Format Each EBook Chapter Before You Write It

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.