word ebook from start to finish including graphics (cover+banners) in the month of November, in fact I’m putting this in my calendar right now, and will make a post on my personal blog about the challenge and link your post Ali, thanks for sharing, this might be the kick in the … I really needed!
Woot!
Go Jamie! And you’re definitely not the only writer who finds it easy to start but much tougher to finish… Hope your November goes fantastically!
Great post, Ali.
My book will be out next month in both digital formats and print. I cannot wait. Tying up all of the loose ends these past couple of months prior to launch has been pretty miserable.
The only point I would add to this post is to have someone else read your work and give feedback. Someone with fresh eyes who will be brutally honest. After reading and re-reading your own work, it’s tough to actually see what’s on the page.
My book wouldn’t be as strong as it is if I hadn’t done this. In fact, I had several people read and give feedback and a lot of it was very valuable to the end product.
Hope that helps someone.
Btw, I’ve followed your work for over a year now (at your blog, DLM, etc.) and think you’re wonderful. Keep up the great work.
Best,
Jennifer
Congrats on the book, Jennifer! And thanks for your kind words too (I’m blushing now…
)
I absolutely agree with you about getting feedback: it’s something I do with all my ebooks (I usually get several people involved for a range of opinions) and it’s definitely made them stronger. I decided it was going to be a tough thing to fit into a 30-day challenge, but if folks allow themselves an extra week or two, it’s a must-have!
Great idea. I actually have a piece I wrote two weeks ago that’s being published this Thursday on the same topic at awaionline.com’s “The Writer’s Life”. Great minds think alike!
I think this process works well for fiction writing too.
Writing 1,500 words per days for 2 months (60days) produces 90,000 words: a proud length. I’ve tried it and discovered once you’ve written the first 1,000 each day, writing the extra 500 words on top is simple.
Knowing where you’re going with your writing helps. A plan, if not a plot, just a good story (as Stephen King might say) helps you get those 1,500 written every day. Once you start, it actually gets easier as you go along. Writer’s block doesn’t seem to apply (at least not so far!). Momentum seems to keeps the Block down.
Two tips: #1: Don’t edit. Keep your inner editor locked inside a cupboard until you’ve written those 90,000 words. Ignore the banging on the cupdoor and pleas to be let loose.
#2: If you can’t actively write, e.g. you can’t get access to your respective “writing machines” of choice easily to write your 1,500, invest in a digital recorder. One of those that are little bigger than a UP-what’s it! And get one of those clip-on mics that look like speakers for mobile phones so people just think you’re talking to someone when you speak your 1,500 a day. You can write all 60 days of them later – unless to have software that writes while you speak.
eBooks, like blogging, have opened up huge worlds for individuals to enjoy sharing their ideas and making money. That is a good thing. A democracy in action.
As ever the point made by Ali Luke to write what readers want to read is a good one. I wonder however, if the motto: “Write the kind of novels you would like to read, and others will want to read them too.” is true of non-fiction?
I agree, it absolutely works for fiction books.
“Write the kind of novels you would like to read, and others will want to read them too” is a GREAT way to approach fiction. With non-fiction, however, I’m less convinced! Something that works for many of the people I coach is to “write for yourself a few years ago” — try to get back into the mindset of someone fairly new to your area or topic.
Already committed to it with a couple of friends…
Thanks for the kick in the pants Ali!
and thanks for the formula!
Good luck, Ed (and good luck, Ed’s friends)!
I think you’ve just convinced me to sign up for that NaNoWriMo!
It doesn’t have to be just an ebook. You can use CreateSpace to publish it on Kindle and as a “real” book for back of the room sales and to sell on Amazon.com.
LuLu.com and Blurb.com are the two other major contenders here. Each has their merits, so define your needs first, then look at them all & compare.
As David alludes, we’re talking street cred here. That may very well make you a lot more $$ than out & out book sales.
Depending on your topic area, a paper book could well be a fantastic addition. I’ve used Lulu, and it’s relatively simple to get to grips with.
It’s not only good for street cred, you can also give a copy to your proud parents!
Hi Ali,
Great job on making the writing process more accessible by putting it on a timeline.
Seeing a plan on a calendar / day-timer and then doing the steps in bite sized-pieces really makes things much more “do-able.”
RE: The editing / proofreading steps in days 26-30…
It can be tricky to catch our own mistakes. Since we know what we meant to say when we were writing, that’s usually what we’ll see on the page / screen when we’re editing / proofreading for ourselves.
