(So You Don’t Have a Panic Attack at the Last Second)
You wrote the book. You formatted it. You’re ready to hit publish.
Almost.
Before you upload your files to Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), it helps to know what you’re walking into. KDP is a powerful platform, but it’s not exactly famous for being intuitive. Uploading your book can feel like filling out your taxes if you go in unprepared.
This guide walks you through the big stuff to know ahead of time so when you do hit that publish button, you’re not crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.
What KDP Actually Does
Amazon KDP is Amazon’s print-on-demand and eBook publishing platform. It lets you publish and distribute your book to readers on Kindle and in paperback, without printing in bulk or using a traditional publisher.
Here’s what it handles:
- eBook and paperback distribution
- Listing your book on Amazon
- Royalty payouts (up to 70% for eBooks, around 40% for paperbacks after print costs)
- Free ISBNs (optional)
- Sales tracking and reporting
It does not include editing, formatting, or design help. You need to come prepared with a finished product.
What Files You’ll Need
Before you upload anything or click any buttons, it helps to have your materials ready to go. Scrambling to find your ISBN or resizing your cover at the last minute is no one’s idea of a good time. A little prep now saves you a lot of stress later.
Let’s break it down by format:
For eBook publishing, you’ll need:
- An EPUB file.
This is the standard format for eBooks and what most platforms will expect. A Word doc or PDF won’t cut it here, so make sure your formatting tool can export to EPUB. If not, you’ll need a converter. - Your front cover image.
This should be a high-resolution JPEG or TIFF file, at least 2560 x 1600 pixels. That ensures it looks crisp and professional on all devices, from tiny phones to full-sized tablets. And yes, the front cover is all you need for eBooks. No spine or back required.
For paperback publishing, gather:
- A print-ready PDF of your book’s interior.
This needs to match your chosen trim size exactly. Fonts should be embedded, margins should be correct, and all pages should be properly aligned. It sounds technical, but if you’re using formatting software, it should handle most of that for you. - A full wraparound cover in PDF format.
Unlike the eBook, paperbacks need a complete cover that includes the front, spine, and back. The tricky part is getting the dimensions right, since spine width depends on your page count. Use your distributor’s calculator—like the one on KDP—to make sure everything fits.
Other details to have on hand:
- Your book title and subtitle.
Double-check for typos. This is what people will see first, and once it’s published, fixing mistakes can be a hassle. Not sure if your manuscript is polished enough yet? Take a look at The 3 Stages of Editing before you upload. It’ll save you from catching big issues after your book is already live. - Your book description.
This is your sales copy. It shows up on your book’s product page and should hook potential readers. Think of it as the pitch that makes someone click “Buy.” - Keywords and categories.
These help readers find your book. Choose words that your ideal audience might actually search for, and pick categories that accurately reflect your genre. - Your ISBN.
You can use your own or grab a free one from your platform (like Amazon or IngramSpark). Just be aware that using a free ISBN may limit where else you can publish that version of your book. - Your price.
Decide what you want to charge before you get to the pricing screen. Take a peek at similar books in your genre to get a feel for what readers expect.
Why This Matters
Having all of this lined up ahead of time makes the publishing process smoother. You won’t have to stop midway to hunt for a missing file or wonder what resolution your cover is. You’ll be able to focus on the fun part: hitting “publish” and watching your book go out into the world.
You did the hard part already. This is just the final checklist.
Let me know if you’d like me to write a version of this for audiobooks, or even a “What Not to Forget Before You Hit Publish” cheat sheet.
A Few Setup Surprises to Expect
Here are some heads-ups you’ll be glad you got:
- Trim size matters. If your interior and cover files don’t match the trim size you select in KDP, your upload will be rejected.
- Your cover needs a spine. If you’re uploading a paperback with more than about 100 pages, your PDF cover file needs to include spine width.
- Page count affects spine width and print cost. More pages means a thicker spine and a higher print cost. KDP’s calculator helps you plan this.
- No bleed means no printing to the edge. If your design or images go to the edge of the page, you’ll need to enable bleed and submit the file with proper margins.
- Your description can’t use HTML tags anymore. KDP used to let you format the description with bold or italics using HTML. That’s gone now. Keep it plain text and spaced out with line breaks.
