HOW TO WRITE EBOOKS FOR A LIVING
BY
ANNIE BREWER
SMASHWORDS EDITION
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PUBLISHED BY:
Annie Jean Brewer on SMASHWORDS
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HOW TO WRITE EBOOKS FOR A LIVING
Copyright 2011 by Annie Jean Brewer
Discover Other Titles by Annie Jean Brewer at http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/annienygma
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.
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HOW TO WRITE EBOOKS FOR A LIVING
Table of Contents
Take Advantage of Little Snatches
Brainstorm, Outline, Organize and Write
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Introduction
"Give
a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you
feed him for a lifetime."
Chinese Proverb
I am a writer. I have published numerous ebooks online and live entirely from the royalties earned from these publications.
Daily I receive emails from people asking how I do it. I normally attempt to answer these questions in just a few sentences but honestly we need a bit more than that to cover the entire subject thoroughly.
After yet another of these occasions I decided to write this book. This way I can help others by sharing all of the information that I have available without fear of leaving something out.
I have created this book for those who are serious about being an independent writer; those who are willing to do whatever it takes to become successful.
You will get as much out of this information as you are willing to put into it; if you never write your first ebook you will never have a completely passive income (unless you win the lottery that is). If you treat this as a hobby you will receive a hobby's wages.
Earning a living with ebooks is just like fishing: you won't catch dinner if you never bait the hook.
I became able to live completely off my book royalties in slightly over a year after publishing my very first ebook in August 2010. In that first year I published 10 complete ebooks online. This is the type of dedication you will need; the dedication and determination to keep typing and publishing until you reach the magic number of published works for your unique amount of expenses.
Now, instead of fighting with a day job I wake up with my daughter, send her off to school, drink a cup of coffee and sit down at my beloved computer. I will work on my latest project, clean the house, chat with friends or take long soaks in the bathtub.
My joints no longer ache from tugging heavy boxes at a low-paid dead-end job. I no longer have to rush to achieve everything in a single day. After school my kid walks in the door with a smile on her face because she knows Mom is there to greet her. Sometimes I walk to the bus stop to give her the umbrella if it has rained during the day.
We walk to the library, watch movies, cook dinner and enjoy our time together as mother and daughter. While she does her homework I add to my latest book. Evenings are generally spent watching a movie with her but sometimes I work while we enjoy the video on the screen.
When a friend and fellow artist has a local performance I never worry about being able to make it because I have no boss to ask for permission now. When I want to pull an all-nighter to read a book or write one I no longer have to deny myself.
If I want to go somewhere I just go. I can work wherever the wind may guide me thanks to the laptop my ebook royalties have paid for. As for bills, they are now paid in advance or as soon as the invoice hits my mailbox. No longer do I have to wait for payday or worry about having enough gas to get to work. We always have more than enough.
This is the life of freedom that a writer can obtain.
This process is not a get-rich quick scheme. It will take a year at the very least for you to wean yourself from the day job. The more work you put into this, the faster you will achieve your dream of freedom.
To prove to you that the information in this book works I offer a money-back guarantee: if after six months you are not completely satisfied with the results you have received email me with your receipt at annie (at) annienygma.com and I will give you a full refund of the purchase price.
Peace,
Annie Brewer
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Basic Equipment
In order to write ebooks you will need access to certain pieces of equipment. Here are the basics that you will need:
Computer:
A computer is an essential when it comes to writing ebooks. You do not have to have access to the latest and greatest machine; an older one will work just fine. It can be either a Windows or an Apple computer but some have successfully used other operating systems like Linux to write their books on.
Software:
For best results with the conversion software you will encounter on distribution sites I recommend purchasing a copy of Microsoft Word. The source ebook file needs to be in the DOC format (Word sometimes calls it the "Word 97-2003" format) as opposed to the newer DOCX format. As a result you can use older versions of Microsoft Word if you have them available.
If you do not have a copy of Microsoft Word you can purchase a legal copy of Microsoft Office dirt cheap at Waysale.com (http://www.waysale.com/wholesale_microsoft_office). This is where I buy my software. You will download the program directly from the Microsoft website.
Internet:
A connection to the Internet is essential to being able to upload and publish your ebooks online. You don't have to break the bank but you do need some sort of internet access.
What if I Don't Have This Stuff?
If you are starting out on a shoestring and do not own a computer, software or internet connection you can still write an ebook. Check out How to Write and Sell an Ebook for information about creating ebooks when you don't even own a computer or other basic tools.
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Cut the Financial Fat
If you are serious about being an independent writer you will need to pare down your living expenses. This is essential so that you can (A) Work less at your day job to devote more time to writing, and (B) Make the transition from being a typical worker to an independent writer faster and easier.
I had an advantage because I have lived on very little since I divorced my husband in 2002. As a result I knew exactly how to keep my expenses low so that I could dedicate the maximum amount of time to my writing and make the transition quickly (if a year can be considered quick). I shared my tips, tricks and experiences in The Shoestring Girl: How I Live on Practically Nothing And You Can Too for those who are interested.
Reduce your bills by eliminating all excess expenses. Cut the cable, reduce your cell phone package - eliminate the cell phones entirely if you can. Stop buying the prepackaged foods and eat the cheaper stuff. Reduce your utility bills and eliminate wasteful spending.
Sell the extra car and eliminate every single piece of debt that you own. Every single bill you have is a chain that keeps you tied to that day job. The faster you cut those chains the faster you can gain your freedom.