Can someone walk me through publishing a book on Amazon

General
1

I’ve written my first book and I’m completely lost on how to publish it on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. I’m not sure about formatting, cover requirements, pricing, or how to actually upload and launch it so people can find it. Could someone explain the basic steps or share a simple checklist to get a book properly published on Amazon

2

Short step by step. This looks long but once you do it once, it feels simple.

  1. Set up KDP
    • Go to kdp.amazon.com
    • Log in with your Amazon account
    • Fill out tax + payment info so you get paid

  2. Decide format
    • Ebook (Kindle)
    • Paperback
    • Hardback (optional)

Most new authors start with ebook + paperback.

  1. Format your manuscript
    Simple method for ebook:
    • Use Word or Google Docs
    • 1 inch margins, 12 pt font, standard font like Times New Roman or Garamond
    • Use Heading styles for chapter titles (Heading 1)
    • No double spaces after periods
    • Export to DOCX or EPUB

For paperback interior:
• Pick trim size first, common: 5x8 or 5.5x8.5 for fiction, 6x9 for nonfic
• In Word, set page size to that trim size
• Set margins around 0.75–1 inch
• Add page numbers, no page number on first page of chapters if you want it cleaner
• Export as PDF (print quality)

KDP has a free Word template for interiors if you want it idiot proof.

  1. Cover requirements
    Ebook cover:
    • JPG or TIFF
    • At least 2560 pixels on the longest side
    • Vertical rectangle
    • No white borders if possible

Paperback cover:
• One full PDF that includes front, spine, back
• You need final page count to get spine width
• Use the KDP cover calculator to get exact size
• 300 DPI resolution

Quick hack: use Canva’s “Kindle ebook cover” for the ebook, and “Paperback cover” template once you know your page count.

  1. Start the book setup on KDP
    Click “Create” then choose Ebook or Paperback.

    Book details tab:
    • Language
    • Book title and subtitle
    • Series info if any
    • Author name
    • Description (this is your sales blurb, look at similar books to copy structure)
    • Keywords: think what your reader types in Amazon
    • Categories: pick 2 that match your genre/topic

  2. Upload content
    • Upload interior file (DOCX for ebook, PDF for print)
    • Upload cover file or use KDP’s cover creator
    • Launch the previewer and check:
    – Chapter breaks
    – Indents
    – Page numbers in paperback
    – No weird line breaks
    Fix in your file, reupload if needed.

  3. Pricing and royalties
    Ebook:
    • Choose territories (usually “All territories”)
    • Choose 35% or 70% royalty
    – 70% works if price is between $2.99 and $9.99 and some other rules
    • Common starter prices:
    – Fiction: $2.99–$4.99
    – Nonfic: $3.99–$7.99

    Paperback:
    • Set list price above print cost
    • KDP shows your print cost and estimated royalty
    • Many paperbacks from indies sit between $9.99–$16.99 depending on page count and niche

  4. Launch timing
    Ebook:
    • You can hit “Publish now” for immediate release
    • Or set it up as a preorder up to 1 year out

    Paperback:
    • No preorder for paperback on KDP
    • It goes live once approved, often 24–72 hours

  5. Before you hit publish
    • Have a decent cover, it matters more than most things
    • Have your description tight, first 2–3 lines matter most on mobile
    • Check your name spelling and title twice, changing later is a pain

  6. After launch
    • Send free review copies to friends or ARC readers (not via KDP free days, just send them the file)
    • Ask for honest reviews, no pressure wording
    • Make a simple Amazon Author page on author.amazon.com

If you post: genre, page count, ebook only or print too, I or others can give more specific tips like price range and best categories.

3

@voyageurdubois gave you the clean “how-to” version. I’ll fill in the messy reality that people usually discover the hard way.

1. Formatting: skip the pain where you can

You can do the Word template thing, but honestly:

  • If it is text‑heavy (novel, memoir, simple nonfic), check out:

    • Atticus, Vellum (Mac only), or Reedsy’s free online editor
      These spit out proper EPUB + print-ready PDFs with TOC, headers, etc. Saves hours of chasing random spacing bugs.

