Let’s calculate about how long it will take you to complete your first ebook. By using a simple Ebook Time Estimator below, you can decide whether or not creating your first ebook is a business strategy to pursue at this time.
Ebook Time Estimator
1. How familiar are you with your topic? Give yourself 1 point for every 6 months worth of experience you have with your topic. It’s easier for someone who knows a topic inside and out to write an ebook than someone who is just learning about a subject from scratch. Where you’re at in that learning curve matters.
2. Do you have friends or colleagues who are familiar with your topic? Give yourself 1 point for every friend or colleague who is familiar with your topic. If you have 12 colleagues who are also familiar with your topic, it’s possible you could finish your ebook within a week, simply by having them write or edit a chapter of your ebook. If you have friends who are familiar with your topic but cannot write too well, that’s not a major stumbling block because all you’ll do is interview them and then transcribe the tape, and clean up the grammar with an editor.
3. Are you able to designate a 3 hour block of time a few days a week to get the ebook done? Give yourself 1 point for every 3-hour block of time you can invest in the production of your ebook. Solid concentration on your project goes far to produce rewards and the result of a finished ebook in very little time.
4. Do you have access to editors or friends who have excellent editing ability? Give yourself a point for a yes answer, no points for a no answer.
5. If you don’t have access to editors or friends who can help you with editing, give yourself a point if you will consider hiring an expert from any of the online companies that provide editors for your project. You simply name the price you can pay. Of course, your price must be within reason.
6. Are you familiar with how to make pdf documents, either through MSWord or a professional design program? If so, give yourself a score of 3 if you have done this before and a score of 1 if you have the program but haven’t created a pdf yet. Give yourself a 0 for any other answer.
7. Have you ever done any graphic design on your own? If so, have you ever come up with a design of a special report, flyer or other document that people were impressed with? If so, give yourself a score of 3. If you don’t have talents in graphic design, give yourself a score of 3 if you have friends or access to online graphic designers who can help you. Note: everyone has access to online graphic designers and the cost can be as little as $50-$135.
8. How good are you at managing people on projects? Give yourself a score of 3 if you’re good at this, a 0 to 1 if you’re not particularly good at it.
9. How open is your schedule right now? Give yourself a score of 5 if your schedule does not include multiple projects with deadlines. Give yourself a 0 if you have multiple projects with looming deadlines. If you have a few projects, give yourself a score of 1.
10. Now total up your scores on each item. Here’s my estimate on how quickly you will complete your ebook:
Score of less than 10: You have two options – either strategize a unique way to accomplish the completion of your first ebook OR schedule it for another time to start it, say in 6 months. Starting now will take you too long to complete and leave you frustrated along the way.
Score of 11-19: Your first ebook will probably take about 12 weeks to complete.
Score of 19-40: Your first ebook will probably take about 8 weeks to complete.
Score of 41+: You should be able to complete your first ebook in less than a month.
If you are unfamiliar with the steps in producing your ebook, consider a mentor for the process. You only need this type of training once and you’ll gain the knowledge for life.
More info on the topic of ebook creation can be invaluable to you during the time you prepare for writing and marketing your ebook. Sign up for my newsletter on the topic and receive a free special report, “Six Common Ebook Mistakes and How to Prevent Them,” at http://www.MakeAnEbookNow.com/ebook-opt-in.html
Dr. Donna Schwontkowski has written over 12 ebooks and has created a Stress-Free Ebook Creation Mentoring Program that allows you to finish your ebook from idea to marketing in five weeks.
Author: Dr. Donna Schwontkowski
Possibly Related Posts:
- Ebooks are Promotional Powerhouses
- Targeted EBook Creation – 6 Keys to Profit from Targeted EBook Creation
- I Want To Create My Own eBook – How Do I Come Up With A Fantastic, Eye-Popping Title?
- Profitable EBook Creation – Tackling EBook Writing – Step by Step
- 3 Steps to Writing and Publishing Your Own Profitable eBook
