We explore the ins and outs of getting your blog content, choosing a theme and forming an outline. Firstly getting it into an eBook, then understanding all the elements of a print book. Presentation of Turning Your Blog into a Book 1/4/14, Brisbane.

1. Turn your Blog
into a Book
with Jennifer Lancaster

2. Great blog - I’d love to see it in print
Many busy folk would love to catch up with your
blog writing, but they don‟t want to go there
every week or they have no RSS reader.
Some would prefer a printed copy or a compiled
eBook. They might pay $2.99 - 9.99 for an
eBook (ePub), or $14.95 - $29.95 for print book
(depending on size/quality).

3. Who’s Done This?
“In 2008 I was approached by the publisher
Wiley who asked me to write a book version
of this blog. I joined with fellow blogger Chris
Garrett and together we authoredProBlogger
the Book. In short – it‟s a condensed,
updated and logically ordered version of this
blog” - Darren Rowse.
Book: Amazon $16.78 eBook: $29.95 (with affiliates)

4. Who’s Done This?
Bernadette Jiwa, The Story of Telling
was winner of Best Australian
(Business) Blog 2012.
She used many of her early posts for
the bones of “Make Your Idea
Matter”. She blogs every two days.
She has 3 books thru CreateSpace
(indie publishing) on Amazon.

5. Making an eBook
• Your first step is to turn your blog posts into an
eBook. This process is easier and less
expensive, and you can edit for awhile without
paying for many print proofs.
• Look at your categories and post titles
carefully. Do you see any recurring theme?
• Have you got a valid concept?

6. ePubs? Do I need a Design degree?

7. Just kidding! Try Lulu ePub
ePubs are better than PDFs. Try :

8. LuLu options: DIY

9. Ebook Distribution
Your Website ebook page.
Order straight to Lulu – more
profit kept!

10. Do I Have Enough Articles?
You will have to write bits to tie it together.
52 posts x 400 words = 20,800 words (100-page
A5 book or so)
75 posts x 400 words = 30,000 words (200-page
A5/160-page 6x9” book) IDEAL

11. Step 1: Identify a Theme
Scan the categories, tags, titles. What
do you most passionately write about?
Try to spot a Theme that speaks to one
audience.
Look at Analytics to verify the most
viewed posts (with time over 30sec).

12. Example of Categories

13. Ideas from Tags

14. Elements in a Print Book?
• Fly page - title as on outer cover.
• Copyright page - incl. ISBN & Cataloguing in Publication (from
National Library), permissions notice, and Publisher address.
• Acknowledgements, Authors Note (optional).
• Contents - automatic numbering.
• Right hand pages as new chapters.
• Tables or clear 300dpi images.
• References/Bibliography, Index optional.

15. Tips for print books
Use print-on-demand through Lulu, Createspace or
LightningSource (indie department is “Ingram Spark”).
POD is when books are printed and shipped to the
customer when ordered.
“Printing thousands of books upfront is one of the top
mistakes of indie authors.”
“Go eBook first, then wait till your brand and book has
settled down.” - Joanna Penn

16. Important tips for print books
Ensure all quotes / paraphrases have a noted
reference. If the text is copyright
protected, you will need to ask for copyright
permission.
The Copyright Clearance Center can help
with requests for reuse of globally published
works.

17. Blog to Book - An Example

18. Put Post in Word
One post: 1000 words
- 4 pages at 6 x 9” size.
- Only needs a light edit,
referencing, and move up
quote to top.
Fantastic writing style. Many
women coming to Bev‟s
courses would love to read it.

19. Now it’s your turn!
Step 2: You‟ve looked at your theme and hot topics.
Now discern what your audience NEEDS to know.
Step 3: Check the marketplace for similar subjects
(Amazon). Does yours have the length, depth of
coverage and tone of other books in your genre? Can
yours stand out?
Step 4:Write an Outline - chapter headings that will build.
Think about the Introduction where you explain your
POV and a little background on the subject.

20. Step 5: Book Editing
You‟ve edited your posts right?
When you piece together your book, esp. if going
straight to print, you‟ll need to edit it again and
also get an external editor.
Try this editing tool at first draft:
Hemingway (app or desktop)
http://www.hemingwayapp.com/

21. More Steps
Step 6. Write copyright
page, acknowledgement, (author)
preface, blurb, references, any bonus
material page, „about the author‟.
Step 7. Typeset the book (outsource or DIY):
http://www.bookdesigntemplates.com/
Step 8. Get a book cover designer.

22. Step 9 & 10
9. Begin the marketing process of your book
pre-launch. Set a launch date.
10. If you‟ve done the eBook first, get a lot of
the feedback and integrate it into the print
version. Upload final interior & cover template
on Ingram Spark or Lulu or CS. Send for
proof – read carefully!

23. Costs of Print Publishing
P.O.D. $4 - 6 per book, black&white interior.
(-quantity discounts, +shipping)
+ (IngramSpark only) $49 upload fee + proof fee.
+ editing fees (from $470 to $1500)
+ cover design ($240-390) and book layout fee
(DIYers use Word book template for $39 and work out
page numbering).

24. Platforms & Utilities
Ingram Spark:
https://www1.ingramspark.com/Portal/HowItWorks
Lulu http://www.lulu.com/
Amazon CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/
(need US tax number & PO box address)
Thorpe-Bowker (ISBNs): http://www.myidentifiers.com.au/
Scrivener (writing/structuring software) US $45:
https://www.literatureandlatte.com/