Estimated reading time at 200 wpm: 13 minutes

Publishing a first book on Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) can feel overwhelming. This guide consolidates practical lessons learned from the self-publishing process. Whether publishing fiction or non-fiction, these insights will help avoid common pitfalls. If you’re one of those people who will go, “Why would I want to publish a book, let alone use Amazon KDP?” – you are informed that you should depart now and never return! If you’re also the sort of person who would ask “And how’s sales going?” – you are informed that you should depart now and never return! Why? Because I would think of you as a fool. Like do I care if anybody reads this post? No. I don’t post things for audiences. It’s for me.. yes.. me.. me.. me. It’s about my learning. If someone happens to benefit, then fine. And now if you’re the type to ask, “How much is Amazon paying you for this blog post?” – you are definitely in the wrong place. Please move on swiftly! If you’re a luddite you should move on even faster!

I recently published my first Sci-Fi novella The Kael’Nyrin Scrolls: Our Children of Starlight on Amazon about 3 days ago: first in ebook format, then paperback and hardback. Next comes the audiobook of the same content on Amazon’s separate ACX platform. Did I say that you who has stayed on for these insults needs to write a book? I did not! I know exactly what it is:

1. You have issues.
2. You don’t have time and you never will find time.
3. Your dog always needs a bath first!
4. You have to prioritise Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Instagram, TikTok etc etc.

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The growing ebook market

The global ebook market size stands at $18.02 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $22.76 billion by 2030, registering a 4.78% compound annual growth rate. Other forecasts are even more optimistic, with the market expected to reach $46.14 billion by 2035, reflecting a steady 6.1% annual growth rate from 2025 through 2035.

Asia Pacific charts the fastest regional expansion at a 4.90% annual growth rate through 2030, propelled by smartphone ubiquity and flexible mobile payment systems. North America continues to lead the market, but opportunities are expanding globally.

Passive income potential

Self-publishers continue to earn thousands of pounds in royalties every month on Amazon Kindle, making it one of the most sought-after ways to earn passive income online in 2025. Once a book is published and properly marketed, it can generate income for years with minimal ongoing effort.

The beauty of ebook publishing lies in its scalability. Authors can build a catalogue of titles, each contributing to monthly income. Authors with a decent following can sell well over 3,000 copies per month on Kindle. Even beginners can build towards this by focusing on proper execution of their book launch and ongoing marketing.

Unlike traditional publishing, KDP offers:

• No upfront costs to publish
• 70% royalty rates on properly priced ebooks
• Global distribution to millions of readers
• Complete creative control
• The ability to update and republish at will

Part 1: Publishing Your Ebook

The three stages

KDP breaks ebook publishing into three stages:

1. Kindle eBook Details – Book info, description, keywords
2. Kindle eBook Content – Upload the manuscript
3. Kindle eBook Pricing – Set price and royalty rate

All three must be completed before publishing.

File format: use EPUB

When using Atticus or similar software, export as EPUB. KDP converts it automatically to Kindle format.

Important: Don’t export as PDF for ebooks. EPUB preserves formatting and adapts to different screen sizes.

The cover conundrum

Problem: If a cover is embedded in the EPUB file AND uploaded to KDP, two covers will appear in succession.

Solution:

• Remove the cover from inside the book creation software before exporting
• Upload the best quality cover image directly to KDP
• Use KDP’s preview tool to check there’s only one cover

Table of contents issues

Problem: A prologue may appear in the book but not in the TOC after exporting from Atticus.

Solution: In Atticus, prologues often sit in the “Front Matter” section. Move the prologue into the “Body” section where chapters are located. This ensures it appears in the TOC.

Pricing strategy for novellas

For a novella of approximately 15,000 words, a price point of £1.99 to £2.99 is recommended.

KDP Royalty Structure:

• Under £1.99: 35% royalty
• £1.99 – £6.99: 70% royalty (minus small delivery fees)

Why £1.99-£2.99?

