| Nervous about writing your first e-book? Never fear. | | | | kids the right way. Give her helpful instructions, and |
| E-books are written in a conversational, informative | | | | make her day!Fill up your e-book with instructions of all |
| style that's easy for the reader to understand, and | | | | kinds. Imagine you're writing an e-book about knitting. |
| easy for you to imitate as you write them. Whether it's | | | | This subject begs for how-to copy! "How to Do a |
| ten pages about Smart Finances, 50 pages on How to | | | | Basic Stitch." "How to Knit a Scarf."How-to sections |
| Care for Your Cat or 250 pages covering Secrets of | | | | can be written in numbered steps, but they don't have |
| the World's Best Yoga Masters, there are several | | | | to be. It depends on the topic. Suppose you wanted to |
| e-book formats you can write to that are | | | | write a basic career guide. One major section of |
| thought-provoking enough to get your words flowing, | | | | interest might be, How to Get Along Better With Your |
| and flexible enough to make them as long or short as | | | | Boss. You can easily break this up into bits, like so:- Put |
| you like. Each of these formats is extremely appealing | | | | yourself in your boss's shoes |
| to the readers for its breezy, informative style.Format | | | | - Develop a positive outlook |
| 1: Q & A. Question and Answer sections win major | | | | - Start thinking of the department's needs instead of |
| popularity points with e-book readers for their direct, | | | | just your own |
| no-nonsense approach. Pose a question, offer an | | | | - Consider your own work habits from an outsider's |
| answer. This format is extremely simple to create | | | | viewpoint |
| because right from the get-go, the copywriter is | | | | - Open the lines of communication |
| forced to jump into the mind of the consumer, isolate | | | | - Take a problem-solving approachYou won't believe |
| his concerns, and then offer solutions. Switching | | | | how quick and easy it is to fill in the details for each of |
| perspectives is also a great mental exercise that lets | | | | these major points. If you keep it up, you might |
| you to see both sides of a situation. Why would you | | | | eventually need your own instructions: "How to Stop |
| want to do this? If you can empathise with the reader, | | | | Writing How-To Lists!"Format 4: Problem-Solution. The |
| you'll be able to answer in a way that keeps his best | | | | problem-solution format is a lot like Q & A. It's another |
| interests in mind... and that makes him happy. If he's | | | | perspective-switching technique that will sharpen your |
| happy, he'll keep reading. If he keeps reading, he may | | | | knowledge of the reader's needs and wants while |
| ask for more information like this. And presto, you just | | | | establishing you as the person with the answers. Let's |
| landed yourself more writing work!The style in which | | | | pretend you're writing an e-book for a life coach. She |
| you write your questions will of course depend on the | | | | plans to include the e-book as part of her coaching kit |
| subjectmatter. If your topic is a dry one, write your | | | | to help clients achieve more in their lives. What are |
| questions and answers in a formal tone. If the theme is | | | | some problems a life coach's client might face? Stress. |
| light and casual, try a conversational tone, like this:Q: | | | | Boredom. Loneliness.Tackle these issues from the |
| How do I figure out what questions to ask? A: That's | | | | reader's point of view, as so:Things that Keep Me |
| easy; do some web research! There are forums for | | | | from Moving Forward With My Life- I have too much |
| just about any topic on the internet. Visit one or two, | | | | to do, and not enough hours to do it all. |
| and find out what the most commonly asked | | | | - My job is dull and uninspiring. |
| questions are. Let's say your e-book is going to be | | | | - I don't have many friends to keep my energy levels |
| about quilting. Locate some handicraft or quilting | | | | up.Each heading will require a response on your part; a |
| websites, sleuth around the boards for a while, and | | | | paragraph or two where you can expound on ways |
| you might find someone asking this popular question: | | | | to solve the issues at hand and help the reader realize |
| How do I silkscreen family photos to my quilt? There | | | | that she's not locked into any situation. Problem-solution |
| you go! Real concerns, from real people. Put them in | | | | formats are inspiring to write to because they replace |
| your e-book!Another good way to find questions is to | | | | negative, self-defeating thoughts with positive, |
