Learn how to self-publish a book on Amazon step by step. From editing to cover design to KDP keywords, do it right and start selling today.
So you wrote a book. That's amazing! Now you want people to read it. And maybe you want to make some money from it too. The good news is that you don't need a big publisher to help you. You can do it all by yourself on Amazon. Millions of people have done it. And you can too.
This guide will walk you through every single step. From getting your book ready to watching your first sale come in. Let's go.
What Is Self-Publishing on Amazon?
Amazon has a program called Kindle Direct Publishing, or KDP. It's free to use. You upload your book there, and Amazon sells it to readers all over the world. You keep most of the money. No big company takes a huge cut. No one tells you what to write.
You can publish two kinds of books on KDP:
- eBooks (digital books people read on a Kindle or phone)
- Paperbacks (real printed books)
You can do both at the same time. And you should. More formats mean more readers.
Step 1: Finish Your Book (For Real)
This sounds obvious. But a lot of people try to publish too early. Your book needs to be completely done before you do anything else.
That means:
- Every chapter is written
- The story or content makes sense from start to finish
- You've read it at least once yourself
Don't rush this part. A half-finished book will get bad reviews. Bad reviews hurt your sales for a long, long time.
Step 2: Edit Your Book Properly
Writing the book is just the beginning. Now you have to clean it up.
There are different kinds of editing:
Content editing is where someone looks at the big picture. Does the story make sense? Are there plot holes? Is the information correct? This is the first thing you fix.
Line editing is where someone looks at how you write. Are your sentences clear? Do your words flow nicely? This comes after content editing.
Proofreading is the last step. This is where someone catches spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and typos. Every book has them. Even famous books have a few. But you want as few as possible.
You can hire editors on websites like Reedsy or Fiverr. Good editing costs money. But it's worth it. A poorly edited book will get torn apart in reviews. And those reviews will stop people from buying.
If you really can't afford an editor right now, read your book out loud. You'll catch a lot of mistakes that way. Also ask a few friends or family members to read it. Fresh eyes always catch things you missed.
Step 3: Format Your Book
Formatting is how your book looks on the inside. The font, the chapter headings, the spacing, the page numbers. All of that is formatting.
If your book looks messy inside, readers notice. It feels unprofessional. And they'll leave a bad review even if the writing was great.
For eBooks, the most common file format is .epub. You can create this using free tools like:
- Atticus (paid but worth it)
- Reedsy Book Editor (free)
- Scrivener (popular with writers)
- Microsoft Word (works fine for simple books)
Amazon also accepts Word documents (.docx) and will convert them for you. But the result isn't always perfect. So try to format properly if you can.
For paperbacks, you need to think about page size, margins, and how text looks when printed. A common paperback size is 6 x 9 inches. Make sure your margins are big enough so the text doesn't get cut off near the spine.
Atticus is great for formatting both eBooks and paperbacks in one place. It's easy to use and gives you clean results.
Step 4: Design a Great Cover
Here is something most new authors get wrong. They think the writing matters most. And yes, good writing is important. But your cover is what makes people click on your book in the first place.
Think about it. When you walk into a bookstore or scroll through Amazon, what makes you stop and look at a book? The cover. Every time.
Your cover needs to:
- Look professional
- Match your genre (a romance cover looks very different from a thriller cover)
- Have a clear, readable title
- Stand out even when it's tiny (Amazon thumbnails are small)
You can hire a cover designer on Reedsy, 99Designs, or Fiverr. A good cover can cost anywhere from $50 to $500. If you're serious about selling books, spend the money here.
If you really want to try it yourself, use Canva or Adobe Express. But be honest with yourself. If it doesn't look professional, hire someone.
Step 5: Choose Your Book Title and Subtitle
Your title needs to do two things. It needs to sound good. And it needs to help people find your book.
For fiction, your title is mostly about feel. It should match the mood of your story.
For nonfiction, your title and subtitle should include keywords people actually search for. For example, instead of calling your book "The Garden", you might call it "The Beginner's Guide to Growing Vegetables at Home". The second title tells people exactly what the book is about. And it has words people search for.
