Are you wondering how to write an ebook but feeling unsure where to begin? Confused about how to turn your ebook into a source of passive income? You’ve come to the right place!
This might all seem overwhelming at first, but once you learn how to write an ebook by breaking the process into manageable steps, it becomes far more approachable.
If you have something valuable to share, it’s worth putting in the effort. By organizing your ideas and following a clear plan, you can create an ebook that strengthens your brand, grows your audience, and makes you money.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process of writing and monetizing your ebook, one step at a time.
Why ebooks are a great way to make money online
Before jumping into how to write an ebook, let’s look at why ebooks could be the perfect option for earning some extra money:
They have low overheads
You don’t have to break the bank to write an ebook! In fact, you can create and publish your ebook for free using the right tools and platforms like Whop, which allows you to upload your ebook at no cost and start earning immediately.
While it’s entirely possible to keep costs down, a small financial investment can help you help you create a better product. For instance, while you could handle editing on your own, hiring a professional editor with industry expertise can lead to a more polished and professional ebook.
Some potential costs to consider when creating your ebook:
- Time investment: While the time it takes you to write your ebook will vary depending on length and writing speed, drafting to revising can be a significant time commitment.
- Book design: Consider investing in a book designer to make sure your cover and layout match you niche and appeal to your potential readers.
- Marketing: Having a marketing budget can help you reach a larger audience, boosting your book’s visibility and potentially increasing sales.
They’re easy to create
Writing an ebook has never been easier, especially with the help of AI tools. If you’re open to using this technology, it can streamline the process by helping you with inspiration, outlining, writing, and editing. For example, AI can help you come up with a compelling title, detailed chapter outlines, and content.
A popular choice among writers is Jasper AI Tool, which can adapt to your unique writing voice. Although it’s a paid subscription service, you can take advantage of it’s free trial to see if it’s the right choice for you.
Still, while AI can be helpful, don’t disregard your own work. If you’ve written about your ebook’s topic before, revisiting past content can save you time and effort.
For instance, you might repurpose a blog post as a chapter, expand on a story you shared in a newsletter, or adapt material from YouTube videos, webinars, speeches or podcasts. Something as seemingly insignificant as a social media caption might give you an idea that sets your ebook apart.
Another option to simplify the process is to buy a Private Label Rights (PLR) digital product, like a pre-written ebook in your niche. Then, you can customize the content to reflect your expertise and brand identity. Personalize PLR digital products by including original stories, insights, and photos to make it your own.
You can sell them over and over again
One of the best parts about publishing an ebook is that it can earn you passive income.
While investing time and resources into marketing your ebook can boost sales, once it’s published, it’s always working for you–even while you sleep.
Your ebook will be available for consumers to buy at any time, whether it is discovered by a social media user scrolling through your profile or an audience member at a conference where you’re speaking. Purchasing an ebook is an affordable option for people who want to learn more about a topic you cover or connect with your work.
Even if you move on to a new niche, transition careers, or retire. As long as your ebook is available, you can continue to earn money from the sales.
How to write an ebook (a 9-step guide)
Now that you know more about making money online with an ebook, allow me to guide you through the process of creating one.
Let’s explore how to write an ebook step-by-step:
1. Think about why you’re writing an ebook
Before starting the writing process, take a moment to consider why you want to write an ebook. Is your goal to grow your audience, establish yourself as an authority in your field, or drive traffic to an online course? Perhaps you’re aiming to build a passive income stream. Or maybe, you’re doing it just for fun.
Often, it’s a combination of these reasons. Let’s take a closer look at some common motivations for writing an ebook:
Growing your audience
When readers enjoy your ebook, they might follow you on social media or subscribe to your email list. If your ebook aligns with the content you share, these readers are more likely to engage with your posts and explore your other projects.
Building an email list is an excellent strategy if you plan to release more books or resources in the future. Those who subscribe to your email list are already somewhat interested in your projects, making them a likely audience to support and engage with your upcoming work.
