How to Publish a Book on Amazon KDP
📚 How to Publish a Book on Amazon KDP (or Set Up a Pre-Order!) in 2025
A Fun + Friendly Step-by-Step Guide
Publishing a book on Amazon is like sending your baby off to Hogwarts.
It’s exciting, terrifying, and—if you follow the right steps—totally worth it.
🛠️ STEP 1: Create a KDP Account (if you haven’t already)
Wondering how to publish a book on Amazon for free? Read on!
Head over to kdp.amazon.com and log in with your Amazon account—or create a new one just for author-y things.
📌 Pro Tip: Use a separate email if you want to keep your author life organized!
Once you're in, you'll need to:
- Set up your author/publisher profile
- Enter your banking info so you can get paid (💸💸💸)
- Complete your tax info (don’t worry—it’s a simple form, and KDP walks you through it)
🎉 You're officially in business!
✍️ STEP 2: Click "Create a New Title"
Once you're in the dashboard, click:
👉 “Create” → “Kindle eBook” (for the eBook)
👉 Later, you can come back and do “Paperback” (or “Hardcover” if you like that solid thud of glory.)
If you want to set up a pre-order, you must do the eBook first. (Paperbacks can’t be pre-ordered on KDP…yet.)
🧙♀️ STEP 3: Kindle eBook Details – Aka, the Magic Metadata!
Here’s where you fill in all the juicy details:
- Book Title + Subtitle
- Series Info (optional)
- Edition Number (if this is version 2.0 of your brilliance)
- Author Name
- Contributors (editors, illustrators, cover designers—give credit where it’s due!)
- Book Description (this is what readers will see on Amazon—make it sing!) 🎤
✅ Don’t forget to choose keywords and categories that help your book get discovered. Think like a reader! I've used Publisher Rocket for approximately forever, and it's your best tool for figuring out the most competitive categories and keywords for your book so you won't get lost in the Amazon algorithm.
🧠 Hot Tip: As of 2024, Amazon now limits authors to 3 categories total—and you can no longer request more. That means choosing the right ones is more important than ever.
⏳ STEP 4: Upload Your Manuscript + Cover
Ready? Deep breath. This is where your book becomes real.
- Upload your formatted eBook file (EPUB is best.)
- Upload your book cover (JPG or TIFF, ideally 1600x2560 pixels for eBooks)
- Preview everything using the Online Previewer Tool 🔍
💡 Need formatting help? Consider tools like Atticus, Vellum (Mac only), or Reedsy’s free formatting tool.
📅 STEP 5: Choose Your Pre-Order Date (Optional)
Want to hype your launch?
👉 Select “Make my Kindle eBook available for pre-order”
👉 Pick a release date up to one year in advance
👉 There's no need to upload a placeholder manuscript if your final file isn’t ready yet on KDP (you’ll need to upload the real thing at least 72 hours before release! There's a timer, and you definitely don't want to miss that date!)
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Don’t miss your final manuscript deadline. Amazon will penalize you by banning you from setting pre-orders for a year. 😱
💰 STEP 6: Pricing + Royalties
Set your:
- Royalty rate (70% if priced between $2.99–$9.99; otherwise 35%)
- Book price (you can price differently for different countries). I like to use Vanessa Vale's strategy of "pretty pricing" -- meaning I make all prices for other countries end in .00, .49, or .99. (Check out the video on this one, it's a bit weird to explain.)
- Decide if you want to enroll in KDP Select (this gives you extra visibility in Kindle Unlimited, but means you can’t sell the eBook elsewhere for 90 days after your pub date.)
🧃 Sip your coffee. You’re almost there.
🚀 STEP 7: Hit “Publish” (or “Schedule” for Pre-Orders)
Ready? Nervous? It’s okay. Hit that big gold button and let your book fly! 🚀
- If it’s a pre-order: it’ll go live for preview and purchase, but won’t deliver until release day
- If it’s a launch: it will be live on Amazon within 72 hours (often much sooner, usually by the next morning)
🎉 Congratulations—you’re now a published author on Amazon! Cue the confetti.
🧾 BONUS: Do It All Again for the Paperback (and Hardcover)
Once your eBook is set, repeat the process for:
- Paperback: Upload an interior PDF, full wraparound cover, and set your trim size
- Hardcover: Same process, just click "Hardcover" instead of "Paperback"
🛠 Use KDP’s Cover Calculator + Template Generator to make sure your paperback or hardcover cover fits perfectly!
📢 FINAL STEP: Spread the Word!
Now that your book is live (or pre-order ready), it’s time to:
- Email your list
- Shout it out on your socials
- Schedule promos + podcasts
- Host a virtual launch party with cookies and wine 🍷
🙌 You Did It!
Whether you're launching your book baby into the world or teasing a brilliant pre-order, you’ve just taken a HUGE step. Give yourself a high five. Then go do it again. 💪
🛟 Need Help?
- Watch the walkthrough video: YouTube Tutorial
- Use KDP’s help center if you get stuck: KDP Help
- Explore Publisher Rocket for keyword + category help: Publisher Rocket.
💡 If you found this guide helpful, subscribe to our writing and publishing advice channel for more tips on how to write a book and get it published. Happy writing!
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