Summary

The article outlines a method for writing an ebook within 24 hours, detailing the process from conceptualization to marketing, and emphasizing productivity, engagement, and the creation of a complete product.

Abstract

The author describes a personal challenge to write an ebook in 24 hours while in quarantine in Jakarta, Indonesia. The article provides a step-by-step guide that includes identifying a problem to solve, promising a measurable result, listing the ebook's benefits, adopting the right mindset, writing the ebook, using specific tools for publishing, and sharing the progress with the audience. The author stresses the importance of clarity and focus, suggesting that the ebook be considered a beta version that can be improved upon later. Tools recommended for writing and publishing include Google Docs for content creation and Gumroad for sales and delivery, with the option of using Carrd for a more customized landing page. The article also suggests that sharing the writing process can engage readers and serve as a promotional tool.

Opinions

The author views the challenge as a test of productivity and a way to enhance reader engagement.
Writing an ebook in 24 hours is seen as an opportunity to create a valuable lead magnet or product quickly.
The author believes that the ebook does not need to be perfect, emphasizing that it can be refined and updated in future versions.
The article conveys that focusing on a single project for an extended period can be challenging but rewarding.
Sharing the writing process with the audience is considered both enjoyable and beneficial for promoting the ebook.
The author suggests that distributing the work over a weekend can make the task less daunting and allow for more thoughtful consideration.

How To Write an Ebook in 24 Hours — From Idea to Sales Page

All the steps and tools you need

On December 3, 2021:

Indonesia announced that anyone who entered the country had to quarantine for 10 days.
I flew from Venice, Italy, to Jakarta, Indonesia.

How lucky!

10 days locked in a hotel is boooring. Binge-watching Downton Abbey helped only for the first 3 days.

Hence, I challenged myself to write a new ebook in 24 hours. During that time, I completed:

A guide on how to create lead magnets.
A couple of emails to launch it.
The sales page.

Here’s how I organized the work.

3 reasons to create an ebook in 24 hours

This challenge has multiple upsides:

It is a productivity test.
It can spark a higher level of engagement.
The result is a complete product, or lead magnet.

Of course, you’ll enjoy the experience more if you don’t suffer from jet lag. Being locked in a room with limited exposure to the sun made me groggy. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t sleep for more than 3 hours straight.

This photo is of me after my quarantine ended. Staying in isolation for 10 days didn’t make me very smiley. Photo by my girlfriend.

Start from a problem, a small one

The first step for creating any product is to define a problem. List all the frustrations you can think of, find at least 10 alternatives.

When you have your list, narrow the options:

Remove all those problems you can’t solve.
Keep only those you can fix with an ebook of 1,000–10,000 words.

Since I’m not a native speaker, I would stay under 5,000 words for safety’s sake.

You’ll probably have 2 to 5 good options. Pick the one you’ll enjoy the most writing about.

Promise a (measurable) result

Of course, your goal is to eliminate the problem you picked. But having 100% clarity over this point will help you structure your ebook. Plus, you can increase the appeal of your result by making it more specific.

Imagine wanting to address the difficulty of finding fresh writing ideas. You can go for:

A generic promise → “You’ll have plenty of ideas for your articles.”
A specific number → “Develop at least 10 new article ideas per day.”

The second result is measurable. Readers will have a bar for success. And you make clear your confidence in helping them. When readers reach the goal you set, their trust in you will skyrocket.

List the benefits of your ebook

Make a bullet list of every sub-topic you want to include in your ebook. For each of them, write how it will help the reader achieve the promised result.

At the end of this exercise, you’ll have:

An outline for your ebook.
A list of benefits you should include in your landing page.

Think about which one of these perks differentiates your ebook from similar products. For a 24-hour effort, you don’t want to stress too much about its uniqueness (see the following chapter about mindset). But an ebook with a valuable difference will increase its appeal.

The necessary mindset to write an ebook in 24 hours

Before you start writing, assume it won’t be your best work. You will address the problem and provide everything the readers need to reach the promised result. But the ebook will lack some finesse. Maybe you won’t have the perfect stories or examples to present your ideas. And it’s ok.

Consider this ebook a beta, or version 1.0 at most. You can refine and update it later. Releasing version 2.0 will provide an opportunity to promote the ebook once more.

It’s time to write

My suggestion is to write first the copy for the landing page. After that, you’ll have total clarity on your promise to the readers.

Then you can work on the ebook. The challenge isn’t about the word count. The difficulty is about focus. You keep thinking about the same project for an extended and uninterrupted period.

When I completed this challenge, I was stuck in a hotel room. I could not take a walk or do much else, except watch snippets of Downton Abbey from time to time (including the notorious car and truck scene 😭). Hopefully, you’ll be in a more comfortable situation.

Try to find your flow and resist the urge to take extended breaks. For that, wait at least to be halfway through completing the ebook.

To publish your ebook: use these tools

Before you read the list, remember my suggestion on the mindset: take this ebook as a beta. The priority is speed over perfection. You want to publish your new ebook ASAP.

Here is the short list of tools you need:

Google Doc → Use it to create the ebook. You can add images, page numbers, footnotes, a table content. It’s pretty much all you need, if you avoid to waste time on graphics. Keep it simple!
Gumroad → It’s perfect to sell and deliver the ebook. Setting it up is quick and easy. And a lot of customers are used to its interface. You can use Gumroad for the sales page as well. For this purpose, it’s far from optimal. Hence consider also…
Carrd → If you’re bad at web design, ignore this. Stay with Gumroad. If you have extra time and confidence in your visual skills, Carrd will allow you to create a more effective landing page.

Share your progress with your audience

Writing an ebook in one day is a fun challenge to share with your readers. They will enjoy it. Plus, you’ll promote your ebook. You can share the entire process.

In my case, I used a Telegram channel dedicated to my Italian readers, but any other social media is ok. They will give you a chance to attract new followers.

If it’s overwhelming, try doing it on a weekend.

Writing an ebook and its related materials in a day can be a pain, I agree. At the end of that challenge, I had zero mental energy. A 24-hour sprint is demanding, no matter the specifics of the situation.

You can distribute the work throughout the weekend. I did it for my following ebook.

Pros

It will be less demanding.
You have extra time to consider the specifics.

Cons

There’s a higher chance of wasting time.
It can be harder to engage your readers during the challenge.

Both approaches lead to a positive outcome. You can use your new ebook it as a product or a lead magnet. Plus, it will be a great productivity exercise.