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Want To Self-Publish? Here’s How To Do It on Amazon
Since 2007 and the launch of the Kindle, Amazon has been a port of call for writers who want to self-publish their books. Amazon self-publishing is powered by Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), the company’s self-service platform that allows independent authors to publish ebooks and paperback books without a traditional publisher. Once approved, books appear in the Amazon store where readers around the world can buy them.
The process is beginner-friendly and typically involves only a few key steps:
Self-publishing through Amazon offers a low-cost way to share writing and — dare we dream — earn money from book sales. Although there is no guarantee on how much you’ll make, many writers have earned several thousand dollars through KDP with minimal costs. Here’s how to get started.
Anyone with an Amazon account can create a KDP account and publish a book. Authors keep the rights to their work and control key decisions such as pricing, categories and descriptions. It’s a popular option because:
Amazon also uses print-on-demand technology for paperbacks, which means books are only printed when a customer orders them.
Kindle Direct Publishing is Amazon’s platform for independent authors to self-publish. It has a streamlined interface and was introduced alongside the Kindle e-book device in 2007.
Kindle Direct Publishing allows writers to upload books directly to Amazon without working with a traditional publisher. After uploading a manuscript and cover, authors can list their books for sale in the Amazon marketplace, giving you a potential reader base of billions.
Each step to self publish on Amazon takes place inside the Kindle Direct Publishing dashboard, and most books are reviewed and published within 24 to 72 hours after submission.
To self publish on Amazon, first create a Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) account using your existing Amazon login.
To get started, visit the KDP website and sign in with your Amazon credentials. Amazon will ask you to complete several setup steps before publishing.
These typically include:
After completing setup, you’ll get access to the KDP dashboard, where you can upload books, track sales and manage royalties.
As a reminder, joining Kindle Direct Publishing is free. If you see anything that looks like KDP asking for more information from you than we have listed here, be wary. Amazon has published a list of common scams aimed at independent writers.
Before uploading your book, you must format your manuscript so Amazon can convert it into a Kindle ebook or paperback.
KDP supports several file formats, but the most common include:
Proper formatting ensures your book displays correctly on Kindle devices and printed pages, which you can see for yourself at any time by previewing your document.
Basic formatting usually includes:
Many authors prepare manuscripts using Microsoft Word or Amazon’s free formatting tool called Kindle Create.
A professional book cover helps attract readers and improves click-through rates in Amazon search results.
Because readers usually see book covers as small thumbnails in search results, the design needs to be visually clear and readable even at smaller sizes. Amazon provides a Cover Creator tool, which provides templates to create simple but effective cover art.
If you want something more specific or unique, many self-published writers can go through a few sources for their cover art, including:
A polished cover can significantly influence whether readers click on your book listing. In today’s market, simplified designs are expected and considered an industry standard.
After preparing your manuscript and cover, upload your book through the Kindle Direct Publishing dashboard.
Inside KDP, you’ll create a new book listing and provide details that help readers discover your book in Amazon search.
Information you’ll typically enter includes:
You’ll also upload your manuscript file and book cover during this step.
At this point, you will also get to choose what categories your book falls under. This will include age range and genre, as well as keywords for people searching for new titles. Choosing the right Amazon categories can affect how easily readers discover your book in Amazon search results and bestseller lists. You can edit these at any time.
KDP allows authors to publish ebooks and paperback books from the same dashboard.
Ebooks are the most common format because they require no printing costs and can be delivered instantly to readers’ Kindle devices or apps.
Paperback books are produced using Amazon’s print-on-demand system, meaning copies are printed only when a customer places an order. You won’t need to pay ahead of time for this, as the cost for printing is taken out of the sale price. If you want to make paperbacks for your book, you will want to raise the price by a few dollars.
Many authors publish both formats to reach a broader audience.
Advantages of ebooks:
Advantages of paperbacks:
Amazon pays authors either 35% or 70% royalties depending on ebook pricing and distribution options. To clarify, royalties have nothing to do with kings and queens. It’s the amount of money you receive as the owner of a unique asset, your book, which Amazon has the right to publish.
