When I lived in California, I became a mobile notary (signing agent) because I wanted something to work
around my family. When I moved out of California I thought I could simply apply for a new notary seal and continue my notary career;
after all, I still had my contacts and they dealt with notaries nationwide. But upon arriving in the state of Pennsylvania, I was given
a rude awakening. I could not receive a notary license until I had become a resident of the state for one solid year.
Upset? Yes. But I didn’t let that stop me from earning a living out of my home. I had already written a pamphlet when I lived in
California, so I took that information and decided to start a new career as an Internet marketer/author. While the sales were slow, in
the beginning, I soon learned the ropes and began selling enough books to keep me at home with my kids. In fact, when our move to
Wisconsin proved to be a wonderful opportunity for my husband to return to college full-time, I used the income generated from the sales
of my e-books and freelance writing career to sustain our family for two full years.
To become a profitable electronic book author, you, too, need to learn
the ropes. You can’t write a book, place it on your website, and hope the orders come rolling in. You have to put in some real elbow
grease, and work towards those sales.
Here is broad outline to help you get started.
Start With What You Know
I truly believe that everyone has a book in him or her. But to find that book you need to sit down and rediscover what’s inside you.
What knowledge do you already possess? Do you constantly share new and interesting facts with your friends on a particular topic? Is
there something you can’t wait to learn more about? Do your friends and family consider you the expert on a certain topic? That’s the
first place to start writing your very first book.
Develop An Outline
Now that you have an idea for your book, sit down and develop an outline. If you were going to teach someone everything you know, what
would you start with? What natural progression would you take to move your student to the next step? What about the step after that? The
idea of an outline is to get your juices flowing and help you begin to form your book. Don’t worry about writing your book just yet.
Fill In The Gaps
Once you have your outline written, take one segment at a time and begin jotting down notes. Write whatever comes to mind on that
subject matter. Don’t worry about how well it flows together or whether or nor your sentences make sense. Just get the ideas out of
your head and onto paper.
Research Your Subject
After you’ve exhausted all the information stored in your head—whether through book learning or hands on experience—start researching
your topic. Is there something you need to know more about? Is there something that will enhance your book and take it from good to
great? Is there something you find missing in other books that your book could discuss?
Interview Experts
Don’t underestimate the value of expert quotes. While you could simply write what you know, you’ll increase the value of your book by
including information by experts in your topic. The first place to start is your local Chamber of Commerce; there are many professionals
who would love a little free publicity.
Organize Your Notes
After you have all your notes written out, it’s time to organize them. Organizing your notes will take time and may seem mundane, but
organization is the key to a book that flows and doesn’t confuse your readers.
Write Your First Draft
Once you’ve organized your notes, it’s time to write your first draft. Again, don’t worry about getting everything perfect the first
time. The idea is to take your scribbles and put them into some form of comprehensible reading material.
Edit Your Work
Once you’ve completed your first draft, let it sit for a few days. If you go back to your first draft too soon, your eyes will glaze
over mistakes and typos. Your mind will remember what should have been there and your eyes will assume it’s there.
Protect Your Work
Once you’ve completed the final edit of your book and are happy with the results, get your material copyrighted with the United States
Copyrights Office. The cost is only $30 and will protect you should someone try to claim ownership to your work and sell it as his/her
own.
Sell Your Book
Selling your book is probably going to be the hardest part of your new career as an e-book author. You can’t put your book on a website
and wait for sales to come in. You’ll need to educate others about your book. And you can do that educating several ways:
- Get reviews on your book by other publications.
- Get interviewed on the radio, in newspapers, and in magazines.
- Write articles on your book’s topic and sell them to large print publications.
- Writes articles on your book’s topic and
distribute them, for free, to several websites.
- Start an affiliate program.
- Buy classified advertisements.
- Hire yourself out as a speaker on your book’s topic.
About The Author:
Alyice Edrich is a mixed media artist, freelance writer, and aspiring photographer. She enjoys creating things that bring joy
to others. Visit our her blog, Coming Home, to check out her latest art. Or
stop by her resume site, AlyiceEdrich.net to learn how you can hire her for your
next project.
* This article is available for your publication, for a F-E-E.
This article may NOT be reprinted without monetary compensation and written permission from the author.
For reprint rights or comments/questions about this article, please contact the author.
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