Self-publishing on Amazon KDP: complete guide

Publishing a book has never been more accessible. Thanks to Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), anyone can publish their book in print and digital format without going through a publishing house. This complete guide accompanies you from manuscript preparation to putting it up for sale on the world's largest bookstore.

What is Amazon KDP?

Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is Amazon's self-publishing platform. It allows independent authors to publish their books in Kindle format (ebook) and paperback format (print-on-demand book). The service is free: Amazon only takes a commission on each sale, and the author retains the rights to their work.

The advantages of self-publishing on Amazon KDP are numerous:

No initial cost : no need to invest in a print run. The book is printed on demand
Worldwide distribution : your book is available on all Amazon marketplaces worldwide
Attractive royalties : up to 70% royalties on ebooks and approximately 60% of profit on paperback versions
Total control : you set the price, modify the content, and manage your author page at any time
Fast publication : your book can be for sale within 24 to 72 hours after submission

Preparing your manuscript for KDP

Manuscript preparation is the most important step. A poorly formatted file will be rejected by KDP or produce a mediocre printing result. Here are the essential points.

File format

Amazon KDP accepts several file formats:

For the paperback (print book) : PDF is the recommended format. It guarantees that the layout will be preserved during printing
For Kindle ebook : EPUB, DOCX and KPF formats are accepted. EPUB is the standard for digital publishing and offers the best result

With a tool like Plumence, you can export your manuscript directly as a formatted PDF (KDP compatible) with the Author plan, or as PDF and EPUB with the Pro plan. The PDF format is generated in US Trade format (15x23 cm), one of the most popular formats on Amazon.

Formatting

Formatting a print book requires special attention. Here are the elements to respect:

Margins : KDP requires wider inside margins (binding edge) than outside margins. Typically, 2 cm inside margin and 1.5 cm for other edges
Font and size : use a readable font (Garamond, Georgia, Times New Roman) in 11 or 12 point size
Line spacing : line spacing of 1.3 to 1.5 ensures good reading comfort
Page numbers : essential for a print book, at the bottom of the page centered or at the top on the outside
Chapter beginning : each chapter starts on a new page, ideally with a well-formatted title

If formatting seems complex to you, know that specialized software like Plumence automatically generates a properly formatted PDF for KDP printing, with all the margins and adapted typography.

Front matter pages

A professional book includes several pages outside the main text:

Title page : the book's title, the author's name
Copyright page : legal notices, ISBN (optional on KDP, Amazon provides one free), publication date
Dedication or foreword (optional)
Table of contents : essential for a book with more than 5 chapters

Creating your cover

The cover is the first element readers see. On Amazon, it must be eye-catching in thumbnail, as this is how most buyers discover it.

For the print book, Amazon KDP provides a cover calculator that generates a PDF template at exact dimensions (front cover + spine + back cover). Dimensions depend on the number of pages and book format.

A few tips for an effective cover:

Readable title : the title must be readable even in small format (Amazon thumbnail)
Genre consistency : readers associate certain visual codes with each literary genre
Image quality : minimum resolution of 300 DPI for printing
Back cover : write a compelling summary that makes people want to read the book. Plumence's pitch generator (Pro plan) can help you write this text

Publishing on Amazon KDP: the steps

Once your manuscript and cover are ready, here is the publishing process step by step.

Step 1: Create a KDP account

Go to kdp.amazon.com and create an account (or log in with your existing Amazon account). Complete your payment and tax information. Amazon will ask you to fill out a tax form (tax interview) before you can receive your royalties.

Step 2: Create a new title

From your KDP dashboard, click "Create" and choose between "Paperback book" (print) and "Kindle Ebook". You can publish both formats for the same book.

Enter the book information:

Title and subtitle
Author name
Book description (summary that will appear on the Amazon page)
Keywords (7 strategic keywords for SEO on Amazon)
Categories (choose 2 categories that match your book's content)

Step 3: Upload the manuscript

Upload your PDF file (for paperback) or EPUB/DOCX (for ebook). Amazon launches an automatic verification process that detects formatting errors. Use the online preview tool to check the rendering page by page.

Step 4: Upload the cover

Upload your cover in PDF format (paperback) or JPG/TIFF (ebook). Amazon also offers an integrated cover creation tool, but the results are basic.

Step 5: Set price and rights

Set your selling price. KDP displays your estimated royalties in real time. For an ebook, you can choose between a 35% or 70% royalty rate (the 70% rate is subject to price conditions). For paperback, royalties depend on the selling price minus printing costs.

Step 6: Publish

Click "Publish". Amazon verifies your book (usually 24 to 72 hours) then puts it for sale. You receive an email notification when your book is available.

Tips for successful self-publishing

Order a proof : before publishing permanently, order an author copy to check printing quality, cover colors, and overall rendering
Take care with your Amazon description : it's your sales page. Use bold, line breaks, and a compelling hook
Choose your keywords strategically : think about the terms your potential readers will type in the Amazon search bar
Set a consistent price : study the prices of competing books in your categories
Collect reviews : reviews are essential for Amazon SEO. Encourage your first readers to leave an honest review

Preparing your manuscript with Plumence for Amazon KDP

Plumence simplifies the preparation of your manuscript for self-publishing. After writing and proofreading your book with AI assistance, you can export your manuscript in PDF format ready for Amazon KDP (US Trade format 15x23 cm) with the Author plan at €14.90 per month. The Pro plan at €29.90 per month adds EPUB export for the Kindle version, the character bible for narrative consistency, and the pitch generator to write your back cover.

The process is simple: you write your book with AI assistance, you use the proofreading and rewriting tools to refine it, then you follow the steps for preparing your manuscript for self-publishing before export.

Conclusion

Self-publishing on Amazon KDP has democratized book publishing. Whether you're writing a novel, memoir, practical guide, or ebook, the platform lets you reach millions of readers worldwide, with no upfront costs and complete control over your work.

The key to success lies in the quality of your manuscript and its layout. By using the right tools to prepare your file, carefully designing your cover, and optimizing your Amazon page, you maximize your chances of reaching your audience. Self-publishing is an exciting adventure: it's time to get started.

Self-publishing on Amazon KDP: from writing to publication