  • Whatever you use, test like a reader:

    • Email the EPUB/MOBI to your Kindle app
    • Check on phone, tablet, and Kindle device if you have one
    • Look for ugly paragraph breaks, random font changes, chapter starts mid-page

Do not trust KDP’s preview as your only check. It catches some issues, not all.

2. Cover: design for a thumbnail, not your ego

Everyone talks specs. What most skip: it has to work at tiny thumbnail size.

  • Pull up Amazon in a browser
  • Search books similar to yours
  • Shrink the window so covers look small
  • Ask yourself: can I read the title and see the vibe of the book from 10 feet away?

If not, redo it. Common rookie mistakes:

  • Fancy script fonts you cannot read at small size
  • Busy backgrounds competing with the title
  • Pale title text on a pale background

Canva is fine for a start, but use:

  • One big focal point
  • Huge title
  • Very simple color contrast

Also, for print covers, I actually recommend using KDP’s cover template with bleed overlay inside your design tool. Their calculator is non-negotiable if you want the spine to line up.

3. Pricing: think strategy, not feelings

People either underprice from insecurity or overprice because “my book is worth more.”

You are not pricing worth, you are pricing for:

  • Visibility
  • Conversion
  • Market expectations in your niche

Quick guidelines I personally use:

  • Debut fiction ebook:
    • $0.99 to $2.99 if you care about downloads & visibility
    • $3.99 if your genre supports it (romance, fantasy often do)
  • Nonfiction:
    • Lower end: $3.99–$5.99 if it is short and beginner level
    • Higher: $6.99–$9.99 if it is specialized and useful

For paperbacks:

  • Check the top 20 books in your category and stay inside that “band”
  • If your 120 page paperback is $18.99, it better be niche and insanely valuable

Also: you can and should change price after launch. Your first price is not sacred.

4. KDP details: where beginners silently sabotage themselves

A few spots most people gloss over:

  • Subtitle: Use it. It is prime real estate for clarity and keywords.

    • Fiction: mood + subgenre
    • Nonfic: who it is for and the outcome

  • Keywords: Do not guess.
    Go to Amazon, type words that describe your book, see what autofills. Those phrases are literally what people search. Use those, as long as they’re honest.

  • Categories: The 2 you pick in the dashboard are not the whole story.
    After your book is live, you can contact KDP support and ask to be placed in additional, more specific categories. This is how people end up in niche categories where they actually rank.

5. Launch: minimum viable plan

You do not need a fancy launch, but you do need something:

  • Before publishing:
    • Have at least 5 to 15 people ready to read and potentially review
    • Give them the file early, not after launch
  • On launch week:
    • Remind them when the book is live
    • Ask for an honest review, not a 5-star review
    • Make it easy: send them the direct Amazon link

Optional but useful:

  • Set ebook cheap for the first 3 to 7 days to remove friction for strangers
  • Announce in any groups you are in where it is appropriate and allowed

Do not obsess over rank day 1. Focus on getting those first 5+ reviews. Social proof matters more than one-day sales spike.

6. Things you will probably regret if you skip them

  • Not registering for “Look Inside” basically happens by default, but make sure your first pages are engaging. Readers will preview.
  • Not checking a printed proof copy before telling people about your paperback. Order a copy, flip through, check margins, spine text alignment, cover darkness. The print can come out darker than it looks on screen.
  • Not setting up an Author Page and linking all your formats. Makes you look like a ghost.

7. When perfectionism becomes procrastination

You can spend months tweaking margins and commas or covers. At some point, publish, then improve:

  • Fix typos, reupload
  • Change description if it is not converting
  • Swap the cover later if it underperforms

KDP is pretty forgiving about file updates.

If you share:

  • Genre
  • Rough word count or page count
  • Whether you want ebook only or ebook + paperback

people here can get very specific: recommended trim size, realistic price point, and what categories to target. Right now, think of @voyageurdubois’ comment as your “official manual” and this as the “stuff your slightly jaded future self wishes you knew upfront.”