I’ve helped people with editing and proofreading for online business for almost 20 years. People often ask me how they can improve their own skills.
My favorite trick to help with this is to suggest they actually take a printout of the document away from their normal writing environment and then read it out loud. Reading out loud, especially in a slightly different environment than we’re used to, can actually force us to slow down a bit and see more of what’s on the page. It’s also a simple and easy thing to do. (Not to mention a good reason to stop for a minute, make a great cup of coffee or tea, and spend a few minutes simply enjoying the process of writing and creating!)
Amen to that Lauren – back in the early 90s I met an editor from Simon and Schuster. This was the early days of word processors being used – and she said she could read a manuscript and tell immediately if it had been edited on a computer screen or it had been printed out.
It’s the biggest editing tip I have to share with content creators.
Plus you can make your print out look different – use a different font, a different font size and print that out so it looks different to what you’re used to on the screen.
Paul
Great tip, Lauren and Paul, and one that I’ve heard from writers/editors before (and, indeed, one I often use myself when editing) — thanks for adding it!
And even if you don’t want to print out your manuscript, changing the font or font size (as Paul points out) can really make a difference. So can double-spacing the lines — it creates more white space around the words, making it easy to focus on each individual one.
I’m actually going to be writing my fiction novel during NaNoWriMo next month. But I have been outlining an eGuide I’d like to write soon, so maybe I will make that my December project… or save it for the first of the year. Thanks for the detailed guidance for making an eBook happen in a month!
Good luck with the novel, Jennifer! December can be a great month for ebook-writing, as the blogosphere tends to slow down a bit around Christmas time.
Now you got me pondering . . .
Very nice outline and making something as challenging as writing a book, to very simple.
Great work
Thanks Paul! Writing a book is definitely challenging … but also definitely do-able.
Boy, do I ever need a motivational schedule to abide by like this one. I have to imagine that your tips here work for general writing projects – not just eBooks.
They absolutely do, Emma! Any big writing project can be broken down in a similar way (though some will need a fair bit longer than 30 days…)
This post came at just the right time. I have decided on a topic for my free ebook so this will really help me get on and get the job done. Many thanks.
Hurrah! Best of luck, Sharon, hope the writing goes well and that the free ebook brings you lots of great traffic.
Very informative and timely!!
Just about t begin writing an e-book and your article has just broken down for me – step by step
Thank you so much!
Yay, and thanks Ngina! Best of luck with your ebook.
Ali thanks so much for challenging me to put into action something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. Love your process and the way you chunk it down. I can do this!
Absolutely! Ebooks really aren’t as hard to write as they look … which is why I wanted to break it all down like this.
Ali –
Thanks–I’m excited at the prospect, now!
I’ve heard so many ridiculous methods for throwing together garbage and calling it an ebook, that this is such a breath of fresh air.
Just what I needed right now!
Nancy
Yay, thanks Nancy!
Like you, I’ve got no time for the “shove it all together in an afternoon and call it an ebook” way of doing things. Quality is crucial — and achievable in a realistic time-frame.
This post is epic. I love that it breaks down all the tasks from idea to outline to writing to editing. I was expecting a formula for 30 days of writing, but this is even better.
Thanks Joseph!
One of the biggest problems I see is that people try to launch straight into writing — without a clear outline, or even an idea that they’re confident they can sell. I wanted to give the 30 days a structure that emphasised the importance of the planning and editing phases (as well as the writing itself) — so it’s great to hear this worked!
I found that my local university had a creative writing class that I could take for about $400 that helped me immensely with writing. Improved my blog writing as well as helping me to write this ebook.
I learned that its not so much to just write 10,000 words but to write that keeps the engagement of the reader as well as teaches or tells that story.
My instructor would say, “Great job but are they going to buy your next book?”
Great tip — I’ve definitely found creative writing classes helpful, both for practical knowledge and for motivation!
Wow, that sounds really easy, but am sure the days 5 – 25 will be a killer and will easily take a toll on anyone. Hopefully I will get the courage to start thinking about it one of these days.
You don’t necessarily have to write a full 20,000 word ebook — I know that 1,000 words per day is a stretch for many writers.
How about a shorter ebook (10,000 words, say) — 500 per day is an average blog post!
