Amazon KDP lets authors publish Kindle ebooks and paperbacks. The platform's rules and screens change from time to time, so treat this as a preparation list and confirm current requirements inside your KDP account before you submit.
The manuscript
Publish only a finished, edited and proofread book. Corrections after launch are possible, but early readers form their opinion of the book from the first version.
- Edited and proofread text.
- Front and back matter: title page, copyright page, author bio.
- Interior formatting suited to the format. Ebook and paperback layouts are different jobs.
The cover
An ebook needs a front cover. A paperback needs a full wrap with front, spine and back, sized to the page count and paper type. Ask your formatter or designer for the exact dimensions rather than guessing.
The listing
Prepare these before you open the KDP form so you are not deciding under pressure:
- Title, subtitle and series details.
- A description that sells the reader's benefit, not just the plot.
- Categories and keywords that readers genuinely use.
- Your price and which territories you will sell in.
Before you press publish
Use KDP's previewer on the ebook and order a proof copy of the paperback. Reading the physical proof catches layout problems a screen hides.