If you've been putting off writing an ebook because you don't know where to start, this guide is for you. How to write an ebook and sell it online is genuinely one of the most accessible ways to create a digital product — and once it's built, it earns money while you sleep.
I'm going to walk you through every step, from picking a topic to uploading your first listing. No fluff, no theory. Just the actual process.
Step 1: Pick a Profitable Topic
The number one mistake first-time ebook writers make is picking a topic they're personally passionate about without checking whether anyone is buying.
A profitable ebook topic has two qualities: people are actively searching for the answer, and they're willing to pay for it.
Good frameworks for finding your topic:
- What do people ask you about? If you regularly give advice on something — budgeting, social media, fitness, starting a business — that advice has ebook potential.
- What problems have you solved? People pay to skip the painful part. If you figured out something the hard way, document the shortcut.
- What's already selling? Browse Etsy, Gumroad, and Amazon Kindle. Look for ebooks in a category that sell well — that's demand signal. You're not copying; you're validating.
Narrow your topic to something specific. "How to make money online" is too broad. "How to make your first $500 selling Canva templates on Etsy" is a product.
Step 2: Outline It in 30 Minutes
Outlines are where most people get stuck. They feel like they have to figure out the whole book before writing a word.
Here's a faster approach:
1. Write down the main problem your reader has 2. List every sub-problem or question that comes up on the path to solving it 3. Group related questions together — those groups become your chapters 4. Order the chapters so they follow a logical progression
A 10–15 chapter outline for a 5,000–8,000 word ebook takes about 30 minutes if you stop trying to make it perfect. You'll rearrange things once you start writing anyway — the outline is just scaffolding.
Most successful ebooks follow one of three structures: - Step-by-step guide — numbered chapters that build on each other (most common, easiest to write) - Problem/solution — each chapter addresses a specific obstacle and how to overcome it - Framework — introduces a system or methodology with chapters covering each component
Step 3: Write It Fast (Without Getting Stuck)
The biggest block isn't lack of knowledge — it's perfectionism. Here's how to beat it:
Write in sprints. Set a 25-minute timer, write without editing, and stop when it goes off. You'll be shocked how much ground you can cover when you aren't constantly re-reading and tweaking.
Write your outline first, then fill it in. Copy each chapter heading into your document, then write the content under each one as if you're explaining it to a friend. Conversational writing is faster and usually better.
Don't write linearly. Start with whichever chapter feels easiest. Momentum matters more than sequence.
Target length is 5,000–10,000 words for a beginner ebook (roughly 20–40 pages formatted). That's achievable in a weekend of focused writing.
Step 4: Format It as a PDF
PDF is the standard format for ebooks sold on Etsy, Gumroad, and your own store. Here's the workflow:
Write in Google Docs. It's free, autosaves, and exports cleanly to PDF.
Design a cover page. Create it in Canva — pick a template that matches your topic's tone, add your title and a subtitle, done. Your cover is the first thing the buyer sees; it should look intentional.
Format for readability: - Use a readable font (Lato, Open Sans, or Georgia work well) - 11–12pt body text, 1.5 line spacing - Clear heading hierarchy (H1 for chapter titles, H2 for sub-sections) - Add page numbers and a table of contents for anything over 20 pages
Export to PDF. In Google Docs: File → Download → PDF Document. You have a product.
If you want a faster path, our digital product templates include done-for-you ebook formatting — structured layouts you fill in rather than build from scratch. They cut the formatting time down to minutes. Check out the The Passive Income Blueprint ($27) for a proven blueprint, and Side Hustle to $5K/Month ($27) for the full launch strategy.
Step 5: Where to Sell Your Ebook
Once your PDF is ready, you have several solid options — and the best strategy is to be on multiple platforms simultaneously.
Your Own Store
Having your own storefront (like ours at trendsetter.madethis.app) gives you 100% of revenue, direct customer relationships, and no platform fees. The downside: you have to drive your own traffic.
Use your own store as your primary sales hub and link to it from social media, email, and your bio.
Etsy
Etsy has over 500 million searches per month, with buyers actively looking for digital downloads. The built-in search traffic is the main advantage — you're selling into an existing market of motivated buyers.
Listing fee: $0.20 per listing. Etsy takes a 6.5% transaction fee on each sale. But the access to organic traffic makes it worth it, especially early on.
Gumroad
Gumroad is built specifically for digital products and is loved by creators for its simplicity. The platform takes 10% per transaction (on the free plan) but has zero listing fees and an audience of buyers who specifically use Gumroad to discover products.
Great for building an audience through the Gumroad Discover feed.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
For ebooks specifically, KDP puts you in front of Amazon's enormous buyer base. The royalty structure is 35–70% depending on price, and Amazon handles all the delivery. The tradeoff: slower traffic buildup and less control over pricing.
Email List
If you have an email list (even a small one), selling to your existing audience first is the fastest path to initial sales. A simple email to 200 engaged subscribers will outperform a new Etsy listing with no reviews every single time.
Pricing Your Ebook
$7–$15: Low-ticket, high volume. Good for impulse buys and building reviews. Best for shorter ebooks (10–20 pages) or highly specific topics.
$17–$37: The sweet spot for most ebooks. Buyers in this range are motivated, expect quality, and don't overthink the purchase. This is where the majority of our products sit — and where your first ebook should probably land.
$47+: Premium guides, workbooks with extensive frameworks. Requires strong positioning and social proof, but earns meaningfully more per sale.
Don't underprice. A $5 ebook competes poorly against a $19 one because the price signals quality. Buyers in this space know that $5 usually means $5 quality.
The Fastest Path: Start With a Template
Writing a full ebook from scratch takes longer if you're also figuring out structure, formatting, and positioning at the same time. That's why many new ebook sellers start with a done-for-you template or framework — fill in the content rather than build the scaffolding.
The Passive Income Blueprint ($27) includes the full strategy for creating, pricing, and selling digital products — and the Side Hustle to $5K/Month ($27) walks through exactly how to build the distribution system that gets consistent sales after launch.
Both are ebooks themselves, so you can study how they're structured as you read them.
How to write an ebook and sell it online is a skill you can develop in a weekend. Pick a topic, outline it in 30 minutes, write it in focused sprints, format it in Google Docs and Canva, and put it on Etsy and Gumroad. The first one teaches you the process; every subsequent ebook gets faster.
The bottleneck isn't capability — it's starting.