Open your planning document, My First Online Book. You have already written down your topic, purpose, and intended readers. Now, define the scope of your book by answering these questions:
- What are the main subjects your book will cover? List the topics that are essential to achieving its purpose.
- What information must readers learn? Identify the key facts, concepts, instructions, or skills they will need.
- What supporting materials could help? Consider examples, illustrations, screenshots, tables, or additional explanations.
- What will you leave out? Write down subjects that are related to your topic but are not necessary for this book.
- How detailed will your book be? Decide whether you will provide a brief introduction, a practical guide, or a more comprehensive explanation.
- Is your planned scope realistic? Consider the time, knowledge, and materials available to you. If the project seems too large, identify what you could postpone or cover in a separate publication.
Write a short paragraph describing what your book will cover and what it will not cover. You can revise this paragraph as your plan develops.
Save your document. You will use the decisions you have made when planning your chapters and sections in the next part of this module.
Remember: A clearly defined scope helps you create a focused, useful, and achievable book. You do not need to cover everything; you need to cover the right things for your intended readers.