E-Book Writing Formats: How to Make the Words Flow

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, informativemake her day!Fill up your e-book with instructions of all
style that's easy for the reader to understand, andkinds. Imagine you're writing an e-book about knitting.
easy for you to imitate as you write them. Whether it'sThis subject begs for how-to copy! "How to Do a
ten pages about Smart Finances, 50 pages on How toBasic Stitch." "How to Knit a Scarf."How-to sections
Care for Your Cat or 250 pages covering Secrets ofcan be written in numbered steps, but they don't have
the World's Best Yoga Masters, there are severalto be. It depends on the topic. Suppose you wanted to
e-book formats you can write to that arewrite 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 asBoss. You can easily break this up into bits, like so:- Put
you like. Each of these formats is extremely appealingyourself 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 createviewpoint
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. Switchinghow quick and easy it is to fill in the details for each of
perspectives is also a great mental exercise that letsthese major points. If you keep it up, you might
you to see both sides of a situation. Why would youeventually 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 bestproblem-solution format is a lot like Q & A. It's another
interests in mind... and that makes him happy. If he'sperspective-switching technique that will sharpen your
happy, he'll keep reading. If he keeps reading, he mayknowledge of the reader's needs and wants while
ask for more information like this. And presto, you justestablishing you as the person with the answers. Let's
landed yourself more writing work!The style in whichpretend you're writing an e-book for a life coach. She
you write your questions will of course depend on theplans to include the e-book as part of her coaching kit
subjectmatter. If your topic is a dry one, write yourto help clients achieve more in their lives. What are
questions and answers in a formal tone. If the theme issome 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'sreader's point of view, as so:Things that Keep Me
easy; do some web research! There are forums forfrom 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 quiltingup.Each heading will require a response on your part; a
websites, sleuth around the boards for a while, andparagraph 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? Therethat she's not locked into any situation. Problem-solution
you go! Real concerns, from real people. Put them informats are inspiring to write to because they replace
your e-book!Another good way to find questions is tonegative, 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 citizenfever even as you write them for your clients! And
retirement homes. Your grandma was in one, wasn'tthat will inspire you to accomplish even more in your
she? What were her concerns? How about, "What doown life.Format 5: Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing
I do with all my stuff before I move in?" "What if I don'tviewpoints is a fun way to play devil's advocate in
get along with my roommate?" "How can I ensure thatyour writing. Take the recent article I wrote on
my dietary needs are taken care of?" Train yourselfCopywriting: "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.FormatThroughout this piece, I set up points that the buyer
2: Numbered Lists. If you haven't noticed already, thismight feel are valid reasons not to hire a writer- and
article is written as a Numbered List. Even though it'sthen I "shot each one down" with solid evidence to the
not part of an e-book, it could easily be incorporatedcontrary. Some subheadings I used:Excuse 1. "Why
into one. The numbered list will suit your e-book quitepay 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 formatanyone else."
from top to bottom.2) Lists provide incentive, followedExcuse 3. "I find it difficult to work with someone in a
by accomplishment. If you're reading along and youremote location."This may seem like a sneaky format,
come to number eight in a list of 11 items, you knowin that you seem to be writing from one point of view
you're 3/4 of the way home! That's surely a reason towhen actually you favor the opposite; but it's a quick
keep on trucking.3) Lists offer brief resting points thatand effective way to hook the reader's interest and
allow the brain to absorb what it just read beforehold it. People love to argue; why not create an
moving on.Lists are just as easy to write as they areimaginary debate scenario that they can relate to! If
to read. Let's say you're writing an e-book, How toyour e-book is meant to persuade and convince
Enhance Your Children's Lives. In the e-book is apeople to try new things, the "opposing viewpoints"
sub-section, Fun Activities for a Rainy Day. The timeformat 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'sabout writing your own e-book? You shouldn't be!
worth a shot. In one burst, you scribble:1. Bake cookiesWhether you're a wet-behind-the-ears writer or an old,
2. Paint with watercolorsseasoned pro, writing e-books is an easy, fun and
3. Teach them a new card gamelucrative way to develop your credibility on the web as
4. Write poetry togetherwell as broaden your knowledge on a wide variety of
5. Plant some garden seedsLook at that! In less thantopics. Use these tried and true formats to fill page
a minute, you managed to come up with 5 intriguingafter page with interesting information written in a
topics that can be developed at great length. Andfriendly, conversational tone. Master the art of great
what's this, you just thought of four more! Once you'ree-book writing! It will win you new readers and keep
in the groove, it will be difficult to stop. That's the greatthe old ones coming back for more.Copyright 2005
thing about list writing. Can you see how this couldDina 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 forSign 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
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