Establishing authority in your field
An ebook that offers your readers value can position you as an expert in your field. Whether you’re helping readers solve a problem or teaching them a new skill, they’ll remember you as a trusted source when they need help on the topic again.
For instance, if you write an ebook on vegan meat alternatives, readers may check out your recipes when they prepare vegan dishes in the future.
Generating revenue
Once you’ve written an ebook, you have a few different strategies you can use to generate revenue. The first option is to sell your ebook, charging readers for the ebook as a standalone product. While it's common for readers to be cautious about buying from new authors with smaller followings, focus on delivering value comparable to what they might expect from a professionally published book.
Another winning strategy is to offer your ebook for free as a lead magnet. In exchange, you can collect email addresses to grow your email list. Once on your list, you’ll have a direct way to promote paid resources, like downloads or courses, increasing your revenue.
A third option to consider is to package your ebook with complementary resources, making it appear more valuable to potential buyers. For example, if your ebook covers strategies for organizing your schedule, you could bundle it with printable calendars, planners, and other time-management resources you’ve created.
Increasing traffic to your online course
If you’ve created an online course, offering an ebook is an excellent way to drive interest and build trust with potential buyers. Courses can be expensive and many consumers hesitate to commit without first feeling confident in the value they’ll receive. An affordable ebook serves as a low-risk entry point and can give your readers a taste of your expertise.
If your ebook helps establish you as a reliable authority, readers may be more willing to purchase your course. For example, if you provide an ebook with a two-week meal and exercise plan, readers might enjoy the results and check out your 30-hour course on meal planning and exercise.
If you plan to offer an online course and an ebook, I recommend using Whop, as it’s the perfect place to sell both resources in one place. If you don’t have an online course yet, consider creating one based on your ebook. For instance, if your ebook is about candle making, you might design a course on starting a candle-making business.
Enjoy writing or diving deeper into a topic
If you enjoy writing, creating an ebook on a topic you’re passionate about can be a fun way to spend your time. The writing process will likely require you to research your topic, motivating you to learn more about a subject that excites you. Best of all, you get to share what you’ve learned with others who have similar interests.
2. Refine your niche
You might think that niching down will limit who your book is for, but it will actually help you identify your target audience and create an ebook that they enjoy or find helpful.
Many readers like buying from specialists, so getting more granular in your ebook topic can motivate readers interested in the subject matter to purchase your ebook.
To refine your niche, ask yourself:
- What problem will your ebook solve?
- What makes your ebook unique compared to other resources on the topic?
- Who will find your ebook most useful?
- How can you best help them?
- Why are you the right person to write this ebook?
Consider which topics you feel confident writing about or ones that align with your interests. If you enjoy learning and researching the topic, you’re more likely to persevere throughout the writing process.
Once you’ve chosen a niche for your ebook, look at other books in the category to see if you notice any trends in titles, covers, and lengths.
For example, self-help ebooks often have large bold text or a picture of the author on the cover. If your book doesn’t adhere to niche standards, you might lose out on sales from buyers who overlook your book thinking it belongs in a different niche.
3. Research your target audience
Your target audience is the group of people most likely to be interested in and purchase your ebook. To write an ebook that connects with them, you first need to identify who they are.
Start by considering basic demographics like age and gender, but don’t stop there. Also think about factors like family status, occupation, hobbies and interests.
You might even create a buyer persona for your ebook. Ask yourself questions like:
- How old are they?
- What do they enjoy doing in their free time?
- What problems are they trying to solve?
- What kinds of books do they enjoy?
- How do they spend their free time?
If you have an established following on platforms like Facebook or Instagram, use audience insights to learn more about the demographics interacting with your content, such as age range, gender, and even location.
For those with an active email newsletter, consider sending out surveys to get to know more about your subscribers. You might ask about their interests, favorite authors, movies, or hobbies.
The more you learn about your target reader over time, the better you’ll understand their needs and preferences. This deeper understanding can help you write your ebook with a target reader in mind and plan a targeted marketing strategy.
