How to Make an Ebook From Scratch: Outline, Layout and Export

How do you make an ebook step by step?

Define the reader and promise, outline chapters, write a draft, edit, lay out the pages, design a cover and export a PDF. Test the file on several devices before sharing.

The order matters. Many beginners open a design tool first and get stuck choosing fonts. Text comes first, because it decides how many pages and which layout you need. Set a small deadline for each step, because open-ended projects tend to drift for months without a finish line.

Plan a manageable length. A short, focused ebook that solves one problem is easier to finish and easier for a reader to use than a long book that tries to cover everything. Ask one trusted reader to review the draft, and listen especially to where they got confused.

Ebook steps

• Write one sentence: who it helps and how
• Outline five to ten chapters
• Draft each chapter in plain text
• Edit for clarity and length
• Lay out pages and add images
• Create the cover
• Export to PDF and test

How do you outline an ebook?

List the questions your reader has, group them into chapters in a logical order and give each chapter one clear takeaway. Add a short introduction and a closing action list.

Start from the reader's questions. Each question can become a chapter or a section. Order them from first step to last step. Aim for chapters of similar length, which makes the pacing feel even and makes writing easier to plan.

An AI writing helper can suggest outlines and wording, but you decide the structure and verify facts. Writelytic is a $29-a-month AI writing tool subscription opened at the Digistore24 checkout, with the monthly charge stated on the order form.

Write a working title for each chapter that states what the reader will be able to do afterwards. Expect the outline to change as you write, and revise it whenever a better order becomes clear.

How should you lay out the pages?

Use one body font, clear headings, generous margins and consistent spacing. Add images sparingly and keep each chapter starting on a new page.

Readability beats decoration. Choose a font size that is comfortable on a phone screen, and use bold headings to break up text. Use bullet lists for steps. Keep a consistent style for headings, captions and lists, and avoid more than two fonts in the whole document.

Templates save time. Sqribble eBook Creator (Commercial) is a cloud ebook creator with 50 templates and a commercial license for $67 once, whose page states its features and template counts. Add page numbers and a simple table of contents for any ebook longer than a few pages.

How do you add a cover?

Make a portrait cover with a readable title and one focal image, then place it as page one and export a separate image for stores and sales pages.

The cover is your first impression. For design and mockups, ClickDesigns Commercial is a cloud graphics editor for covers, boxshots and mockups at $67 once with a commercial license and a 30-day refund on the order form.

If you want an animated cover for your sales page, eCoverly Animated eCover Creator offers 40 animated and 250 static templates in a browser-based $37 Personal license. Keep your title short enough to read on a small thumbnail, and place it where it will not be cropped.

Use colours that match the topic and tone of your ebook, and keep the same palette in your sales page. Save the cover as a separate image file, because stores and email tools often ask for it on its own.

How do you export and test a PDF?

Export at a standard quality, check links, images and page breaks, and open the file on a phone, a tablet and a computer. Fix anything that shifts or cuts off.

Read the PDF from start to finish once as a reader would. Click every link. Check that the table of contents matches page numbers and that fonts display properly. Use a descriptive file name, such as the title and version number, so readers and you can identify the right file.

Keep an editable source file and a dated copy of each exported version. This makes updates quick and avoids sending an old file by mistake. Compress large images before export if you want a smaller file that downloads quickly on a mobile connection.

What should you know about licensing?

Check the licence of every template, image and font you use. Commercial use, resale and client work are often separate permissions, so read the terms.

A commercial licence usually covers selling your own ebook, but client work or reselling the template itself may need other terms. Keep your order confirmation and the licence text. Fonts and stock images often have their own licences, separate from the tool or template you use.

Compare tools by price, billing and refund window using the Software & Tech category, and read money-back guarantees on the page versus the order form so you know which terms apply.

Mention the source of any quoted material and keep permission records if you use another person's text. If you are unsure what a licence allows, ask the seller before you publish and keep their reply.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Platform rules quoted in this article come from these official pages, read on 25 October 2026. Product details come from our own reviews, each dated on its page.

• Digistore24 buyer information
• FTC consumer advice