Kindle Direct Publishing, or KDP, is a platform that many tout to help you get books published without the need for agents, pitches, or publishing houses. But, how easy is self-publishing through KDP?
I suppose that depends on the author. Below is my experience using Amazon’s KDP platform from start to finish. It’s my hope that I can help others decide for themselves if this is something worthwhile.
And yes, I used nothing more than the free versions of every tool I’ve come across.
I’m documenting all of the experiences and nuances of the system and hope I can be of some help.
The Process of Self-Publishing on KDP
Keep in mind that I am still relatively new to the idea of publishing a book myself. I am in no way an expert, and the steps below are purely of my own experiences.
- Self-Publishing an eBook: Part 1 – Write the Damn eBookPublishing an eBook can open a myriad of doors for any writer. Whether you’re into freelancing or trying to get your foot in the door as a novelist, self-publishing can be helpful. Today, I’m starting this new series of posts that will help you write your own eBook and get noticed.
- Self-Publishing an eBook: Part 2 – Editing the BookOnce you’re done writing the rough draft, it’s time to start thinking about editing your book. In this process, you’ll fine-tune its flow, add or remove text, and get it ready for publishing. How you go about doing this, though, is completely up to you.
- Self-Publishing an eBook: Part 3 – Creating the CoverAfter writing and editing your ebook, it’s time to start thinking about the cover. This is the graphic that is shown to readers that will tempt them to buy or read the book. So, you want it to look nice because people often will judge a book by its cover.
- Self-Publishing an eBook: Part 4 – Using Kindle CreatePerhaps one of the easiest ways to make sure your eBook is ready for Amazon is by using Kindle Create. It’s a free app you can use that has a few features you might like. Today, I’ll show you how to use it and some of its functions you’ll want to check out.
- Self-Publishing an eBook: Part 5 – Submitting it to KDPAfter using Kindle Create to format your book, it’s time to add it to Amazon. This part is relatively simple, and Amazon does a decent job making the tabs easy to understand. Let’s start submitting your eBook to KDP.
- Self-Publishing an eBook: Part 6 – Setting Up Author Central in KDPUploading your book to Amazon is only part of the self-publishing process. Next comes the marketing. To start off a good campaign, it’s ideal to set up your Author Central page in KDP. This gives you a professional page to share with fans and readers.
- What is Kindle Vella and is it Worth Your Time as an Author?The Internet has given authors all kinds of opportunities in the 21st century. In fact, self-publishing tools and platforms have let all kinds of people step into the ring without gate-keeping agents or publishing houses. But is Kindle Vella something that offers value to the author and reader?
- How to Make Money with Low-Content Books on AmazonThere is no doubt that many people have made a fair amount of money producing low-content books. Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform makes creating these incredibly easy. So, how can you use KDP to create low-content books that sell?
- 11 Great Ideas to Create Your Own Low-Content BookIt’s not overly difficult to publish low-content books on Amazon. And if you have a good idea, it could net you some serious income. But what ideas are the best for a low-content book?
Why Use KDP in the First Place?
Kindle Direct Publishing is one of the more common methods for people looking to do it themselves. As such, I intend to give it a try and put in maximum effort to see how well it works in my situation.
To be honest, anything having to deal with Amazon is going to have some kind of benefit. As this is my first attempt at self-publishing, I figured I would start with the most popular platform on the Internet.
I’m sure that this page will change as I dive deeper and deeper into the platform. But for now, I’m merely starting with KDP because of its popularity.
Currently a Work in Progress
The plan is to publish a few books through KDP while trying different methods of marketing and development. This isn’t an absolute guide to the process of self-publishing on KDP, and I plan on updating this page often.
Right now, the purpose of this page is to outline everything I’ve done while getting my own works available on the system. There will be a new blog post written and added for every step of the journey.
Eventually, I’d like to highlight royalties, expenses, marketing tactics, and what has and hasn’t worked. I’d also like to compare how KDP stacks up against other self-publishing services.
If you have any ideas, questions, comments, or concerns about KDP or any other self-publishing platform, feel free to contact me using the contact form on this website.
Is Self-Publishing through KDP for You?
In the end, it might simply come down to personal preference. Until I’m able to gather more data, I can’t say for certainty if KDP is the best method for self-publishing.