Chapter 1 - Getting started with eBooks…

There are probably as many reasons to write an ebook as there are people who want to write one.

Some will want to write and produce an ebook to sell on their websites…
Some to create a viral marketing item…
Some for their family…
Some for educational reasons…
Some because they are just bursting with things to say…
Some may just want to get independent of that scowling boss hanging over their shoulder…

It doesn’t matter what the reason - all reasons are valid, but you might take a different path if you’re producing a family history compared to a commercial ebook. We’re going to start by looking at things that all ebooks have in common, and then we’ll scoot off to the side for special circumstances.

Right off the bat, let’s define what an ebook is. OK, scoff if you like, but from the questions I get on a daily basis, there are an awful lot of people out there who really don’t know. So, if you’re a long-time ebook expert, just skip over the next paragraph or two.

An ebook is simply an “electronic book.” What this means is that the book exists as a file, NOT as paper and ink. It’s not “real” - you cannot hold an ebook in your hand. This is a tough concept for some people - they think an ebook is simply a printed book that is created on a computer. These are the people who will email an ebook author and want to know when she will be shipping their ‘ebook’ to them. These people aren’t stupid - they just don’t know that the language used for ebooks is a bit different from what they are used to. It takes only a little bit of education to get them pointed in the right direction. Be patient with them.

So, an ebook is a file - but what kind of file? Everyone who owns a computer knows that their computer is full of files. And, if they have turned off “Hide all extensions” in Windows, they should also know that there are literally hundreds of types of files. Now, I’m not going to go into detail here about file types and extensions, but I will mention that there are many, many programs that can create ebooks. For example, Microsoft Word can create a .doc file, and that can be distributed as an ebook. Powerpoint files can also be created as an ebook. Text files may be ebooks, or video and audio files can be ebooks. Microsoft has their own ebook reader, creator and file format (which has never taken over ebooks the way Microsoft wanted and expected it to! ) Several other companies have created their own formats as well.

But when you talk about ebooks, it actually comes down to 2 types of files - “.PDF” and “.EXE” files. A “.PDF” file is a file type created by Adobe it is used by Acrobat Reader. An “.EXE” file is actually an executable file - in short, a program file. When you run an “.exe” ebook, you are actually running a program.

These are the 2 formats that 99+% of all ebook authors use. Each format has pros and cons, and each format has it’s supporters and detractors. There is a lot to say about both types, so let’s pick it up there next time.

(Coming up next - “PDF vs EXE”)

So, here’s the deal…

I’ve been bashing my head up against the wall trying to figure out how to keep on top of this blog. I really don’t have any problems coming up with topics, or things to write about, but I do have trouble making posts consistently. (Gee, ya think???).

Well, I just may (repeat - MAY) have found a way to post regularly. I’ve been wanting to write another ebook - this one on the A’s to Z’s of ebooks. It’s basically an ebook covering everything about ebooks for newbies. Rather than write it in Word, and then create an ebook, I’m going to write it here in the blog with the help of a program called W.Bloggar, which lets you write offline and then post to your blog later.

OK - “The A’s to Z’s of eBooks” - (that’ll do for a working title, but we may change it later…) Shall we get started???