4. Check out your competitors
Read other ebooks in your niche to make sure your book offers more value or something unique. For instance, you might share an original strategy that saves time or money, giving your ebook a distinct edge.
To find other books and authors in your niche, start with Amazon. Explore the category your ebook might fall under and pursue popular titles.
Book Marketing Specialist and CEO of Book Rockstar, Aryn Van Dyke, suggests using Amazon or GoodReads to find similar ebooks and reading through three-star reviews. These average reviews can show you what readers enjoyed and what they felt was missing. Then, consider these insights when planning your ebook.
While you’re sizing up the competition, also check out how these authors are using their ebook within their marketing strategies. You might get some creative ideas for when the time comes to promote your ebook.
5. Create your outline
When outlining your ebook, start with a brainstorming session. Think of this as transferring your thoughts from your mind to paper. Grab a pen and jot down your ideas using bullet points.
Don’t worry about writing in complete sentences. Instead, focus on nailing down your key points and important details. Continue brainstorming until you can’t think of anything else to add.
Now it’s time to organize what you’ve written into different lists. These lists might later form chapters or sections of your ebook. Use separate sheets of paper or different notepads to keep each list distinct. For each list, write down key points, resources, or examples you might mention.
For instance, if your ebook is about growing organic vegetables, one list might focus on natural pesticides. In this category, you could make a note to include a personal story about dealing with garden pests and recommend natural solutions that you’ve tried.
After organizing your ideas, consider the order in which you’ll present them in your ebook. You might walk your reader through a step-by-step process or start with broad ideas and narrow down to specifics as the book continues. During this stage, think about your ebook’s length. If you’re unsure how long it should be, check out our guide to ebook length for inspiration.
Here are a few techniques you can use when outlining your ebook:
Problem-solution approach
With the problem-solution approach, you’ll focus first on the main problem your target reader faces and guide them to a solution.
Start by defining the problem your target reader is dealing with. For example, they may have the talent and drive to design and sell an adult coloring book online, but lack the knowledge to so it successfully.
Next, you’ll plan the steps that your reader must take to overcome the problem. You might structure each step as a different chapter or section, covering topics like drawing, designing, and publishing.
Finally, share examples and resources for the reader to help them complete each step. For instance, you might list examples of best selling adult coloring ebooks, discuss current trends in the market, or provide tips to to consider when starting to draw.
Backwards design
Backwards design is a planning method that many educators use in classrooms to teach lessons, but you can also use when outlining your ebook. This approach starts with the end goal in mind and works backward to the content needed to achieve it.
Begin by considering the main lesson you’d like to teach your readers or what you’d like them to achieve. For example, your goal might be to teach readers how to upload and sell adult coloring books online.
Next, identify the key information and steps readers will need to reach the desired outcome. They might include drawing illustrations, designing the ebook, and publishing it on a digital platform.
Finally, think about examples and guidance you can include to help your reader complete the steps and apply what they’ve learned. For instance, you might share comparisons of different publishing options for coloring ebooks, with pros and cons, instructions, and tips for getting started.
Bottom-up method
The bottom-up method for outlining an ebook begins with smaller ideas and builds them into bigger concepts that you then structure.
Start by brainstorming a free-flowing list of ideas you know will be part of your ebook. Don’t worry if your list lacks organization or sequence at this point. Just get the ideas that come to you on the page. For example, if you think of a design software that you want to mention, jot it down.
Once you’ve finished brainstorming, organize your ideas into categories and sub-categories. Think of this step as sorting a jumbled deck of cards by color and then by suit. For instance, you might group all design-related ideas together, creating subcategories for design software and tips for drawing.
When you’ve finished sorting your ideas, review the categories and determine the chapters or sections of your ebook. Think about how each section will guide your reader toward achieving the primary goal.
Finish by arranging your chapters or sections in a logical order so it flows naturally and is easy-to-follow.
6. Start writing!
And now it’s time to write. With your outline in front of you, reference your main ideas and notes, and begin filling in the missing pieces.
If you’re struggling to get started, remind yourself that it doesn’t need to be perfect. It doesn’t even need to be great. Just write.