Keywords and Categories Matter More Than You Think
You get seven keywords and two categories. These help Amazon figure out where to show your book and who to show it to.
A few tips:
- Keywords should describe what the book is about, not just the title.
- Think like a reader. What would someone type in the search bar to find your book?
- Categories can influence your chances of ranking on bestseller lists. Pick ones that are accurate, but not so broad you’ll get lost.
You can also request up to ten categories via KDP support after your book is published.
Pricing Strategy Basics
Setting the price for your book can feel like a weird mix of business math and psychic intuition. You want it to be fair, competitive, and profitable, but also aligned with your goals and your readers’ expectations. No pressure, right?
Let’s break it down into something that actually makes sense.
How Pricing Works on Amazon
Amazon handles a lot behind the scenes, but when it comes to pricing, you’re in control. You set the list price. They take their cut. What you’re left with is your royalty.
Here’s how it usually shakes out:
For eBooks:
- If you price your book between $2.99 and $9.99, you qualify for a 70% royalty rate, minus a small delivery fee based on file size (usually just a few cents per sale).
- If your book is priced lower than $2.99 or higher than $9.99, the royalty drops to 35%, regardless of how big your file is or how well your book is doing.
That sweet spot of $2.99 to $9.99 is where most indie authors land, especially for genre fiction, debut releases, or the first book in a series.
For Paperbacks:
- Amazon pays 60% of your list price, but then subtracts the printing cost before sending you the rest.
- Printing cost varies depending on your page count, trim size, and whether your book is black and white or full color.
So, for example, if your paperback is priced at $14.99 and it costs $4.00 to print, you earn 60% of the $14.99 (which is $8.99), then subtract the $4.00. That leaves you with $4.99 per sale.
Not bad, especially if you’re selling steady copies each month. But it only works if you understand how the pricing affects your bottom line.
Choosing a Price: What to Consider
There is no one perfect number, but here are a few things to think about when setting your price:
- Genre expectations.
Readers of romance, thrillers, and fantasy often expect eBooks in the $3.99 to $6.99 range. Nonfiction and niche books can sometimes go higher, especially if they solve a specific problem or appeal to a more targeted audience. - Your goals.
Are you trying to maximize royalties? Build a readership? Encourage downloads to feed a series? Some authors price low at launch to drive visibility. Others price high to signal value and position their book as premium. - How many books you have.
If this is book one in a series, you might offer it at a lower price to encourage more readers to take a chance, knowing you’ll earn more across the series. If it’s a standalone, you may want to price it closer to the average market rate for your genre. - Competition.
Search for books like yours on Amazon and see what they’re charging. You don’t have to match them exactly, but being wildly more expensive or suspiciously cheap can impact how readers perceive your book. - Your comfort zone.
Some authors get nervous about charging more than $2.99, but remember—you put in the work. You deserve to be paid. Don’t be afraid to test a few different prices over time and see what works best.
Pricing your book is not a one-time decision you’re stuck with forever. You can adjust as needed. But going in with a basic understanding of royalties, printing costs, and genre norms will help you make smart, confident choices.
Run the numbers. Look at what others are doing. But in the end, trust your gut.
You know your book. You know your audience.
And now you know how to price it like a pro.
Let me know if you’d like a follow-up on running discounts and promotions or how pricing plays into your marketing strategy.
Final Checks Before You Hit “Publish”
Here’s a quick checklist:
- Spelled your name right? Triple-check it.
- Chapters starting where they should? Skim through the preview.
- No blank pages or formatting glitches? Use KDP’s preview tool.
- ISBN attached to the correct edition (print or eBook)?
- Description clear, clean, and typo-free?
Once you publish, changes are still possible. But it’s easier to get it right the first time.
Final Thoughts
Publishing on Amazon KDP is a huge milestone. It can feel intimidating the first time, but once you understand the process, it gets easier.
The most important thing is this: your book doesn’t have to be perfect to be publishable. It has to be clear, readable, and something you’re proud to share.
You’ve already done the hard part: writing the book.
This is just the last step to get it into the hands of your readers.
You’ve got this.
You might also enjoy:
How to format your book for Kindle or print
Common formatting mistakes new authors make
Book launch basics for indie authors When to DIY and when to hire help