Ebook Research: Self Publishing Case Study
September 23, 2011 
12 Comments
Last time, I talked about the writing process for my revised self-published ebook, but there was one question still remaining: when should you do ebook research? Like other self-publishing questions, there’s no easy answer, but this is what I do.
Ebook Research When You’re An Expert
If you’re an expert in the topic you’re writing about, you probably don’t need to do a lot of ebook research. If you keep up with your topic and industry via news updates, RSS feeds and social media, then you’ve already got both a good overview and an in-depth understanding of your field. In this case, you can do the writing first. If I’m writing an ebook about writing or blogging, then once I’ve planned it, I just write. I trust my knowledge and my writing voice, so I get something down so I have something to work with.
As I’m writing, I may come across things that I need to check – such as the sources for facts, useful articles and so on. I’ve learned the hard way that if I stop the writing process to check these, it interrupts the flow. Instead, I make a note in the document, either using the reviewing tools in Word or simply the yellow highlighter tool, and carry on writing. When I’m finished, not only will I have a relatively complete document, but I’ll know exactly what I have to research.
Ebook Research When You’re Not an Expert
Sometimes you have to write an ebook in an area where you’re not an expert. This probably doesn’t happen to many self-publishers, but because I also write for clients, it happens to me. For example, I have ghostwritten ebooks on aspects of consumer finance in the UK. I’ve also written a factional ebook (yes, that spelling is deliberate) on management theory for a US client (I don’t mind telling you that it was a stretch).
Let’s take the UK example. Although I knew about the topic in general (my not-so-murky past includes a stint working for a Financial Times subsidiary), I needed to research the specifics that consumers needed to know. I made my plan, identified some reliable resources, and read everything I could on the topic. I opened a new file where I added notes, excerpts and links from my research. Then I revised my plan and started writing. You’ll be glad to know the client was happy.
Ebook Research for My Revised Book
So, which ebook research process am I going to use for the book I’m revising? A bit of both. I know my topic for this book, because it’s based on my own experience of learning about web traffic and SEO. The original book was based on posts I wrote to answer my own questions about the topic and I’ve kept on learning about it ever since. That means I’ll be able to rewrite some of the chapters without needing to do research. However, there are some areas where I’ll need to see what the current thinking is. And once I’ve written the book, there will be a whole new list of useful resources to add.
Your Turn
How do you handle the issue of ebook research?
Check out the rest of the series:
- Lessons From My First Attempt at Self-Publishing
- Thinking About Ebook Design: Self Publishing Case Study
- Book Planning with Workflowy: Self Publishing Case Study
- The Writing Process – Self Publishing Case Study
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nice article about self book publishing
WOW, this is a really brilliant site.I am Sure happy I have found it.Some really brilliant stuff on this blog with some active comments as well.Keep up the good work you guys. Will be back later for sure.FreeEbookDownload
Hi Sharon, very nice tips on researching for an ebook.
I myself haven’t written any ebook yet but I have made some free reports before. And I believe that the steps are still the same.
The hardest ones are finding reliable information and then organize them into a logical book.
Although it might take some times but it’s very worth it. A well researched ebook writer will be street ahead others if he does so.
Thanks for the post again, like it
Duy.
I really love visiting your site.. It has full of surprises.. This is really a great blog! Thanks for haring..
I will definitely follow your tips.. It is really good to hear from the expert! Keep it up..
Quiny recently posted..Chamonix Mont Blanc
Thanks for sharing this it’s really useful. I already read a lot of ebooks it’s way more easier then a normal book.
Peter recently posted..kantoormeubelen
Before we decide and come up with our own ebook, the first thing that we should be doing is to read and gather sources of information regarding the topic that we have chosen. You really have a good point of view here and I know that what you have here will really help a lot of people who are planning to make their unique ebook.
Liane Markus recently posted..used riding lawn mowers
I usually researched first before I write. I will compile the useful information for the Ebook and combine them to be a complete and informational ebook. I also write for some clients so I cannot choose the topic of my ebook.
Julie Hayes recently posted..ייעוץ זוגי
No question about it: that’s the way to go about for researching questions quen writing NON FICTION!
Good points, and yes you’re right, even if you’re an expert, always check your sources! AND quote them, or else it’s plagiarizing (there’s a lot of scandals exploding around this issue lately…including in Switzerland, with a well-known economist accused of copying Wikipedia).
For fiction, the issues are slightly different. Yes, you can do research but the risk is that the stuff you turn up is going to be very abstract…unless you’re lucky like I was in the book I just finished (and about to come out under the title RECLAIM THE PRESENT, a sequel tomy first book Forget the Past). When I had to describe a case of cholera in 1908 and how people at the time took care of it, I came across a chapter on the subject in the 1911 British Encyclopedia! Why it was up there on Internet, I don’t know, just sheer luck! But normally it helps to have lived in the places you describe in your books…
I’m curious about your factional book! What was it about and did you encounter special difficulties researching it?
Claude Nougat recently posted..Wonky Journalism is Back in Fashion: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
Twitter: shurleyhall
September 27, 2011 at 8:43 AM
You’re right, Claude, the issues are different for fiction, though of course researching any aspects based on real events is useful. The factional book was about helping people to be better managers. I had a key point that I had to get across, but had to invent scenarios to illustrate the right and wrong way to approach situations.
You have made an excellent idea regarding self publishing. Base on my own idea, it is more often nowadays to advertise because of money problems and lack of own idea.
Mika Castro recently posted..gun holsters
You have a good point and it’s worth considering. Sometimes there are those who unable to advertise because of insufficient budget.
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