Great post, Ali. I like the way you break down the process of writing an e-book. I’m going to give this a try, but probably not until January. November is our art sale season so I’ll be busy making felted clothing for sale. But after reading your post I’m torn by my priorities — to create through writing or to create through felting. Hmmm. Thanks for complicating my life. It will be fun sorting it all out.
Thanks Chris! And hey, a little complication isn’t necessary a bad thing …
Good luck with the felting and the ebook, whatever order you tackle them in!
Wow, this is just the right kind of stuff on e-book writing that I’ve been waiting for. I have learned that one way to promote your site is to write an e-book. Your post gives me the push and tips to come up with my first e-book ever. More power to you Ali!
Thanks Jonan! Hope your first ebook goes brilliantly — you’re quite right that it’s a great way to promote a website.
Hi Ali,
I happened to read this at just the right time, writing a book is definitely in my bucket list,starting with an e-book seems like a brilliant idea, really grateful for the way in which you have shared yourself so freely, am daring myself to write an ebook in a month, come 1st December, will be talking a different story. Watch this space
Veeh.
Hurrah, and good luck, Veehcirra! Hope your November goes really well.
Yep, I’m going to do it. I’ve been working on it for a while, but haven’t been focused as much as I should be.
Knowing that a bunch of people will also be doing it in November might keep me going. I’ve done NaNoWriMo before and it’s fun.
If you need some help and coaching, check out my friend Joel Canfield’s site at http://somedaybox.com/
Get your book out of the ‘someday box.’
Thanks for the plug, Rex
I notice a whole bunch of people coming up with all the things that *could* be wrong with an ebook written in one month.
What if they just did it, and didn’t make those mistakes? if you’re truly concerned about your ability to deliver a quality product in just one month, for instance, write less, but make it better. Or write for a month, and take a month to polish, though I think that’s overkill.
Chances are, if you can foresee a problem, you’ll find a way around it. I challenge every one who’s made a comment about “But what about . . . ” or “You can’t . . . ” to suspend disbelief for 30 days, and give this an honest try. Slay the dragon of Resistance. (And, like Rex said, if you really want help . . . )
Exactly … I’m certainly NOT suggesting that people throw any old rubbish out there. Absolutely not. But really, when you knuckle down and *write*, it’s surprising just how much you can achieve.
And great point about writing less. Your ebook doesn’t need to be long or complex. If this is your first time writing one, a 5,000 word free ebook could be a fantastic project to spend 30 days on.
I’m also busy writing an ebook and its taking me quite some time now ! But yes as you mentioned I think I need an internet blocker. That’s all thats going to stop me from wasting my time on browsing. Thanks !
Interesting article. Where would be the best place to look if I wanted to outsource the preparation of an ebook using content I have created over a series of articles? How much would it likely cost. Haven’t decided if I will look into it yet just interested on the details.
Good question, Dane! I’d suggest looking for someone who specialises in ebook creation. Kelly Kingman comes to mind — her site is http://stickyebooks.com (I don’t know what her rates are).
Simple and concise tips Ali. Getting clear on your subject and making sure it’s useful to others form the foundation for a special offering.
Thanks!
Ryan
Thanks Ryan!
One of my top NaNo tips is: set aside a weekend or two for catching up in case you fall behind (especially if you’re in the US and have Thanksgiving available to you).
If you say “I’m going to get up on time and do nothing but write and drink coffee today”, it’s amazing how much you can get done even in a morning.
I occasionally fail at the “get up on time” hurdle…
But in seriousness, YES! This is great advice. Having even one whole day to work single-mindedly on a writing project makes a massive difference.
Excellent tips!
Thanks Ali, Your tips were inspiring and also straight to the point. I’ve linked to your article on my blog, added some tips of my own, and thrown down the gauntlet to others to join me during nanowrimo to write an eBook. What a powerful post yours was! I wonder how many new eBooks will be the result of your helpful guidance?
Hurrah, and good luck in November!
After reading all the lovely, enthusiastic comments here, I’m looking out for a spate of launches in a month’s time
This is one of those article that I’ve saved and put into evernote to allow me to read and refer back often. Definitely a great piece of article as this is my single biggest problem, procrastination on putting out content because of the overwhelming task of writing a full blown ebook. But if I break it down like what you advice, it is suddenly manageable and writing a few pages each day seems like a minute task all of a sudden.
