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