How to Create and Distribute Ebooks for Profit. Steve Sikes
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How to Create and Distribute
eBooks for Profit
by
Steve Sikes
Copyright 2013 Steve Sikes,
All rights reserved.
Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-1736-3
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
Introduction
“There’s nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and bleed,” said world-famous author Ernest Hemingway. He was right – actually writing your book is perhaps the hardest thing you’ll ever do. It requires time, patience, dedication, a vision of what you want to hold in your hands when you’re done, and the willingness to go back and make changes to your beloved child until it’s as close to perfect as it will get. However, what happens AFTER you write your book? What do you do when you’ve written “The End”, made your edits, and are almost ready to send that book off into the wide world?
Actually, your work isn’t over yet. There’s a lot left to do before you can release your book on the world and start raking in the royalties. If you’re like most other authors out there, you’ve realized the futility and frustration of going the traditional publishing route, and are instead setting your sights on being an independent author – an indie.
For indies, it can be a long road from writing “The End” to having a final, publishable manuscript, and it doesn’t stop there. Once your MS is picture-perfect, you need to find a way to distribute it to the many different eBook stores that have cropped up in recent years. You need to know how to make a great cover (because, yes, readers do choose their books by the cover), how to market it so it actually sells and a great deal more. Yes, your work is just beginning.
It can be a confusing, frustrating situation for a first-time author getting into the world of indie publishing. That’s where this guide comes in. Within these pages, you’ll learn what you need to do in order to first create the best eBook possible, and then to distribute it across the right eBook stores, how to market it for the best chances of success and more.
There’s no need to go it alone. Being an independent author doesn’t have to mean doing everything yourself. This guide will help take the confusion and frustration out of the situation, and provide you with invaluable information to help you on your way.
Chapter 1
Writing Your Book
Write the Book You Want, Within Reason
Whether you’re more interested in writing fiction or nonfiction, sci-fi or romance, paranormal or urban fantasy, choose the genre that appeals most to you. However, be aware of the industry trends and the general size of the audience you’re writing to, because it will make a significant difference in your ultimate success.
For example, if you’re writing paranormal romance, you’re atop the crest of the wave in today’s genre fiction. Yes, paranormal romance is, well, hot (pun intended). However, not all genres have the same audience size, nor are all audiences embracing eBooks equally. You’ll find that fans of traditional fantasy still prefer paper books to their e-kin (that’s a really compelling reason to look into print-on-demand when you get your book done).
Realize that the size of the audience and their willingness to buy books outside traditional venues (B&N stores, for instance) will make a difference in how many copies you sell and how successful your book is. Write what you want, but with an eye toward market trends and audience size/buying habits, at least if you want to turn a profit on your book. If you’re not interested in making money, then all options are fair game.
You Need Beta Readers
If you spend much time speaking with other indie authors online (whether on GoodReads, Facebook or Twitter), you’ll find that many use what are called beta readers. You need a group of betas on your side during and immediately after the writing process.
What’s a beta reader? Essentially, a beta is nothing more than a reader who agrees to provide critical feedback about a work either after the book is finished, but before final formatting and publication, or throughout the writing process. Why do you need beta readers?
It’s difficult enough for an author to catch typos and misspellings. It’s even harder for the author to catch plot holes, characters who wander away from their personalities during the course of the story and other problems. This is where your beta readers come in.
You need a decent group of readers, drawn from many different backgrounds, and who are willing to provide you with honest, direct (and sometimes unwanted) feedback. They need to be brutally honest with you – that should immediately nix your spouse, your mom or your best friend. Those aren’t valid betas because their feedback can often be suspect. They’re more likely to tell you how much they loved it, just because they’re proud of you or don’t want to hurt your feelings. Hurt feelings are part and parcel of the writing process, so get yourself a group of dedicated beta readers who aren’t family or close friends.
Ideally, you’ll have three to five readers with differing backgrounds. You might be able to rope in a couple of regular readers for the “Average Joe” report on the book, as well as an author or two for a professional opinion. You also need someone with decent grammar skills on your side. Once you’ve “finished” your book, send it to your beta readers and then incorporate their feedback.
A Word on Editing
A professional editor can help spot plot holes, suggest alternatives, give you invaluable feedback about character motivation and much more. Think of an editor more as a collaborative partner in the writing process, rather than just a human version of spell check, and you’ll get the idea.
Do you need an editor? Yes, you do. One of the most serious complaints readers have about indie books is their lack of proofing and editing – you don’t want your book lumped in with those. Even just a few comments about typos and poor editing can kill your book’s sales, and that’s not something you can afford.
Before you do anything in terms of distribution, make sure your book has been professionally edited. The cost might actually surprise you. While there will be a price, you can find professional editors for surprisingly affordable rates.
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