HOW TO WRITE A BOOK (OR EBOOK) - Part 2

You’ve finished writing your book ( see part 1 ) but what good is it if it sits in your computer? The next logical step is to put it out there in eBook form (or as a paperback) so that others can appreciate your work. There are a few different ways to do this. Reason for a website - Let’s say that your friends and/or relatives are interested in reading your book. You could send the file containing your manuscript to these individuals separately or you could do a mass emailing to all concerned. Unfortunately, this means that every time there is an interested reader, you must plop yourself in front of your computer so that you can send them your book. Its much more convenient and less time consuming to set up a place where everyone can easily locate your work. Others can then simply type in an address and they instantly have your manuscript. The first step towards this is to set up a website or a blog. Website 101 - There are many sites on the Internet that can assist you in facilitating this. Some are free while others charge a fee for their services. It might seem strange that a site would allow you to set up your book or other ideas on their site for free but, of course, nothing in life is truly free. Once your eBook is up and running, you would probably see advertisements along side. Advertisers are always looking for ways to increase their sales. The more your story draws interest, the more likely others are likely to see the ads attached to the website. In other words, the website owners use your eBook to draw attention to their ads. In contrast, when you yourself pay for a website, you have more control over others attaching distractions to your work. By paying a fee, you can also put together a more attractive looking package to showcase your work. Like the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” Free Sites
Wix.com
Wordpress.com
​Blogger.com Paid Sites
IPage.com
GoDaddy.com
Squarespace.com Self-Publishing - You also have the option of sending your manuscript to a self-publishing company. They in turn would not only set up a website (or webpage) for your eBooks but also produce a final copy of your work, which looks a lot more professional. This will undoubtedly incur a fee so understand that the expense depends on your need. Depending on the package that you choose, the amount you spend could run from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Those interested in reading your book would have to pay (at retail) in order to download this version of the eBook or purchase a paperback or hardcover copy. Self-Publishing Companies
Outskirtspress.com
​Lulu.com
Authorhouse.com Independent Publishing - There are also companies that allow you to use their platform to literally create your book from scratch. For some, this can be a Herculean task. In contrast to self-publishing, where they will build the book that that you want (usually at a great cost), independent publishing means you must:
​Set the margins.Learn to properly format your work so that it will properly fit on the page.Pick out the cover art (or photo) and ensure that it has a high enough resolution to clearly be presentable. Once the book is completed, the independent publishing company will make as many copies as you need for your use (at wholesale cost) and they will also sell your book directly to your adoring fans. Independent Publishing Companies
Createspace.com
KDPAmazon.com
Lightningsource.com
Dealing With Traditional Publishing Companies - In general, what we all want is to be published by a company that will place our work on a bookshelf and circulate our precious work throughout the world. This endeavor takes the most work but is also the most fulfilling. Every editor has his or her preferences for guideline submissions. You might have written War and Peace but if you submit your masterpiece improperly, it will instantly be rejected. Even when you do follow all guidelines, you might get that disappointing rejection email.  Don’t look at it as a bad thing. Anything that you thoroughly love, takes time. Work hard, have patience and you will succeed. And that’s about it. To all those that love the written word, please remember: Words enable you to take flight. The skies may only reach a certain height but the regions that can be attained by your imagination are limitless. 
 
Congratulations and good luck