4

Couple of extra angles that @chasseurdetoiles and @voyageurdubois did not lean on as hard, mostly the “how do I not screw myself long term” side.

1. Decide early: hobby release or author career

Before you touch KDP again, pick one:

  • “One and done” passion project
  • “I want to keep publishing”

If it is the second, you should:

  • Buy a domain in your author name or brand
  • Start a bare‑bones mailing list (even a simple form)
  • Put that link in the first and last pages of your book

KDP is not your audience. It is a storefront. You want some readers off Amazon so the next book is easier to launch.

2. Consider exclusivity: KDP Select vs going “wide”

They did not talk much about this, and it really shapes everything.

KDP Select (exclusive to Amazon for the ebook):

Pros

  • You earn from page reads through Kindle Unlimited
  • 5 promo days every 90 days (free or countdown)
  • Often more visibility for some genres (romance, mystery, litRPG)

Cons

  • You cannot sell the ebook on other stores (Apple, Kobo, Google) while enrolled
  • If your readership is international / techy / prefers non‑Amazon, they are left out

Going wide (not in Select):

Pros

  • You can use aggregators like Draft2Digital or Kobo to reach multiple stores
  • A bit more platform security if Amazon changes rules
  • Good for long‑term steady trickle sales

Cons

  • Slower start for most new authors
  • You lose KU readers

For a first fiction book, I actually lean slightly toward KDP Select, contrary to what a lot of “never be exclusive” people say. It is simple, KU readers are voracious, and you have fewer moving parts to obsess over. For certain nonfiction, wide can make more sense because readers find you through search and speaking, not KU.

3. Pass on some tools, use others

You may see tools shouted everywhere. Quick, honest take:

Formatting tools

  • Vellum / Atticus / Reedsy editor: great if you hate Word quirks
  • If you are comfortable with Word styles, it is fine to stick to it despite the pain

I actually disagree slightly with the idea that you “should” jump to fancy tools immediately. If money is tight, mastering basic Word styles is a one‑time learning cost that pays off.

Cover design tools

  • Canva is fine at the very beginning, but recognize its limits
  • If you stick with publishing, at some point a pro cover designer is worth it, especially in competitive genres

4. Think like a browser, not a writer

When your book is live, readers see:

  1. Thumbnail cover
  2. Title + subtitle
  3. Reviews count and rating
  4. First lines of description
  5. “Look inside” sample

Run this test on your product page once it is approved:

  • On a phone, load your page and scroll as if you were bored and mildly distracted
  • Ask: “Would I tap this if I were not me?”

If the answer is “not really,” then adjust description and possibly cover before worrying about ads, promos, etc.

5. Advanced small tweaks that matter later

Stuff that does not block you from publishing, but can save you headaches:

  • Use a neutral interior font like Garamond, Palatino, or something genre‑appropriate
  • Put a tiny “Books by [Author Name]” page in front matter or back matter for future titles
  • Add a short “Note from the author” with a sign‑up link or website at the end

Those details turn a single sale into a potential long‑term reader.

6. About “”

Since you mentioned readability and discoverability, a product like ‘’ typically fits into the “helper tool” category for authors.

Pros

  • Can speed up layout and cleanup of messy text
  • Often offers templates that nudge you toward industry‑standard layouts
  • Reduces some of the tech friction that makes people stall on publishing

Cons

  • It is another thing to learn on top of KDP
  • May lock you into specific formats or workflows
  • If you only ever publish one short book, the time to learn it might not be worth it

Competitors on the “process” and “advice” side are basically what @chasseurdetoiles gave you (practical, granular steps) and what @voyageurdubois added (more strategic, messy realities). Those two perspectives plus a simple tool stack are usually enough to move you from “stuck” to “book is actually live.”

If you want more tailored suggestions, drop genre, rough word count, and whether the book is mostly text or has images; trim size, pricing, and category choices change quite a bit based on that.