Most Kindle ebooks qualify for the 70% royalty option if they are priced between $2.99 and $9.99 and sold in supported countries.
Books priced outside that range usually earn 35% royalties.
Here’s an example of a royalty payment calculation:
If your ebook sells for $4.99 with the 70% royalty option:
Amazon deducts a small delivery fee from 70% royalty ebooks based on the file size of the book.
Paperback royalties are calculated differently because printing costs are deducted before royalties are paid.
As with most side gigs, earnings from self-publishing vary widely depending on book demand, pricing and marketing efforts. This is, however, one of the biggest advantages to self-publishing. Traditional publishing houses offer authors an average of 10% to 15% royalties, while the rest of the price is divided between the publisher’s earnings, paying in-house editors and production costs.
After submitting your book through KDP, Amazon reviews it before publishing it to the Kindle store.
The review process checks for formatting problems and ensures the book follows Amazon’s publishing guidelines.
Most books are approved within 24 to 72 hours, although timelines may occasionally vary. If at any point of the publishing process you need to ask for clarification or clear up a formatting problem, KDP has a help page with options to contact Amazon employees.
Once approved, your book becomes searchable on Amazon and readers can purchase it immediately.
If you need to update your manuscript, cover or description later, you can upload revised files through the KDP dashboard at any time.
Publishing a book on Amazon is free. However, many authors choose to invest in editing, cover design or marketing to improve their book’s quality and visibility.
Common Optional Costs
Many beginners start with minimal costs and reinvest earnings if their books begin selling. Because you can update your book file at any time with new cover art or editing corrections, it’s something you should consider if you see some success.
Income from Amazon self publishing varies depending on pricing, marketing and reader demand.
Each book sale generates royalties based on the book’s price and royalty option.
For example:
If a book sells:
However, many self-published books sell only a small number of copies, while a small percentage sell thousands.
Factors that influence earnings include:
Because of these variables, Amazon self publishing is best viewed as a potential side hustle rather than guaranteed income. Still, if you are serious about writing, look at it as a good way to get your name out there and start attracting regular readers.
Selling more books on Amazon largely depends on improving your book’s visibility in Amazon search results and recommendations. Like getting noticed anywhere else online, this means chasing trends and riding with the flow of the almighty algorithm.
Strategies that may help include:
You can also choose to promote your title at any time through the Bookshelf. Amazon provides a variety of options to help you promote your new book, from promotional sales to selling your book in different markets, such as those with different languages.
Other tips for new writers include:
In a nutshell, KDP offers high royalties and global distribution but requires authors to handle their own marketing and promotion. It can be a lot for first-time writers to manage, but you can potentially get a lot more out of the bargain.
Pros
Cons
There are no upfront costs to publishing your book on the Kindle platform, or to use Kindle Direct Publishing. In exchange, Amazon will take a portion of your book’s earnings every time a copy sells, leaving you with a percentage of the royalties.
Self-publishing is a great way to kick-start your writing career, and Amazon’s Kindle platform enables you to get your work in front of many shoppers. Not to mention, authors who publish via the Kindle platform bypass the long-term process of traditional publishing.
Yes, anyone can publish to Amazon’s Kindle platform via the company’s website. Readers can then enjoy your book directly on their Kindle devices, as well as on their iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows or Mac devices.
Self publishing on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing is one of the most accessible ways to publish a book without a traditional publisher.
The platform is free to use, offers global distribution and gives authors control over pricing and royalties. While some writers earn meaningful income, results vary widely, and most authors will need to market their book to see decent sales.
For people interested in a creative side hustle, learning how to self publish on Amazon can be a practical starting point. If you have a story to tell, it’s a great gateway to a market used by almost everyone on earth, and it can be a valuable experience to help you develop professionally.
William Fewox has worked as a freelance writer since 2017, and his work is featured in literary magazines such as The Aquarian, The Navigator and The Historian.
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