Think about what your reader is typing into Amazon when they're looking for a book like yours. Use those words.
Step 6: Write Your Book Description
Your book description is your sales pitch. It's what readers read on the Amazon page before they decide to buy. This part matters a lot.
A good book description:
- Starts with a hook that grabs attention
- Tells readers just enough to make them curious
- Doesn't give everything away (for fiction)
- Tells readers what they'll learn (for nonfiction)
- Ends with a reason to buy right now
Keep it short and punchy. Big walls of text scare people away. Use short paragraphs. Even one-line sentences are fine.
Here's a simple structure for fiction:
- Introduce the main character and their problem
- Show what's at stake
- End with a question or cliffhanger
Here's a simple structure for nonfiction:
- Name the problem your reader has
- Show them that you have the answer
- List a few things they'll learn
- Tell them to grab the book now
You can also add your author bio at the end. Keep it short and relevant.
Step 7: Create Your KDP Account
Go to kdp.amazon.com and sign up. If you already have an Amazon account, you can use that.
You'll need to fill in:
- Your name or pen name
- Your bank details (so Amazon can pay you)
- Your tax information
Yes, you have to fill in tax info even if you're not in the USA. Amazon pays you royalties and they need your details for legal reasons. It sounds boring but it's quick.
Step 8: Pick the Right Categories and Keywords
This is where a lot of self-publishers leave money on the table. Categories and keywords are how Amazon decides who sees your book. Get this wrong and your book will just sit there with no readers.
Categories are like the sections in a bookstore. Romance, mystery, science fiction, self-help, and so on. You can pick two main categories on KDP. Choose ones that match your book but also ones where you have a chance of standing out.
Picking a smaller subcategory can actually help you. If you're in a tiny category, it's easier to become a bestseller. And that little orange "bestseller" tag on Amazon? It makes people more likely to buy.
Keywords are the words or phrases readers type into Amazon to find books. You get seven keyword slots on KDP. Use all of them. Think like your reader. What would they type to find a book like yours?
Some good examples:
- For a cookbook: "easy dinner recipes for families"
- For a thriller: "edge of your seat suspense novels"
- For a self-help book: "how to stop procrastinating"
Use specific phrases, not single words. "Mystery" is too broad. "Small town mystery with female detective" is much better.
There are tools like Publisher Rocket that help you find great keywords. It's a paid tool but very helpful.
Step 9: Set Your Price
For eBooks, Amazon lets you choose between two royalty plans:
- 35% royalty for books priced under $2.99 or over $9.99
- 70% royalty for books priced between $2.99 and $9.99
Most self-published eBooks are priced between $2.99 and $4.99. That's the sweet spot. Low enough that people don't think too hard about buying. High enough that you make decent money.
If you're a brand new author with no reviews and no audience, starting at $0.99 or even free can help you get your first readers. Some authors give their first book away free to build a fan base.
For paperbacks, Amazon calculates a minimum price based on printing costs. You set a price above that. A typical self-published paperback sells for $9.99 to $16.99.
Step 10: Upload Your Book to KDP
Now for the fun part. Logging into KDP and actually putting your book up.
Here's what you'll need ready:
- Your formatted manuscript file (.epub or .docx)
- Your cover image (Amazon needs it as a .jpg or .tiff, at least 2,560 x 1,600 pixels for eBooks)
- Your book title, subtitle, and description
- Your categories and keywords
- Your price
Go to your KDP dashboard and click "Create". Then choose eBook or paperback. Fill in each section step by step. Amazon's interface guides you through everything.
Once you upload everything, Amazon gives you a preview tool. Use it. Check every page. Make sure nothing looks broken. Make sure the cover looks good.
When you're happy with everything, click publish.
For eBooks, your book usually goes live within 24 to 72 hours.
For paperbacks, it can take a bit longer. Sometimes up to a week.
Step 11: Get Your First Reviews
Here's the hard truth. No reviews means no sales. People don't buy books with zero reviews. Reviews are social proof. They tell strangers that your book is worth their time.
So how do you get reviews fast?
