Making your own eBook may seem like a daunting task, but in reality it can be a fairly easy process. Ask yourself this:
- Do you know how to write a document in Microsoft Word?
- Do you know how to write a document in Microsoft Word?
- Do you know how to write a document in Microsoft Word?
If you answered “yes” to any of the three above, congratulations, you can make an eBook! Silliness aside, creating an eBook requires little more knowledge than how to write in Word. I will tell you everything else that you need to know in an easy-to-follow step-by-step manner. This “how to” is going to be a six-part series, so be sure to follow the blog as new articles roll out.
In this series we will cover:
- What is an eBook?
- Accessibility
- Formatting in Word – Mac
- Formatting in Word – PC
- Converting in Calibre
- Getting the eBook on Your Device
What is an eBook?
Let’s start this series out a basic question, “what is an eBook?”
If you’ve been following our blog (which of course you have, right?), you’ll remember the article on ePubs, which is an eBook format. Right now, I’d like to widen our horizons and help clarify things by classifying eBooks into two main categories: flowing eBooks and fixed layout eBooks.
Flowing eBooks
A flowing eBook allows for text flowing based on screen and font size,. It is
compatible with more electronic devices, and often cross platform (working on Mac, PC, Android, and iOS). However, it currently has limited interactivity.
Common Flowing Extensions: .pub, .mobi, .azw, .kf8, .opf
Fixed Formatting eBooks
Fixed layout eBooks generally offer more interactivity, and layouts stay consistent;
however, they often do so at the cost of cross platform compatibility. They are generally designed for specific devices.
Common Fixed Format Extensions: .ibooks, .folio
What eBook format is right for you?
Personally, I lean towards the flowing eBooks because of their cross platform compatibility, and ability to change font sizes. Future versions of flowing eBooks plan to implement interactivity. For this how-to series, we’ll be creating a flowing eBook. Use the chart below to help you evaluate which eBook format is right for your needs. Be sure to tuned for Part 2: Accessibility.
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So You Want to Make an eBook – A How To Guide: Part 1
Making your own eBook may seem like a daunting task, but in reality it can be a fairly easy process. Ask yourself this:
If you answered “yes” to any of the three above, congratulations, you can make an eBook! Silliness aside, creating an eBook requires little more knowledge than how to write in Word. I will tell you everything else that you need to know in an easy-to-follow step-by-step manner. This “how to” is going to be a six-part series, so be sure to follow the blog as new articles roll out.
In this series we will cover:
What is an eBook?
Let’s start this series out a basic question, “what is an eBook?”
If you’ve been following our blog (which of course you have, right?), you’ll remember the article on ePubs, which is an eBook format. Right now, I’d like to widen our horizons and help clarify things by classifying eBooks into two main categories: flowing eBooks and fixed layout eBooks.
Flowing eBooks
A flowing eBook allows for text flowing based on screen and font size,. It is
compatible with more electronic devices, and often cross platform (working on Mac, PC, Android, and iOS). However, it currently has limited interactivity.
Common Flowing Extensions: .pub, .mobi, .azw, .kf8, .opf
Fixed Formatting eBooks
Fixed layout eBooks generally offer more interactivity, and layouts stay consistent;
however, they often do so at the cost of cross platform compatibility. They are generally designed for specific devices.
Common Fixed Format Extensions: .ibooks, .folio
What eBook format is right for you?
Personally, I lean towards the flowing eBooks because of their cross platform compatibility, and ability to change font sizes. Future versions of flowing eBooks plan to implement interactivity. For this how-to series, we’ll be creating a flowing eBook. Use the chart below to help you evaluate which eBook format is right for your needs. Be sure to tuned for Part 2: Accessibility.
