Most first ebooks stall in one of two places. Either the topic is so broad the draft never ends, or the draft is done and sits in a Google Doc for a month because "formatting it" turned into a project of its own.
Both are avoidable. Here is the whole sequence, with what each step decides.
What are the steps to create an ebook?
| Step | What you decide | Typical time for a short ebook |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The promise | Who it's for and what they'll be able to do | An hour |
| 2. The outline | Chapters and the point of each | An hour or two |
| 3. The draft | The words | Most of the project |
| 4. The format | PDF, EPUB or both | Minutes, if you know where it's going |
| 5. The pages | Fonts, margins, headings, page breaks | An afternoon by hand; less with a tool |
| 6. The cover | One strong image and the title | Varies |
| 7. Export and check | The file, tested on real devices | An hour |
The times are a guide for a short practical ebook of 15 to 30 pages, not a promise. A full-length book takes far longer.
1. How do you choose what the ebook is about?
Write one sentence: "This ebook helps [specific reader] [do one specific thing]." If you can't fill both brackets, the topic isn't ready. "Marketing for coaches" is a category; "Write a welcome email sequence for a coaching practice" is an ebook.
A narrow promise makes every later step easier: the outline writes itself, the draft has an end, and the title is obvious. How to title a book helps with the last part.
2. How do you outline an ebook?
List the steps or questions the reader needs, in the order they need them. Each becomes a chapter. Five to eight chapters suits most short ebooks. Under each, write the one point it makes. How to outline a book goes deeper.
3. How do you write the draft?
Write the chapters in any order, without editing as you go. Start with the one you know best. Pull in material you already have: blog posts, emails, workshop notes, client answers. Turning a blog archive into a book shows how to reuse it, and writing a book with AI covers where AI helps and where it doesn't.
If you want a tight deadline, the weekend plan gives each day one job.
4. Should the ebook be a PDF or an EPUB?
| Where it's going | Format |
|---|---|
| A lead magnet or free download | |
| Sold directly (your site, Gumroad, Etsy) | PDF, often with an EPUB too |
| Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo | EPUB |
| Printed or handed out at an event |
A PDF keeps fixed pages, so it looks exactly as you designed it, on any device. An EPUB reflows to fit the screen, which stores require and phone readers prefer. EPUB or PDF explains the trade-off in full.
5. How do you format the ebook's pages?
The decisions that make an ebook look professional are few: one body font that reads well, a contrasting heading font, generous margins, each chapter on a new page, and no headings stranded at the bottom of a page. Book layout design covers each.
You can do this by hand in Word, Google Docs or Canva, page by page. Or write the ebook in Markdown and let a tool set the pages. In bukpress every # chapter heading starts a new page, --- forces a page break, tables keep their header row when they cross a page, and the preview shows each page as the PDF will set it. You pick title, subtitle and body fonts with their own sizes and colours, margins in points and a paper texture. There is also a starter template for a lead magnet, a workbook, a course companion and a PLR report, so you don't start from a blank file.
6. How do you make the cover?
The cover sells the click, so it needs a readable title at thumbnail size and one clear image. Make it in a design tool at the right dimensions: ebook cover sizes lists them. In bukpress (Essentials and up) an uploaded front cover becomes page one of the PDF and the EPUB's own cover.
7. How do you export and check the ebook?
Export the file, then read it where your readers will: on a phone, a tablet and a laptop. Check the first page, a table, an image and the last page. For EPUBs bound for a store, run EPUBCheck: why your EPUB was rejected explains the errors.
Then get it to people. How to deliver an ebook to buyers and where to sell your ebook cover the options.
What does it cost to create an ebook?
It can cost nothing. bukpress's Free plan exports PDFs of up to 40 pages, 20 a month, with no watermark, and you keep every right to sell what you make. Essentials ($9 a month) adds covers, your own page background, Google Fonts and a Brand Kit; Pro ($24 a month) adds EPUB export, books up to 300 pages and your own font files. Paid plans have a 14-day money-back guarantee. See pricing. bukpress exports A4 pages only; for a 6 × 9 paperback you'll need another tool.
Common questions
How many pages should an ebook be?
As many as the promise needs. Lead magnets often run 10 to 20 pages; paid how-to ebooks 30 to 80. Word count to page count converts between the two.
Can I create an ebook for free?
Yes. Write it in any editor, and export a PDF with a free tool. bukpress's Free plan, Google Docs and Canva's free tier all export PDFs.
What is the easiest way to create an ebook?
Write in plain text, with one heading per chapter, then let a tool handle the pages. Laying out pages by hand is where most of the time goes.
Do I need an ISBN for an ebook?
Not for a PDF you sell or give away yourself, and not for KDP. Do you need an ISBN covers the cases where you do.