“An eBook is not a lesser book. It’s a book that lives in pockets, on planes, and in bed at midnight. It’s the most accessible format in publishing history. Respect it.”
— L.A. Walton, The Book Maven
eBooks are the most democratic publishing format ever invented. No printing costs. No shipping. No shelf space limitations. Your book can be available worldwide within hours of completing it. But making a GOOD eBook requires more than just uploading a Word document.
The eBook Production Checklist
| Step | What to Do | Common Mistake |
| Writing | Same quality as any book. Digital doesn’t mean lower standards. | Writing shorter because ‘it’s just an eBook.’ |
| Editing | Professional editing. Non-negotiable. | Skipping editing because ‘I can always update it.’ |
| Formatting | Proper ePub/MOBI formatting with reflowable text. | Uploading a PDF. PDFs are terrible on e-readers. |
| Cover | Designed for THUMBNAIL visibility. | Using the same cover design as print without testing it at small size. |
| Metadata | Categories, keywords, and description optimized. | Generic descriptions that don’t sell. |
| Pricing | Research your genre’s pricing sweet spot. | Pricing too high or too low without market research. |
eBook-Specific Tips
- Test on multiple devices. Kindle, iPad, phone, computer. Formatting can look different on each.
- Use a table of contents. Clickable navigation is expected in eBooks. Don’t skip it.
- Optimize for search. Your title, subtitle, and description should include keywords readers search for.
- Price strategically. $2.99–$4.99 for fiction. $4.99–$9.99 for nonfiction. Free for lead magnets.
- Update as needed. The beauty of digital: you can fix typos and update content post-launch.
Your Move, Creative
If you have a completed manuscript, format a sample chapter as an ePub using Vellum, Reedsy, or Calibre. Test it on a Kindle or phone. See how your words look in the digital world. That’s where millions of readers will meet your work.
Stop letting your stories stay stuck.
