Publishing Your Book on Amazon KDP

Step 0: Prepare Your Files

Before you hit the KDP dashboard, you need two things finalized:

Your Manuscript File: A clean, formatted document.
- For eBooks: A .docx (Microsoft Word), EPUB, or KPF (Kindle Create) file works best. Keep formatting simple.
- For Print Books (Paperback or Hardcover): A print-ready PDF is standard. Ensure your page size matches the trim size you plan to select on KDP.
Your Cover File: A single JPG or TIFF file of your cover. Use the KDP Cover Calculator to get the exact dimensions for print books.

Step 1: Set Up Your KDP Account

Go to kdp.amazon.com and sign in using your existing Amazon account credentials.
Navigate to the “Your Account” section to enter your tax information and banking details so you can get paid.

Step 2: Create a New Title

On your KDP bookshelf, click “+ Create” and select the format you want to start with (e.g., “Create eBook” or “Create Paperback”).

Step 3: Enter the Details

This is where you provide all the metadata Amazon uses to sell your book:

Language: Select your book’s primary language.
Book Title & Series Info: Enter the exact title and subtitle. If it’s part of a series, use the dedicated fields for series name and book number.
Author: Enter your pen name or legal name.
Description: Write engaging sales copy (your “blurb”). This is crucial for selling the book to potential readers.
Publishing Rights: Select that you own the rights.
Keywords: Enter seven keywords or phrases that readers might type into Amazon’s search bar to find a book like yours (e.g., “cozy mystery small town,” “epic fantasy magic system”).
Categories: Choose two categories that best describe your book’s genre.
Age and Grade Range: Only relevant for children’s books.

Step 4: Upload Your Content

This is where you upload the files you prepared in Step 0.

DRM (eBooks Only): Select “Enable DRM.” This helps prevent unauthorized sharing of your book file.
Upload Manuscript: Click the “Upload eBook manuscript” or “Upload Print-Ready PDF” button and select your file.
Launch Previewer: Use the built-in preview tools to double-check how your book will look on a Kindle device or in print form. Look for formatting errors, strange page breaks, or missing images.
Upload Cover: Upload your finished cover file.

Step 5: Set Your Pricing & Territories

The final step is deciding where to sell and for how much.

Territories: Choose “All territories (worldwide rights)” unless you have a specific reason not to.
Pricing & Royalty: Amazon offers different royalty rates.
- eBooks: You usually select the 70% royalty option for books priced between $2.99 and $9.99.
- Print Books: KDP will automatically calculate the “printing cost” based on your page count and trim size. Your royalty is your list price minus that printing cost.
Select KDP Select (eBooks Only): Opting into KDP Select makes your book exclusive to Amazon for 90 days in exchange for access to Kindle Unlimited and promotional tools like Kindle Countdown Deals.

Step 6: Publish!

Click “Publish Your [eBook/Paperback] Book.”

eBooks typically go live within 24-48 hours.
Print Books require a manual review that can take up to 72 hours, and then a few days to appear as “Live” on the store.

Congratulations, you are now a published author!

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