Ask people you know. Friends, family, coworkers. Send them a free copy and ask them to leave an honest review. Don't ask them to say it's amazing. Just ask for honest feedback. Fake reviews can get your account banned.
Use ARC readers. ARC stands for Advance Reader Copy. These are people who agree to read your book before it launches and leave a review after. You can find ARC readers in Facebook groups or on platforms like NetGalley or BookSirens.
Don't pay for reviews. Amazon is very strict about this. Fake or paid reviews can get your account permanently shut down.
Aim for at least 10 reviews before you start running ads or doing big marketing pushes. The more reviews you have, the more people trust your book.
Step 12: Market Your Book
Publishing your book is just the start. Now you have to help people find it.
Here are the best ways to market your self-published book:
Amazon Ads are ads that show up right on Amazon when people search for books. You pay a small amount each time someone clicks your ad. Amazon Ads can work really well but they take some learning. Start with a small budget and see what works.
Social media is free and powerful. Share about your book on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or wherever your readers hang out. BookTok (books on TikTok) is huge right now. Short videos about your book can reach thousands of people.
An email list is one of the most powerful marketing tools you can build. When someone joins your email list, you can contact them directly. No algorithm in the way. Offer a free bonus (like a short story or a PDF) to get people to sign up.
Book promotion sites like BookBub, Freebooksy, and Bargain Booksy will promote your book to their readers for a fee. BookBub is the biggest and most powerful. Getting a BookBub Featured Deal is like winning a lottery for authors. It can sell thousands of copies in one day.
Your author website gives you a home base on the internet. Share your story, list your books, and collect email subscribers. It doesn't have to be fancy. A simple site is fine.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Let's talk about some things that trip up a lot of new authors.
Publishing too fast. It's exciting to finish a book. But rushing to publish without proper editing and a good cover will hurt you. Take your time.
Ignoring keywords and categories. Amazon is a search engine. If you don't tell it who your book is for, it can't show your book to the right people.
Not building an author platform. A lot of authors wait until their book is done to start talking about it. Start earlier. Share your writing journey. Build an audience before launch day.
Giving up too soon. Most self-published books don't sell a lot in the first month. That's normal. Books can sell for years. Keep marketing, keep writing, and be patient.
Writing only one book. The authors who do really well on Amazon usually have multiple books. Each new book you write helps all your other books sell too. The more books you have, the more money you can make.
Should You Use KDP Select?
When you publish on KDP, Amazon will ask if you want to join KDP Select. This is a program where you agree to sell your eBook only on Amazon for 90 days. No other stores like Apple Books or Kobo.
In return, you get some nice benefits:
- Your book is available in Kindle Unlimited, which is like Netflix for books. Readers can borrow your book for free and you get paid per page read.
- You can run free promotions and price deals to boost visibility.
For most new authors, KDP Select is a good idea. Kindle Unlimited readers love to try new authors. And the extra visibility helps.
But if you want to sell on multiple platforms, skip KDP Select and go wide.
How Much Money Can You Make?
Okay, let's be real here.
Most self-published authors don't make a full-time income right away. Some never do. But some make a little side income. And some make a lot.
The authors who do well usually:
- Write more than one book
- Write in popular genres
- Keep marketing consistently
- Learn from what works and what doesn't
Some self-published authors make six figures a year. But they've usually been doing it for years and have many books out.
Start with realistic expectations. Your goal at first should be to learn the process, get some reviews, and start building your reader base. The money follows when you do those things right.
A Quick Recap
Here's the whole process in short:
- Finish your book completely
- Edit it properly (hire an editor if you can)
- Format the inside of your book
- Design a professional cover
- Write a great book description
- Create your KDP account
- Choose smart categories and keywords
- Set the right price
- Upload everything and publish
- Get your first reviews
- Market your book consistently
- Write your next book
Self-publishing on Amazon is not a get-rich-quick thing. But it's a real opportunity. You are in control. You keep most of the money. And your book can stay on sale forever.
If you're serious about it, treat it like a business. Learn the tools. Study what other successful authors do. And keep writing.
Your readers are out there. Go find them.
Written by Himanshi