If you’re a perfectionist, not getting held up editing or rewriting sentences and paragraphs can be challenge. Consider setting a daily word count to help you stay on track and keep the momentum going. You’ll edit your ebook later. For now, just write.
Here are some additional tips to help you through this step:
Create a writing schedule
If you work best with a routine, creating one for your writing process can be helpful. Find a time when you’re energized and your creative juices flow. Consider how much time you plan to set aside for your writing. For instance, you might find that you do your best writing in the afternoon between two and four.
Try the 30/5 method
If you work best with structured breaks, the 30/5 method can be a game-changer. So how does it work?
Set a timer for 30 minutes and during this time, commit yourself fully to putting words on the page. Resist the urge to hop on social media. Don’t allow your mind to wander to the date you went on last night. For these 30 minutes, type away.
When the timer sounds, cave into your distractions. Hop on Instagram. Text a friend. Run circles around your house. Do whatever you’d like. But do it in 5 minutes. Once they’re up, return to your work for another 30-minute session. Repeat this cycle for as many rounds you plan to write.
Build accountability
Get over any discomfort and announce that you’re writing an ebook. While sharing the news with friends and family is a great start, why not go bigger? Post about it on Facebook, just like you did when you got engaged last month. Remember when you proudly announced the news of your new job on LinkedIn? Go ahead and share the news of your ebook, too.
If you want to take it one step further, create an email list to keep subscribers updated on your ebook’s progress. Routine updates can help build anticipation and motivate you to keep writing.
Work in an environment where you can focus
If writing in any setting doesn’t come naturally to you, find or create an environment that helps you focus and feel inspired. This might be a quiet home office, a cozy nook at a local coffee shop, or a quiet library. Whatever environment works best for you is the right choice.
Set distractions aside
Distractions, like your phone, can kill productivity. To stay focused, consider leaving your phone in a different room, turning it off, or setting a timer on with the amount of time you want to write for.
Beat writer’s block
Writer’s block is that debilitating feeling where your creativity dried up and your fingers hover lifelessly over the keyboard. It’s a frustrating, but normal part of the writing process.
Here are some common ways to beat writer’s block:
- Take a break to do something you enjoy, like reading or exercising
- Do something that inspires you, such as listening to music
- Change your writing environment
- Jump to a different section of you ebook
- Remind yourself that it’s your first draft and you can edit it later
Keep your target audience in mind
If you’re writing an ebook to educate or inform readers, imagine you’re writing your book for a specific person who represents your target audience. Consider how to best communicate with this person. For instance, which examples will they find clear and relatable.
7. Edit, edit, edit
If you’ve made it this far then you have a first draft in front of you. The first thing you should do is congratulate yourself, you’ve already achieved what many fail to do. So go ahead and pour yourself a glass of champagne and settle back into your favorite writing chair. It’s time to edit.
To create the best ebook possible, plan for various rounds of editing. Begin by focusing on clarity for your ideal reader. Make sure everything makes sense and that you haven’t left out any important information.
If your ebook is instructional, prioritize clear and easy to understand writing with little room for interpretation. Make sure that your paragraphs and sentences flow smoothly.
To catch clunky or awkward phrasing, consider copy and pasting your text into an audio converter, like Natural Reader. Hearing your writing aloud can help you notice what needs improvement.
Take advantage of writing assistant tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid. These tools can help polish your writing and offer suggestions regarding your style, grammar, readability, and structure. They also help you spot overused words and improve sentence variety.
As you edit, consider scrapping parts of your ebook that don’t add value for your reader. For instance, if your how-to ebook on the Paleo diet has a long, unrelated story about your struggles as a vegetarian, consider shortening it or removing it altogether.
If you’re unhappy with your first draft, that’s okay. Remember, all your favorite books were once unstructured literary agents of chaos, and–right now–yours might be too. You can always return to the drawing board, add new sections, scrap others, elaborate in some places, or rework confusing segments. The ball is in your court. Just keep dribbling.