| scroll the annals of your mind for real-life situations. | | | | energizing ones. You may find yourself catching the |
| Maybe you're writing a book about senior citizen | | | | fever even as you write them for your clients! And |
| retirement homes. Your grandma was in one, wasn't | | | | that will inspire you to accomplish even more in your |
| she? What were her concerns? How about, "What do | | | | own life.Format 5: Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing |
| I do with all my stuff before I move in?" "What if I don't | | | | viewpoints is a fun way to play devil's advocate in |
| get along with my roommate?" "How can I ensure that | | | | your writing. Take the recent article I wrote on |
| my dietary needs are taken care of?" Train yourself | | | | Copywriting: "11 Reasons Not to Hire a Freelance |
| to think like the interested consumer. Once you do this, | | | | Copywriter (and Why They're All Poor Excuses!)." |
| you won't believe how quickly the ideas come.Format | | | | Throughout this piece, I set up points that the buyer |
| 2: Numbered Lists. If you haven't noticed already, this | | | | might feel are valid reasons not to hire a writer- and |
| article is written as a Numbered List. Even though it's | | | | then I "shot each one down" with solid evidence to the |
| not part of an e-book, it could easily be incorporated | | | | contrary. Some subheadings I used:Excuse 1. "Why |
| into one. The numbered list will suit your e-book quite | | | | pay someone else when I can do the writing myself?" |
| nicely.People are drawn to lists for several reasons:1) | | | | Excuse 2. "I know my product/business better than |
| The eye naturally wants to scan anything in list format | | | | anyone else." |
| from top to bottom.2) Lists provide incentive, followed | | | | Excuse 3. "I find it difficult to work with someone in a |
| by accomplishment. If you're reading along and you | | | | remote location."This may seem like a sneaky format, |
| come to number eight in a list of 11 items, you know | | | | in that you seem to be writing from one point of view |
| you're 3/4 of the way home! That's surely a reason to | | | | when actually you favor the opposite; but it's a quick |
| keep on trucking.3) Lists offer brief resting points that | | | | and effective way to hook the reader's interest and |
| allow the brain to absorb what it just read before | | | | hold it. People love to argue; why not create an |
| moving on.Lists are just as easy to write as they are | | | | imaginary debate scenario that they can relate to! If |
| to read. Let's say you're writing an e-book, How to | | | | your e-book is meant to persuade and convince |
| Enhance Your Children's Lives. In the e-book is a | | | | people to try new things, the "opposing viewpoints" |
| sub-section, Fun Activities for a Rainy Day. The time | | | | format is a classic way to develop a good argument |
| comes to write it, but you're drawing a total blank. | | | | and entice the reader to follow your lead.Still intimidated |
| Then you remember the numbered list format! It's | | | | about writing your own e-book? You shouldn't be! |
| worth a shot. In one burst, you scribble:1. Bake cookies | | | | Whether you're a wet-behind-the-ears writer or an old, |
| 2. Paint with watercolors | | | | seasoned pro, writing e-books is an easy, fun and |
| 3. Teach them a new card game | | | | lucrative way to develop your credibility on the web as |
| 4. Write poetry together | | | | well as broaden your knowledge on a wide variety of |
| 5. Plant some garden seedsLook at that! In less than | | | | topics. Use these tried and true formats to fill page |
| a minute, you managed to come up with 5 intriguing | | | | after page with interesting information written in a |
| topics that can be developed at great length. And | | | | friendly, conversational tone. Master the art of great |
| what's this, you just thought of four more! Once you're | | | | e-book writing! It will win you new readers and keep |
| in the groove, it will be difficult to stop. That's the great | | | | the old ones coming back for more.Copyright 2005 |
| thing about list writing. Can you see how this could | | | | Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.Liked this article? Have |
| quickly add up to lots of e-book pages?Format 3: | | | | more of the same emailed to your inbox each month. |
| How-Tos. Your e-book reader is forever searching for | | | | Sign up for the Copywriting and Marketing Ezine from |
| new ideas, practical advice and solutions that work. | | | | Dina at and learn to write search engine friendly web |
| She wants to be told, step by step, how to go about | | | | copy and market your web based business for free. |
| everything from home repairs to taxes, to raising her | | | | |