Why Ebooks?

Don't get me wrong. I adore print books. My house is piled with them.

But ebooks have significant benefits, too - in fact, they do some things that print books can't do...

Ebooks Save Space.

Some books, you want in hard copy form. These are the books you want to refer back to over and over, whether for inspiration or information.

But some books, you buy, read once, and never need again. These are the books that clutter your shelves and later end up at the thrift store. That doesn't mean these books aren't useful. But sometimes, a book is a learning tool - and once you've learned, you're done. Or, some fiction books are fun the first time through, but you won't feel compelled to re-read them.

Buy those books in digital form, and you won't clutter your shelves.

Ebooks Save Resources.

We know that paper consumes trees. We also know that the printing process results in various environmental pollutants. This doesn't mean we should all stop buying books. But if there's a book you really don't need in paper form, your purchase of an ebook instead has a definite positive impact.

When I publish crafty ebooks, I include printer-friendly pages, so you don't need to print the whole thing and use up all your paper and toner. You can print just the black-and-white instructions for each project.

Ebooks Address Real Needs.

Did you know that on average, it takes 12-24 months for a traditionally-published print book to see the light of day? That's no big deal for genres like fiction, but for technical subjects like blogging, by the time a print book finally comes out, the material in it may be way out of date.

Ebooks are exciting because they're so often more timely and targeted than print books. They can appeal to niche subjects that a mainstream publisher would never consider.

Ebooks Are Empowering.

Paper books are lovely, but not everyone can afford to produce them. Ebooks give budding writers and publishers a chance to share their work with the world.

If you care about independent artists and makers, look around for their ebook projects. You're bound to discover something interesting and useful that you'd never be able to find at your local Barnes & Noble.