Thanks Ted! Procrastination is a huge issue for so many writers — especially bloggers, because there’s always the sense that blog posts are more urgent (and, let’s face it, easier!) than writing an ebook.
Hope you do go for those few pages a day!
I’m writing an ebook about the gastric bypass experience.
The writing part won’t be a problem, I’m concerned about how the website looks to sell it. Anyone have any examples of successful ebook site designs?
thank you
Most people write what’s called a “sales page” to sell their ebook — either a separate page on their existing website, or a one-page website.
Here are a couple of (quite different!) examples:
http://freelancefolder.com/book/
http://rockablepress.com/books/rockstar-wordpress-designer-2/
There’s loads of advice on writing sales pages here on Copyblogger, so you might want to dig around in the archives.
Love all the tips in this post, Ali. I’m already signed up for the novel writing challenge and have decided I’m finally going to use it to get the book I’ve been working on for two years written. (That’s really embarrassing to say)
This is an excellent post. I wrote an eBook once in fewer than 30 days, and I followed the same course (though not on purpose, but what you outline is a really natural and realistic approach).
Do you have any advice (or have you written any other posts) on how to price eBooks?
This is really great formula to write an e-book in 30 days. The best thing is that we can be organized without losing our attention. I have used some of the parts especially mind maps, but never put such a goal to write 1000 words daily with such a discipline.
It’s worth trying the formula.
Thanks, Dragan! It’s tough to stick with a daily writing habit (and many people find that something slightly different works — e.g. writing on weekdays only or weekends only) — but getting into a good routine is really helpful when you’re working on a long-term project like an ebook.
This is really great information. I envy people who can create such logical plans and plot them out. I have been stuck on moving forward with my e-book. It starts and stops and I am not really sure what is currently stopping me. Thanks for this post.
Nicole, do you know where you’re going next with the ebook? I often get stuck if I try to write without a clear plan! Even a list of several key points that you want to cover in the next chapter could help.
Best of luck getting back into it!
Do you believe in your ebook’s purpose still? How does your ebook fit into your “actualizing purpose”, for example, what goal do you intend your ebook to achieve for you – increased subscribers? creating your authority in your niche? These are the questions which you need to ask yourself to get back into action for your ebook and get writing again. Answering these questions will help you set out the plan Ali talks about.
Remember, your ebook should be a tool; an employee even, with a specific role. If you have no specific role for it, then you’ll find your ebook (and you) flounders around, and any opportunity you wanted your ebook to bring, will dissolve.
Check out Ali’s “create an outline” tips and read “what your audience is looking” again, as these will help you decide your ebook’s “actualizing purpose” and fire-up your inspiration again.
I have been thinking on this response from Ali and from Tom. Because this is exactly what the topic of my e-book is about. The frustrations of working at home and building a business online when you are a ‘daydreamer.’ Online business training is very left brained targeted. My e-book is targeted towards artists, writers, seekers and daydreamers in general. (Some mistakenly diagnosed with attention deficit.)
The point of my response is that plans do not pan out for some. It comes down to routines not plans. This e-book has to be part of my daily routine. It is not really the content that has me stuck, but working it into my day. I can take the plans and outlines passed my way and pick parts here and there to use and implement, but for someone like me to work through a 90 day plan or an outline or what-not is almost impossible. There is nothing wrong with this. Our minds are wired differently and it is always good to hook up with others who are more logically wired. The e-book is about the possibility of this. How we can stay true to our daydreamer tendencies and move forward with our lives and our businesses. How do the unfocused find their focus and get things done.
Tom, it does fit into my ‘actualizing purpose’ and I went back and read all the things you recommended above and I do know what I want to achieve with the e-book. Routines are vitally important to creatives and ‘daydreamers.’ I think there was a section on this is Uncertainty, the new Jonathon Fields book.
If you say the word plan or rules to a daydreamer they will run the other way. But I know that ‘daydreamers’ are probably not Ali’s market. I just happened to be reading the post. But thank-you both for your responses because it got me thinking about how to make this e-book part of my daily routine.
Ah, I get where you’re coming from, Nicole. Maybe you could try setting aside a whole day just for writing — I know Catherine Caine (awesome gal) does that, and her work is amazingly full of energy.
Your ebook sounds great (and probably much-needed!) I’m definitely left-brained as creative types go — I thrive on plans and routine! But I’m very much open to exploring my right-brained side too, and I’d love to see the alternative anti-plan to mine…
This is good advice. I think I will pick a day and actually leave the house. Go to the library or something.