• Hits the 70% royalty threshold
• Fair value for a novella-length work
• Low enough to attract readers to new authors
• Can be adjusted later based on response

For series: Consider pricing book one at £0.99 as a loss leader, then £2.99-£3.99 for subsequent books.

Reader control over display

Reader devices allow users to adjust:

• Font size
• Line spacing
• Margins
• Background colour

The author’s job is to provide solid structure. Readers customise the rest to their preferences.

The publishing wait

After hitting publish, it takes up to 72 hours for an ebook to go live. Often it’s much quicker. During this review period, edits cannot be made.

Before publishing, double-check:

• Book description and keywords
• Categories are correct
• Preview looks good on multiple devices
• Cover is the right file

KDP costs nothing. So you can stop clutching your credit card or wallet so tightly. KDP is generous: authors can preview their publications. If errors are discovered those can be corrected and the file(s) uploaded again. Yes 0 so authors can edit their books.

Part 2: Creating a Print Edition

Trim size matters

Standard option: 6″ x 9″

Problem: For a novella of ~15,000 words, this creates a very thin, pamphlet-like book (50-60 pages).

Better choice: 5″ x 8″

• More pages (narrower width = more lines per page)
• Thicker, more substantial spine
• Feels like a proper book
• Standard size for fiction novellas

Margins and gutters

When setting up your Word document

Inside margin: The base margin on the binding edge of each page. On left pages, this is the right side. On right pages, this is the left side.

Gutter: Extra space added ON TOP of the inside margin. It’s specifically for binding clearance.

For a 5″ × 8″ paperback

Typical margins:

• Inside (binding side): 1.9-2.2cm
• Outside: 1.3-1.6cm
• Top: 1.9cm
• Bottom: 1.9cm
• Gutter: 0-0.5cm (optional extra)

Total binding clearance: Aim for 2-2.5cm total on the inside edge.

Paperback bindings need less clearance than hardcovers. You can use slightly tighter margins than your 13.97cm × 21.59cm hardcover because there’s more page width to work with.

Popular setup:

• Inside: 2cm
• Outside: 1.5cm
• Top/Bottom: 1.9cm each
• Gutter: 0cm

This keeps text well clear of the binding whilst maximising usable space on the 5-inch width.

Hardcover Margins

How to set in Word:

1. Layout tab → Margins → Custom Margins
2. Set the measurements above
3. Multiple pages: Change to “Mirror margins” (critical for alternating pages)
4. Apply to whole document

Page size:

1. Layout → Size → More Paper Sizes
2. Width: 5″ (12.7 cm)
3. Height: 8″ (20.3 cm)

Typography choices

Body font: Use a serif font at 11pt

• Times New Roman, Garamond, Baskerville, Caslon, or Georgia
• NOT sans-serif fonts (like Aptos, Arial, Calibri)
• Serifs guide the eye and look professional in print

Text alignment: Justified (clean edges on both sides)

Paragraph indents: 0.5″ (1.3 cm) for first line

• Exception: Don’t indent first paragraph of chapters or after scene breaks

Style hierarchy

For a structured novella with multiple section levels:

1. Chapter numbers: 18pt, bold
2. Chapter titles: 14pt, bold
3. Major sections: 13pt, bold
4. Subsections: 12pt, bold
5. Body text: 11pt, regular

Create styles in Word for consistency. Format one heading, then save as a style and apply throughout.

Page numbering

Best practice for fiction: Simple centred numbers at bottom of page.

Avoid “Page 1 of X” format – that’s more for reports and non-fiction.

