How to create, compose, promote and sell an E-book on the Web.
Yes, it’s true what they say.
Everyone can write an E-book, or information product, and distribute, sell, or give it away, on the Web.
Ordinary people, like you and me, do it with success, and some folks are selling thousands of copies every month.
Here are some of the advantages of being an E-book writer:
* You have total control over your work. You are your own boss, you decide what, when and where you will write, and no publishing company or editor can put you on a dead line.
* You make 100% of every E-book sale.
* You decide where to promote, and how much you spend on advertising costs.
* You can create as many E-books as you like, and start selling them the next day once you know how to do it.
* Your E-book will sell 24/7. Even when you’re sleeping, or on vacation, people will be able to buy and download your book from your web site.
Does this sound attractive enough to you?
I’d guess so 
What you need to start
It doesn’t take a lot to start as a writer. All you need is a text processing program like MS Word,
Notepad, or any HTML Editor, like FrontPage 98/2000.
Why an HTML editor? Because most E-books are compiled from HTML pages.
If you have no idea how to write HTML, you can download Joe Barta’s FREE HTML-Tutor by clicking here. (If this link doesn’t work, you may try it from here. )
(You need a Windows PC with MS Internet Explorer 6.0 or later to use this software. Also be sure to enable Java!
If you’ve never created a web page before, this tutorial will guide you gently through the basics of HTML.
If you already have experience in HTML, you’ll probably find this info a bit simple. However, the tutorial is free, and there are some useful tips in it, explaining how to upload your web pages to your server, and how to reduce your GIF images.
TIP: A GIF optimizer that reduces the file size of your GIF images up to 75%, is also included.
Here’s a list with FREE HTML-Editors:
Notetab Light(FREE)
NoteTab Light makes text editing a breeze. Move quickly around a stack of large files with a simple interface. Format your text to your heart’s content. Write with the font of your choice, fixed-width or proportional.
First Page 2000(FREE)
1st Page 2000 is a professional HTML editing software which lets you create great web sites fast! The visually appealing program comes bundled with over 450+ Javascripts and supports
all the latest web languages.
HTMLPad (FREE)
HTMLpad is a HyperText editor for Windows 95 and NT 4.0. It can be configured to operate as a simple text editor like the Windows Notepad, or as sophisticated and customized as you like. It caters to the developer that is familiar with HTML and looking for an editor that provides them with complete control
over their markup, without consuming a great deal of system resources.
Arachnophilia(FREE)
Arachnophilia can import and automatically convert RTF documents, tables, and outlines from any Windows 95-compliant application to HTML. It supports up to six Web browsers, CGI, frames, Perl, C++, Java, and JavaScript. Other features; a built-in, intelligent FTP client; automatic uploading of changed
files; user-defined templates; global search and replace; and an interface with full drag-and-drop capabilities. This software includes built-in tutorials on HTML development, JavaScript, frames, and the Internet.
E-books are easy to distribute, and you have almost no coststo cover..
Once your E-book is finished, you can make it available to thewhole world by putting it on a web server.
If you can accept credit card payments from your web site, you are ready to start making money.
You can also let other people help you promote and sell your E-book, by setting up an affilate -or reseller- program, but I’ll tell you how to do all this later.
Now, before you say: “I can’t write an E-book, because I never did a writing class, and I have nothing to write about”, listen here…
ANYONEwith a passion about a subject that he or she likes can write. You just need to be persistent and determinated and you will succeed.
If you know a lot about dogs, gardening, scuba diving, or whatever you care about, you have… >KNOWLEDGE!
And knowledge is what it takes to write!
Sharing knowledge is a very profitable business on line,because Info-Products have proven to be the best selling item on the Web.
People always have a need for information, and if you can provide it to them, by teaching them how to do things better, you will be rewarded.
Here are 3 examples of how you can use E-books:
Example 1:
Author Michael Webb has been married for 11 years, and he never had a fight with his wife.
-At least, that’s what he says
So, what did Michael do?
He decided to write an E-book with tips on how people can improve their marriage or relationship, and called it: “50 Secrets of Blissful Relationships.”
Michael created a web site around his book, gave it some promotion, got noticed by the media, and his E-book soon became a bestseller.
Example 2
Paul Meyers is an expert in E-zine publishing, and he uses simple tips and techniques that nobody else uses to sign up thousands of new subscribers to his E-zine… every month.
What did Paul do?
Right! He wrote an E-book about this subject, and because it contains so much useful info, it sells like candy.
Example 3:
I created an E-book, that contains interviews with 50 E-zine Publishers. All I had to do was send the E-zine Publishers my questions, and then copy and paste their answers into an nice E-book.
You see, you can even write about a subject without being an expert, or without doing much study work.
If you use newsgroups and discussion lists to ask other people what they do to succeed in their business, you can write from their ideas.
WARNING: don’t just copy and paste other people’s words. This is NOT allowed and unethical.
It’s better to write in your own unique style about how their tips and ideas have helped you, and if you like,
you can give the people the credit they deserve.
Believe me, in no time you’ll have a chapter or even an entire book to share with the world.
This is just an example to prove that you can write about anything.
So stop being lazy and get on the keyboard
About the creative process of writing.
Really, you don’t have to go for the Pullitzer Prize, if you start writing.
On the contrary!
Try to write as you speak.
Be clear, and come right to the point when you make a statement.
Remember, it’s not about HOW you write, it’s about WHAT you have to say.
TIP: People love to read clear lines, and if you use lots of white space between your paragraphs, you’ll keep the readers interested.
Don’t forget; Keep it simple!
Or even better; Keep it stupid simple
Now that you have your idea, you’re ready to start doing the real stuff, that is… being writing
One more thing: before you start hitting those keys, ask yourself if there is an audience waiting for your book, or are you going to be your own reader?
Make sure there are people willing to read your E-book before you write it.
Otherwise: DO NOT WRITE IT!
Here are some tips to keep in mind when you write:
* Be original.
* Inject your personality into your writing style.
* Use short sentences.
* Use words that don’t force your readers to grab a dictionary to understand you.
* Put in some sort of illustration to prove your point.
If you should need more tips or advice concerning the creative process of writing, here are some web
sites that will help you:
http://www.hiddencave.com/creative.asp
http://www.writingclasses.com
http://www.gmu.edu/departments/writing
http://www.mind-like-water.com/Directory/Nonfiction/DirNF_Writing.html
http://www.ebooks.com/subjects/subjects.asp?SID=153
