I was afraid to write my first eBook.
No lie.
126 eBooks ago I piddled in my self-publishing pants.
But before I became a self-publishing machine on Amazon I self-published an eBook on a platform not too well know.
How many eBooks did I sell in 4 months?
4.
1 eBook per month.
Hey; different blog, different brand, different writing style.
I learned from the experience, however brutal the stat/sales checking experience slapped me upside my head, 4 months into my eBook career. Or 4 months into my initial foray into writing and self-publishing eBooks.
Are You Afraid?
I have been in your shoes.
If you feel terrified to write an eBook because you fear:
- nobody will read the eBook
- nobody will buy the eBook
- nobody will care what you have to say
- people will criticize you mercilessly if you write and self-publish an eBook
- people will see you as a fraud if you self-publish an eBook
- formatting the eBook
- 1,011 other self-publishing fears
My only piece of advice: see the fun, freedom, and benefits dripping with sweetness that you enjoy by writing and self-publishing eBooks, so you allow your love of writing to overcome your fear of writing and self-publishing these suckers.
eBook to Help You
I wrote an eBook to help you write and self-publish your first eBook:
Even if you have yet to write and self-publish your first eBook you cling to 1 or all 5 of these wicked mental blocks. Guaranteed. Fear is the only thing appearing to stop you from writing your first eBook. Each of the 5 mental blocks I crushed are fears common to virtually all authors, from aspiring writers to seasoned veterans.
By buying the eBook you get to see yourself in the light of truth.
What stops you?
Your fears.
What can you crush?
Your fears.
Your choice.
But the self-publishing game feels completely overwhelming sometimes, from a fear perspective, crippling you and seemingly goading you toward failure-promoting inaction.
Here’s what you do to get past your fear of writing and self-publishing eBooks.
1: Write the eBook
Make a blanket decision to write your first eBook.
Allow the fun of writing the thing overcome your fear of writing the thing.
Set aside 30 minutes today to brainstorm ideas.
When you pick an idea you feel passionate about, tie the idea to some pressing problem in your niche. This marriage of passion and problem precedes all successful eBook releases.
Create an outline.
Go to town. Meaning, begin writing the eBook.
2: Invest in Resources
Buy my eBook noted above to face, embrace and release common self-publishing mental blocks.
Purchase other resources to gain a framework for writing a successful eBook.
Working from a proven blueprint gives you confidence and clarity with your self-publishing campaign.
3: See the eBook through
Whether you need to set a deadline or simply make a blanket decision to write and self-publish the eBook within the month, commit to seeing the eBook through.
The offline world is littered with half-finished eBooks, creating a scary and sad graveyard of potential best sellers.
4: Format Effectively
Amazon gives you the guidelines here:
Simplified eBook Formatting Guide
5: Talk to or Follow Self-Published Authors
I learned quite a bit by following advice from self-publishing pros like Steve Scott.
I also purchased one of his eBooks to get on the self-publishing straight and narrow.
Follow the pros. Pick their brain.
Your Turn
Have you jumped into the self-publishing game?
Or do you fear writing and self-publishing your first eBook?
What tips can you add to this process?