How to control where numbering appears:

1. Insert section breaks: Layout → Breaks → Next Page (Section Break)
   • One break after front matter (before Chapter 1)
   • One break after last chapter (before back matter)
2. Unlink sections:
   • Double-click in footer
   • Turn off “Link to Previous” button
   • Do this for each section
3. Add numbers only to main content:
   • Delete numbers from front matter
   • Insert numbers in Chapter 1 footer (set to start at 1)
   • Delete numbers from back matter

Pages to exclude from numbering:

• Title page
• Copyright page
• Dedication
• Table of contents
• Any pages after the last chapter

The back cover

KDP’s print option requires a full wraparound cover with:

• Front cover
• Spine (with title and author)
• Back cover

Back cover essentials:

1. Book description: Short, punchy version of the blurb (100-150 words max)
2. Author bio: 2-3 sentences, not the full bio
3. Author photo: Optional but adds professionalism
4. Barcode space: Leave blank – KDP adds this automatically

The condensed bio should highlight relevant credentials or experience in 2-3 sentences maximum. Keep the detailed bio inside the book itself.

Chapter formatting tips

Keep it professional:

• All text in black (coloured text prints as grey in B&W)
• Consistent spacing before and after chapter headings
• If using ornamental dividers between chapters, use “In line with text” wrapping
• Don’t use gimmicky fonts or excessive formatting

Chapter numbers: If the export software doesn’t include them, add manually in Word and use a style for consistency.

Handling Atticus exports

Problem: Exporting from Atticus to Word may strip out chapter numbers that appear in the app.

Solution: Add them manually in Word. For a novella, this takes just a few minutes.

Problem: PDF exports from Atticus may have excessive white space.

Solution: Export to Word instead, then format properly with the margins and settings above.

Preview everything

For ebooks: Use KDP’s preview tool to check on:

• Kindle devices
• Tablets
• Mobile phones

Spacing will vary across devices – this is normal.

For print:

1. Use KDP’s print preview tool thoroughly
2. Check every page for formatting issues
3. Look for shifted images or spacing problems
4. Consider ordering a proof copy before going live

A physical proof is the only way to be 100% certain everything prints correctly.

Part 3: Overcoming Publishing Anxiety

Cold feet are normal

After months of work, it’s natural to feel nervous about publishing. Every author experiences this.

Key points to remember:

• Unpublishing is possible if needed (though rarely necessary)
• First books are learning experiences
• Keeping a book unpublished won’t improve it
• Only writing the next one leads to improvement

The simple truth

The hard work is writing the book. Publishing is just pressing a button.

Once published, relief replaces anxiety. Then focus can shift to the next project.

Part 4: Final Checklist

Before publishing your ebook:

• [ ] EPUB file exported without embedded cover
• [ ] Cover image uploaded to KDP (high quality)
• [ ] All chapters in TOC
• [ ] Book description written and proofread
• [ ] Keywords and categories selected
• [ ] Price set with correct royalty rate
• [ ] Preview checked on multiple devices
• [ ] Front matter complete (title page, copyright, dedication)
• [ ] Back matter complete (about author, acknowledgements)

Before publishing your print book:

• [ ] Trim size selected (5″ x 8″ recommended for novellas)
• [ ] Margins set correctly with mirror margins enabled
• [ ] Serif font at 11pt for body text
• [ ] Paragraph indents set (0.5″ first line)
• [ ] Chapter headings formatted consistently with styles
• [ ] Page numbers added (excluding front and back matter)
• [ ] Section breaks inserted correctly
• [ ] Back cover completed with short bio and blurb
• [ ] Interior preview checked page by page
• [ ] All images set to “In line with text” if used
• [ ] Proof copy ordered (optional but recommended)

Final Thoughts

Publishing on KDP is more accessible than ever, but the details matter. Take time to format properly. Use the preview tools. Don’t rush.

A book represents months or years of work. Give it the professional presentation it deserves.

And when cold feet strike? Remember: the difference between published and unpublished authors is that published ones hit the button despite the nerves.

The path forward is clear. The only step left is to take it. But you have choice: to do something or do nothing; or to spend your time buying and reading books, or wasting your life on Instagram and Facebook!