How to Write a Book For Amazon
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing [KDP] is an easy, fast, and free way for an author or a publisher to keep control of their content while being able to publish books on a global scale. When the book has been completed, the publishing process takes less than 5 minutes to complete.
In return, your e-book will appear on Kindle stores around the world in 48 hours or less.
You’ll be able to earn up to 70% royalties on sales to customers, a minimum of a 35% royalty, and set your own prices. You can also enroll in KDP Select and earn more money through different programs Amazon offers, such as the Lending Library or Kindle Unlimited.
You also keep control of your rights. You can make a change to your book at any time.
Want to know more? Then here’s what you need to know about how to write a book for Amazon today.
#1. Get your manuscript written and properly formatted.
Amazon recommends that you prepare your manuscript in Microsoft Word or an app or software that offers similar word processing capabilities. KDP supports several different file types, including RTF, MOBI, PDF, and plain text, but the best results typically come from DOCX or HTML formats.
Older MS Word document files with the DOC extension are also considered acceptable.
You will then need to follow the Simplified Formatting Guide that is offered by Amazon to make sure your manuscript is properly designed for the formatting process.
#2. Complete the publishing process.
Once you’ve completed your manuscript and properly formatted it, you’re ready to complete the publishing process. KDP will require you to have an Amazon account, or at least an email address, for you to be able to self-publish on this platform. Enter in the title information for your book, including title and author name. Choose the categories you’d like the book to be in. Then upload your cover. You can also choose to use KDP’s Cover Creator if you prefer.
#3. Verify your rights and territories.
When you are completing the publishing process, KDP will ask you to verify your right to be able to publish the book. You can publish content that is public domain, but you cannot publish works that are copyrighted by other authors. Public domain works do not qualify for the 70% royalties that are offered in certain territories.
If you have all the rights to the book, then you can select worldwide rights in all territories. If not, KDP will have you select where you do have territorial rights.
#4. Set the pricing for your book.
You get to choose the royalty options that you would like to collect. You can select a preferred royalty of 35%, even if you qualify for 70% royalties in certain territories. You will also be asked to set the specific list price for your book, based on your current currency. KDP also offers a service that shows how changes to a book’s price can affect its sales. Amazon also reserves the right to offer your book at a price that is lower than what competitive sellers might try to sell the book at.
#5. Begin to promote your book.
Once you’ve published your book and your listing goes live, then you’re ready to use the merchandising tools that are offered by KDP. This includes showing your book on certain product pages. You can also enroll your book in KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited. Promoting your book on Amazon is also easier with Countdown Deals and Free Book Promotions that are offered.
You also have an author page in the US and UK markets that can be claimed. Write a short bio about yourself and link all of your book listings to the bio.
Amazon also recommends that you promote your book listings through your social media networks. You may also wish to ask readers to leave a review for you after they’ve finished your book, but ethically you cannot attempt to influence that review in any way.
You should not pay anyone to leave positive reviews for your book on Amazon unless it is through a KDP-Approved program.
Knowing how to write a book for Amazon is rather simple.
Just follow their page of writing guidelines, set your pricing, and make sure your book has a cover. Input the correct title and author information, claim your author bio page, and then promote your book. That can help you start earning an income from your writing right away.