Q&A for How to Write Your First eBook

For the initial draft, you can use Microsoft Word or Pages. For the final draft, you'll want to import it into eBook software to make it look professional. Some sites that allow you to self-publish, such as Amazon's Kindle Store, provide you the software and interface to do so.

Microsoft Word works well for this if you have it; if not, you can get OpenOffice for free, which will give you a full range of features and functions. Once it's complete, you can transfer it to Google Docs and convert the file format to EPUB.

Yes, you can. When you sign a contract with a publisher, either self or mainstream, they ask for your personal details and your pen name. You need to supply your real name and details so they know who to pay royalties too, either by cheque or direct bank deposit. However, make it clear that you will be publishing anonymously, under a pseudonym.

If you have a GoogleDocs account, you can use the app on your mobile device to write.

You can write it under an alias/pen name.

Yes, though some readers might not know you wrote both books. But you can do this if you want to.

Unless the picture says that it's free to use, you need permission to use the picture.

It really depends on how you publish, so sites will let you print your book from the eBook. Others you just need to find a new site.

No. However, you may include page numbers and/or total slide numbers in your Introduction and in your book description to keep your readers informed.

Yes. You can write a book about anything you want. But if it's not going to be interesting to someone else, it won't sell. Ask yourself this question: What's so interesting, intriguing, important about my life that someone will pay to read about it?

It depends on what your content is. Ome eBooks aren't 20,000 words, but a novel is still preferred to be around 80,000.

With the Kindle publishing, you can get up to 70% royalties, or up to 90% on Lulu. In order to get sales to make money, though, you'll have to do your own marketing by way of social media, ad campaigns, public appearances, etc.

ePub is supposedly the industry-standard format, but Kindle does not support it. However, you can convert ePub files into mobi/azw3 files (which Kindle does support). If you are still in the manuscript stage, rtf and Word doc files can also be converted into mobi/azw3 files.

It depends. Sometimes, a publisher will want you to sign an exclusive contract saying that, for a certain number of years or print runs, only that publisher can publish your book. Other times, you may need more than one publisher just to get your book published in more than one place (for example, Eleanor Catton's book The Luminaries has different publishers for New Zealand, the US, the UK, and Europe).

Starting your first book can feel challenging, but keep it simple and focused. Decide on your book’s genre and purpose. Is it fiction, nonfiction, or personal? Outline your main idea or story. Write a summary or key points to guide you. Start with a compelling scene or introduction that grabs attention. Write regularly, even if it's just a little each day. Focus on getting your ideas down rather than making them perfect. Don’t overthink the beginning—start writing, and you can refine it later.

You can use your press-ready PDF files if the dimensions match your book's size. If the size differs, you must adjust the files to avoid issues with margins, text cutoff, or distortion, and ensure proper bleed and margin settings for printing. Also, some platforms may need different file formats or adjustments before uploading. Use design software like Adobe Acrobat or InDesign for resizing or consult a professional for proper formatting.

Yes, you can write a poem or a collection of poems as an eBook and publish it for sale. Platforms like Amazon KDP, Smashwords, or Draft2Digital allow you to self-publish your work. Simply format your poem correctly, upload it to the platform, and set your price. Once published, readers can buy and download your eBook. Later, if you want to print and sell physical copies, you can use the same platforms or local printing services to create and distribute your book.