Amazon KDP Publishing Checklist for First-Time Authors

Amazon KDP is the most popular platform for independent eBook publishing, but its simplicity can hide a few important details that affect how your book performs once it is live.

Before uploading, confirm your manuscript file is formatted specifically for Kindle — not just exported from a word processor. Improperly formatted files can result in broken table of contents links or inconsistent spacing on different devices.

Your book metadata matters just as much as the manuscript itself. Title, subtitle, description, keywords, and categories all affect how readers discover your book through Amazon search and browsing.

Pricing and royalty options (35% vs. 70%) depend on price point and distribution territories, so it's worth understanding how these choices affect your earnings before publishing.

Finally, always preview your file before going live — catching a formatting issue before launch is far easier than fixing it after reviews start coming in.