A Closer Look at Writing eBooks

Are you one of the hundreds of struggling freelance writers who can't seem to catch a break? Are you tired of rejections and apologies? You know, the ones that say, "We'd love to use your manuscript, BUT. . ." Freelance writing is a difficult job, but it doesn't have to be. At least, not anymore, thanks to eBooks.

I know what some of you are thinking. You're saying that you want to be a real writer. Well, when it comes down to it, eBooks are the new thing, so it is in your best interest to get on board. As for not being a real writer, who is the judge of what is and isn't a real writer? You've written a book, whether it's paperback, hardback, or electronic doesn't matter. It's your book, and you are the author. It's that simple.

The second complaint that is often heard in the realm of eBooks is that all the information has already been covered. WHAT? People, places, and things are changing daily. How can everything already be written about? Look at the Internet, for example. It alone offers countless topics for your next eBook. Technology is in a constant state of improvement. Write about it!

What else can you write about? Anything you want to. That's the beauty of it. The world is full of people looking for information on a variety of topics. Gardening. Yoga. Internet business. Pets. Green living. Even writing itself is a popular topic for best-selling eBooks. The possibilities are endless. Plus, even if you topic is already widely covered, you still have options. Give your eBook a different slant or approach the topic from a different angle. Pick a specific topic within a broader topic. For example, if you're wanting to write an eBook about writing, narrow it down to article writing or writing fiction for children. Take a minute now to brainstorm your topic and see how many subcategories you can find, then choose one to be the basis for your eBook.

Being a writer myself, I know that you dread the thought of devoting more time to another project when you've already been rejected so many times. Believe me, I've been there, but that's just another great thing about eBooks. You see, eBook publishing is NOTHING like traditional publishing. In traditional publishing, you write the book, send it out to a publisher or agent and wait for months for them to decide whether or not they would like to publish your manuscript. If you're lucky, you'll soon get an acceptance letter, and the publishing process will begin. However, for many of us, that simply isn't the case. Instead, we receive one of those politely written form rejection letters, forcing us to start the painful process all over again. Ebook publishing is exactly the opposite.

In eBook publishing, you can publish the work yourself. Now, this is not like self-publishing through a vanity press. That involves spending a great deal of money that you probably don't have and then still having to do most of the work yourself. If your main goal is to publish your own eBook, there are countless ways to do that on the Internet, some of which are free to set up as long as you agree to pay a small percentage on every eBook you sell.

You can also use your eBook to promote your online business if you have one. How? Believe it or not, by giving it away. It sounds strange, I know. How can you make money if you give stuff away? It's really quite simple. Everyone loves free stuff! By giving your eBook away, you get into the hands of the people who really want to read it. If it is well-written, they will be impressed and will search out more about you and your other projects. Voila! Instant customer!

If you don't have your own business, that's fine. You can use your eBook to promote other people's businesses, making you an affiliate. Why would you want to do that? There are two reasons. First, it still gets your book into the hands of those who may seek out more eBooks by you, thus enhancing your sales. Second, by placing your affiliate links in your eBook, if the people who receive your eBook buy something from your affiliate, you get a piece of the profit, usually no less than 50% and often much more. It's a win-win situation.

If you have your heart set on being published by a traditional publisher, never fear. Publishing your own eBook can help you in that area as well. How? When publishers receive a manuscript, one of the first things they do is Google the author. They are eager to find out what kind of following and audience he/she has. You see, it is not just the responsibility of the publisher to promote your book. It's yours, as well. If you already have a faithful following of your work, a publisher may deem you worthy to take a chance on. Writing and publishing eBooks gives you an easy way to quickly make a name for yourself and build an audience. This may be the very thing that gets your foot in the door of a traditional publisher.