As you move into a second round of editing, focus on finer details, editing sentence by sentence. Reword unclear sentences, fix grammatical errors, and rewrite in active voice.
After a few rounds of editing, if you’ve improved your draft, it might be time to pass it along to another editor.
8. Add your images and finish your formatting
Unlike print books, color images won’t increase production costs, so feel free to bring your ebook to life with colorful visuals. Keep in mind that some e-readers display images in greyscale, so make sure they still look good in black and white.
When it comes to image size, you’ll want them to be large enough to look sharp on the page, but optimized as smaller file sizes. To resize your images:
- Open the image file in an image editor.
- In the Tools menu, select Adjust Size.
- Change the Width to 650 pixels.
- Change the Resolution to 72 pixels.
- Click OK.
Next, drag and drop the image into your document and make sure it is set to Inline with text. This keeps the image in place whether readers view your ebook in portrait or landscape mode.
If you’re writing in a Google Doc, click the image, go to Image Options, and select Inline with text.
When it comes to formatting, keep it simple. Don’t create elaborate designs that distract from the content. Aim for a clean reader-friendly format.
You can create your ebook in Microsoft Word and save the file as a PDF. If you’re looking for a free option, consider Google Docs, where you can save your ebook as a PDF and EPUB file.
Another option is to design your ebook in Canva, a popular graphic design tool popular among non-designers due to its ease of use. Canva offers templates which can elevate your ebook’s aesthetic.
Give Whop’s detailed Canva beginners guide a read to see if it’s the right tool for your ebook. Other template providers worth checking out include Visme, Venngage, and Adobe.
If you have the budget for it, hire someone to design your ebook and illustrate your images and infographics. Freelancers on platforms like Reedsy, Fiverr, and Upwork can help with design and illustrations. Before hiring, check out their portfolios to see if they have what it takes to bring your ideas to life.
9. Get another set of eyes
After editing and formatting your ebook, it’s time to take a deep breath, embrace a little vulnerability, and share it with others for feedback. Start by asking family members or friends to read it.
Ask them for honest opinions and be open to constructive criticism. If a friend finds a chapter feels unclear, consider revising it to make it easier to understand.
If you’re feeling bold, reach out to public figures in your niche. Ask if they’d be willing to review your book or offer feedback. If they like your ebook, they might even offer a testimonial or share it with their audience.
Another option is to hire a professional editor who can help you catch overlooked errors and suggest improvements. You can find editors on websites like Reedsy, which is full of experienced editors, designers, and marketers who specialize in working with authors.
Making money with your ebook
You’ve finished your ebook and your editor has given you the green light. So what comes next?
Here are a few steps to start making money with your ebook:
Explore distribution options
Before you can start selling your ebook, you’ll have to choose where to publish it. Check out popular publishing options like Whop, Amazon KDP, Apple Books, and Barnes & Noble to determine which platform is best for you.
Here’s some helpful information if you’re considering these choices:
Whop
Whop is one of the largest global digital marketplaces where you can sell just about anything, including ebooks. It’s free to sign up, and boasts an industry-leading transaction fee that starts at just 3%.
The platform is easy to use. All you have to do is create your own whop (your online hub) and use the files app to upload your ebook so it’s available to purchase.
It really is that simple!
Another major perk of using Whop is that you can also offer other digital products along with your ebook, like courses, webinars, or templates, all in one easy-to-find place, so you can cross-sell and upsell.
Whop also takes care of the ebook fulfillment process for you and offers various tools and services to help you boost ebook sales.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
Amazon KDP dominates the book retailer space and is another option that allows you to self-publish and list your ebook for free. With 315 million shoppers in 2024, Amazon can lead to great global exposure for your eBook.
The downside of using such a popular publisher is that you’ll only get 35% to 70% of your ebook royalties, depending on its costs.
Apple Books for authors
With Apple Books, you’ll have access to millions of users around the world. And you can publish your ebook without any subscription fee! Regardless of your book’s price, you’ll receive 70% royalty from each sale.
Unlike Whop and Amazon, Apple Books lacks marketing and analytics tools to help you sell your book.