I bookmarked this post a few weeks ago while I tested out a few ways to make money. None of those methods worked out, so I’m back! I’ve had quite a few good ebook ideas saved on my PC for a year or so, but I have a hard time staying on task. This post is terrific and I think it’ll help me out a lot! I would love to make residual income with an army of useful ebooks I wrote myself, so thanks for this great post
Welcome back, Rose! And good luck making some money from ebooks — they’ve definitely worked well for me.
i’m joining this year’s nanowrimo. it’s going to be my first. and i’m excited about it. i thought nanowrimo is about writing fiction! you can do non-fic too: http://productcreationblog.com/385/nano4info-challenge-joining-information/ i have an ebook in mind. and a story idea i want to turn into a novel. so i have to make up my mind if i’m to write an ebook or a novel. why is it so difficult to be writing a novel
when it’s so easy talking like a dirigible pirate!
I am excited about this challenge. Iam just starting my business and don’t really have an following yet. But, I am still going to create the E-Book for my future client. i love your e-mails..I save them for the weekend or when I have time..that is why I am just writing this post.
Love this, Ali! Most of success is just about showing up every day, whether it’s to write a book or market your business, or set an appointment. Small daily habits make huge changes over the long term. Thanks for such practical guidance and good common sense!
Thanks, Darlene! And I completely agree — showing up is half the battle won.
Ali, your stuff always makes me smile. You say “and then do this, and this, and this, and look—you’re done!” in a way that inspires confidence. Which, as I’m about to share, is far more important to this process than most folks realise.
I recently had a big party to celebrate publishing 6 books in 6 months.
Now, I didn’t completely write all 6 during that time, but at least 2 of them were conceived, written, and published within the 6 months. Since I’m also a web developer, I created a website for each book, and even created Kindle versions of all 6 of them. I publish independently, so each book had to be proofread and formatted, have a cover designed, and all the other bits of creating a book from scratch.
I don’t have some big team helping me; just my wife, who is, you might get, spectacularly organised and a brilliant admin type. But the single biggest reason I got this done was because I chose to ship instead of worrying about the myriad reasons this was an insane idea.
If you have the chutzpah and smarts to operate your own business, you have what it takes to deliver a solid, worthwhile ebook in 30 days.
You just have to stop being afraid.
Thanks, Joel! I like breaking things down into practical steps (otherwise, I’d never manage to get anything done myself…)
Publishing 6 books in 6 months is an amazing achievement — wow! I know just how much work goes into proofreading, formatting, etc — so huge congrats to you (and to your wife). There’s a lot to be said for taking a deep breath and taking the plunge into publishing.
You will find everything you need about musical instruments and professional sound
Alright, Ali, I know I’m a little late, but I’m going to do it. I’m making the public commitment. Next month, I will write a 20000 word eBook. By 2012, I will have writteny first eBook–on a topic both dear to my heart and poignantly relevant to my community as well as the world at large!
It’s never too late, Doug!
Hope your December goes brilliantly; let me know how you get on. 
Hi Ali & everyone else who’s posted some great comments & tips. I’m late to the party!! Wanting to write an ebook I came across your site & this fantastic blog which helped galvanise a lot of my thinking & gave me some brilliant tips, advice & a starting point. I’ve now got a questionnaire together to research my market so thanks for that great tip. My ebook is about working from home. My difficulty is a chicken & egg situation. What comes first? The blog or the ebook? Also reading so much info that there is online often leads to overwhelm rather than clarity for someone who isn’t concerned about the writing process regarding the content & the discipline. What’s holding me back is what comes after it’s written so I’m more concerned about the marketing & selling of it especially as I’m a bit of technology dinosaur! Any comments would be appreciated.
Chris, I’d suggest taking things one step at a time. Focus on writing the ebook first, then worry about marketing and selling after that.
It is a bit chicken-and-egg… perhaps you could start the blog by posting excerpts from the ebook-in-progress or links to related resources (maybe a couple of short posts each week), that way you can repurpose some of what you’re already writing!
Best of luck.
In few months of blogging, I found out one of the best strategies to make your blogging business more successful as possible is ebook marketing, in which I was searching now on certain tips on how to make a highly created e-book.
Holla!… I found this very helpful and interesting post, Thank for this bro…. I have a great idea now on how to make my own ebook!