Format Each eBook Chapter Before you Write It
Judy Cullins c. 2003 All Rights Reserved
Do you have a problem creating a focus in your chapters? Does
your writing slip around, leaving a muddy path to the gold--your
unique, useful message?
Format each chapter in your book. Your consistency, your organized,
focused copy will compel your reader to want to read every chapter
because they are easy to understand.
Most writers start writing before they are sure of their eBook's
main focus or thesis. The thesis is your book's major answer for
a problem your targeted audience has. "Five Ways to Market Your
Book Online" has its thesis built into the title, a definite plus.
You know by the title you'll learn five Online marketing techniques
to overcome your problem of not selling enough eBooks.
Before you write any chapters except chapter one, make each
chapter title a mini thesis that also answers a part of your whole
book's thesis. for the title "Five Ways to Market Your Book Online"
you will have 5 chapters that all have to do with the title. Let's
say one chapter is titled "Market your Book Through Free Articles."
In this chapter you need to sketch out what your format will
be before you write a single word.
1. For instance, you may open the chapter with a pertinent quote."Articles
are the # One Way to Promote your Books and Services" by Judy
Cullins, Book Coach.
You may open with several thought-provoking questions or shocking
facts. You may even start with a short story or analogy. Any opening
needs to hook your reader to keep reading.
2. Second, you follow the opening with a success story to illustrate
how one person's articles brought her new product and service
sales.
3. Third, you will offer a section where you give numbers of
tips, how to's, check lists, or resources. For instance the heading
of, "How to Write a Short Article," or "How to Write A Publishable
Article."
Sprinkled throughout your chapter you may place author tips
into boxes. You may choose to do the same for related quotes as
Julia Cameron did in "Artists Way." Don't add random quotes just
because you like them. Make sure they support each chapter's focus.
4. Finally, in the last section of your chapter you may want
to write a simple summary as a chapter review. You may want to
give homework or fieldwork. You may call them "Three Take Away
Ideas" To make them yours to brand yourself and your business
use a key word that refers to your book, perhaps a benefit. One
client's title was "The Smiling Owner-How to Build a Great Small
Business." He worked the "Smiling Owner" metaphor into his how
to's throughout his chapters.
To end your chapter with a bang, you may want to leave your
reader with questions to ponder or a few lines to lead them into
the next chapter. You may give action steps. Remember, your targeted
audience wants solutions to problems. Each chapter in your book
should show them how.
Now that you have the format for one non-fiction, how-to chapter,
you need to follow the same format for all the rest of the chapters.
All chapters except chapter one should be approximately the same
length.
Format each chapter in your book. Your consistency, your organized,
focused copy will compel your reader to want to read every chapter
because they are easy to understand.
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Judy Cullins: 20-year author, speaker, book coach Helps entrepreneurs
manifest their book and web dreams eBk: "Write Your eBook or Other
Short Book--Fast!" http://www.bookcoaching.com/
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FREE The Book Coach Says... includes 2 free eReports mailto:judy@bookcoaching.com
Ph:619/466/0622
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