By
2020, 50% of everything we read will be in electronic
form.
- Dick Brass, Microsoft vice-president in charge
of technology development.
Lately
there has been strong growth in the eBook
market (an estimated 250 million people will
be reading eBooks by 2005).This new trend
is making an enormous impact on the writing
community for several reasons. In the past
writers relied on the endorsement of established
and sometimes staid publishing houses unwilling
to take risks, or at least slow to recognize
talent (how many times were the Harry Potter
books refused by publishers?), this new trend
makes it possible for the writer with a belief
in their work to take it to the market without
taking a huge financial gamble at the same
time.
Please
note: My sources tell me that it’s
technical eBooks
that are selling well, not fictional eBooks.
Creating
unlimited numbers of eBooks costs absolutely
nothing apart from the initial purchase of the
software needed to create them. In addition,
there is no cost to deliver eBooks, and delivery
is immediate. And because you don't have to
worry about the hassles of supplies or inventory,
this method of publishing is incredibly convenient.
An
eBook may have even more features and benefits
than a printed book because it may have sound,
video, and hyperlinks. As a result, an eBook
can provide a richer experience to your reader.
Deciding
Which Format to Use
HTML
Compiled as .exe File
One approach that has been widely used by
e-marketers is to prepare materials in HTML
format (HyperText
Markup Language
- The coded format language used for creating
hypertext documents on the World Wide Web
and controlling how Web pages appear.) Then
use a compiler which compresses all the
files into a self-extracting .exe file (a
computer file containing a program that
is ready to be run or be carried out; also
called execution file, .EXE) that requires
a password to open.
Advantages:
Easily distributed, easy to make and fairly
cheap.
Disadvantages:
HTML can't be controlled as well as you'd
like, since it is very dependent upon the
user's web browser and the way the user has
configured it. The user may not have the fonts
you've used. Style sheets must be written
for a lowest possible denominator web browser,
and some HTML features may not show up correctly
on older browsers.
Moreover, .exe files are susceptible to virus
transmission and can become corrupted during
download. As a result, many people are hesitant
to open an .exe file on their computer unless
they are very sure of the source. Finally,
.exe files can only be opened by Windows users,
leaving out Mac and Linux users.
PDF
For many, the best distribution format for
eBooks seems to be Adobe Portable Document
Format or PDF in 8-1/2"x11" page
format; so, it can be easily printed out if
desired.
Advantages:
It is virtually impossible to transmit a virus
through a PDF file. PDF eBooks can be designed
using precise desktop publishing tools to
look - and be seen by the user - in exactly
the way you want it. Fonts may be imbedded
so they can be seen, whether the user has
them installed on his computer or not. PDF
files automatically number each page. And
PDF eBooks can be protected against alteration
as well as password protected against opening
by unauthorized individuals.
Disadvantages:
Hardly any.
EBook
Covers
The finishing touch for your eBook is a cover.
Amazon.com uses two-dimensional book covers
supplied by the book publisher to sell print
books. But, many eBooks are pictured with
three-dimensional books, slightly at an angle
to the reader, and complete with a shadow
caused by the virtual density.
Recommended
Article: The
Shocking Truth About E-Books
Resource:
FREE
eBook Mini-Course
