How to Write an eBook using Microsoft PowerPoint

In my previous post, I shared how you can write an eBook using Microsoft Word. Today’s tutorial is a similar one: how to write an eBook using Microsoft PowerPoint.

The advantage of using PowerPoint is that it’s easier to manipulate images within the eBook. So, if you’re planning to use a variety of images in your eBook, I suggest you go with PowerPoint. Do keep in mind the preliminary decision you have to make regarding your eBook, as I shared in the Word tutorial.

To simplify the process of writing your eBook in PowerPoint, Hubspot is offering 5 free eBook templates that you can use. You just need to plug in your text and images, and you’re done!

And here’s a step by step tutorial, if you’d rather work on your eBook from scratch using Microsoft PowerPoint.

Step 1: Open a new blank PowerPoint presentation & save it.

Click on ‘New’ from the ‘File’ Menu, and then click on ‘Save’ to save the eBook. Do make sure you keep saving the eBook as you write, to avoid losing your hard work.

Step 2: Choose the eBook layout.

Based on how you want your eBook to look, select the appropriate slide orientation from the ‘Design’ menu.

Step 3: Add the cover image.

Design a cover image for your eBook in the same layout, using either PicMonkey or PowerPoint itself. Insert the cover image by clicking on the ‘Picture’ option in the ‘Insert’ menu, and selecting the cover image where you saved it on your computer.

I used PowerPoint to create even the cover for my 21 Genuine Ways to Make Money Online eBook. I first placed the image of the hands on the laptop. On top of that I overlaid my logo, and the text, “Make Money Online”. I then placed a red rectangle shape and added the eBook title as a text box. I finished it of with another textbox for my name. I share more on how to work with images on PowerPoint in this tutorial.

Step 4: Add the title page, copyright & disclaimer.

The first page after the cover should contain the title, tagline and author name. Click on ‘Text Box’ in the ‘Insert’ menu and start typing in your text.

Place another text box at the bottom of the page and type in your copyright & disclaimer.

Step 5: Add the page numbers.

Click on ‘Slide Number’ in the ‘Insert’ menu and be sure to select the checkboxes for ‘Slide Number’ and ‘Don’t show on title slide’ as shown in the screenshot below.

Step 6: Include the table of contents (if required).

Unlike MS Word, the table of contents needs to be created manually in PowerPoint. So you will have to use textboxes to type in each of your chapter titles and the corresponding page numbers. Here’s what the table of contents for my ebook looked like. I used one textbox for the heading, and another for the list of chapters and page numbers.

Step 7: Write the eBook.

Start each chapter with a heading in a bigger font than the rest of the chapter contents. You will have to insert textboxes into each page and lay them out based on how you want the page to look. In the sample below, I used 3 textboxes: one for the heading, one covering half the page width, and another spanning the full width of the page.

Apart from the usual font styles, you can also format the text boxes & the text styles using the options available in the ‘Format’ menu.

Step 8: Insert images.

You can also insert pictures from the ‘Insert’ menu and drag them wherever you want them on the page. You can change the style of the images (to include borders, shadows, etc.) from the format menu.

Step 9: Add the author page.

Make sure you add a good picture of yourself and your bio in the last page. Also provide links to your website and social media channels so readers can get in touch with you.

Step 10: Convert your PowerPoint to a PDF.

In the ‘File’ menu, select the ‘Save As’ option, and then click on ‘PDF’. Enter a file name and click ‘Publish’. Your eBook is ready in PDF format.

Note: Older versions of Microsoft PowerPoint might not have the option to save the file as a PDF. In that case, you’ll have to use a PDF creator to do it.

Today’s Challenge: Experiment with Microsoft PowePoint to create your free eBook.

Have you used Microsoft PowePoint to write an eBook?
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