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Writing an e-book is a popular means of expression these days. People do it for a number of reasons * for the love of writing, in order to express an opinion, to spread awareness or simply to make money! But regardless of the objectives for doing so, writing an e-book requires careful planning and preparation.

Let's see how ready you are.

1. Examine your reasons.

First and foremost, understand your motives for wanting to write one. Is it out of passion or to establish your position? Are you looking to earn recognition or revenue?

A book about your support for conservation of rain forests will read very differently from an instruction manual for building your own furniture. Once you*ve written the e-book, the way to publicize it will also depend on the intended outcome. Make your choice upfront.

2. Choose the subject.

If you*re Michael Schumacher, well then that's easy! But for the rest of us, identifying the subject of an e-book is not necessarily a done deal. For a professional in the world of finance, the choice could be as diverse as writing about the best investment options to creating a primer on terms used in accounting.

While deciding a subject, base your choice on your level of expertise, the need for such information and the proliferation of other written matter on the same topic. It's always a better idea to cater to the unmet needs of a niche audience than to compete for attention in a mass market.

3. Identify your audience.

Continuing from the last point, it is very important to pinpoint the target reader of your e-book, right from the get-go. The way you write and promote the book will most certainly depend on who is going to read it.

4. Create a format

A book's a book, so it's got to have a structure. However, there are additional possibilities with e-books that you might not find in traditional print paperbacks. Here are some of them:

* DIY * A *how to* or *ten tips for** format works brilliantly for e-books. Tell it with minimum fuss, but make sure the information is complete and usable. Works well with almost any subject.

* FAQ * this makes quick and easy reading. Put yourself in the readers* shoes and ask all the questions they would. Answer them. Period.

* Bulleted or Numbered Lists * reading off a monitor is not as easy as reading off a page. So while writing an e-book, remember to make it easier for the audience. Lists help the viewer pick up key points easily.

Apart from the structure, you also need to decide what software to use to publish your e-book * but you could just as easily use more than one. HTML, Adobe or Exe files * take your pick. That's the whole point of going online.

5. Identify the channel

We spoke about this before, remember?

A lot depends on where your core readership comes from. You have control over how your e-book is circulated, so you could choose to put it exclusively on your website, retail it through others or make it available through a select list of partner sites. Experience the joy of not having to deal with a hard nosed publisher!

Writing an e-book can be a way to fame and fortune, but it's also a big source of fun. Whatever be your other objectives, make sure the latter is included.