Barnes and Noble Press
Barnes and Noble Press is another option for publishing your ebook, as they boast a huge audience within the U.S. Like Apple Books, you can publish your ebook for free and earn 70% royalty on every sale.
While they don’t offer many marketing tools aside from promotional campaigns, you’ll gain access to popular third-party apps that can help you edit, design, and market your ebook.
Promote your ebook
Once you’ve published your ebook, you might think it’s finally time to kick back and watch it fly off the digital shelves as the passive income rolls in. Well, author, think again. To get your ebook in front of a larger audience, you’re going to want to market it.
Here are some popular strategies to consider for your book marketing plan:
Email marketing
If you don’t already have an email list, I highly recommend starting one. You can begin to build your list at any point in the process, even before you’ve started writing.
Think of your email list as a group of people who have chosen to receive updates about your work and offerings. This means you have a direct line to an audience already interested in what you do and are more likely to buy your ebook.
There are plenty of email newsletter services to choose from to get started, such as Mailchimp and ConvertKit. Once you’ve set up your list and have subscribers, start sending them promotional emails.
These emails can include:
- Book announcements
- Writing updates
- Book details
- How your book helps
- Topic deep dives
If you know other authors or thought leaders in your niche, consider connecting with them. Subscribe to their email lists to see how they connect with their audience. You might even reach out to see if they’re interested in cross-promotion. They might be up to mention your ebook in their newsletter in exchange for you promoting their work to your subscribers, or even for a small fee.
Social media marketing
Promoting your ebook on social media is another worthy endeavor to get it in front of a larger audience. Unlike email marketing, where you’re promoting to people who are already interested in your brand, social media users are likely less familiar with your work. This can make capturing their attention more challenging.
To start, consider which social media platforms your target audience spends their time on and then meet them there. For instance, if you’re targeting Gen Z users, you might focus on TikTok. But if your ebook covers foolproof strategies for managing sales teams, opt for LinkedIn.
When planning your social content, think about what will interest, inspire, or entertain your target audience. While it’s okay to promote your book in some posts, avoid coming across as overtly salesy. Aim to be relatable and authentic.
For instance, if your ebook is about surviving the first year as a new parent, you could share personal photos and short stories about challenges you faced during that time and the lessons you learned.
When your target audience sees you as a reliable, trustworthy person, instead of just another online figure pushing a product, they’re more likely to engage with your content and learn that you have an ebook available.
Here are some other social media marketing strategies to consider:
- Feature a direct link to buy your book in your social media bios for easy access
- Post regularly and engage with users in your ebook’s niche
- Follow viral trends, like BookTok to increase visibility for your book
- Run ads on platforms like Facebook or Instagram to target specific audiences
- Compensate influencers in your niche to share your book with their followers
3. Create a community
Another strategy to get people talking about your book is to create a sense of community around it. Create an online space where people can talk about your book. I recommend creating your own whop, an easy-to-navigate platform where you can add a chat function so readers can discuss your ebook.
Make more money from your ebook with Whop
If you’re looking for the best way to write an ebook and make money, check out Whop. It’s the perfect convenient and cost-effective platform for creators.
While platforms like Amazon, Apple Books, and Barnes & Noble are popular, they’ll limit you when it comes to selling other digital products alongside your eBook.
With Whop, you can sell other digital products to complement your ebook. Writing an ebook about online trading? Sell a trading course alongside it. Is your ebook a recipe book? Why not create a paid cooking community. Whether you’re selling courses webinars, or other items alongside your ebook, Whop allows you to do it all in one place.
You also can keep up to 97% of your ebook earnings with Whop. In contrast, Apple Books and Barnes and Noble take a 30% commission, leaving you with just 70%.
Whop also takes care of payment processing, customer service, and recurring payments. You’ll gain access to a dashboard containing analytics with sales info and other helpful info to help you manage your online sales.
Whether you’re an experienced author or just learned how to write an ebook, now is the perfect time to start turning your work into a thriving passive income stream.
