If you’re here, there’s probably a high chance that you’ve just finished writing your book and are ready to make it live!
So, before we go any further….that’s huge. Seriously, most people never get that far.
But now you’re staring at Amazon’s publishing dashboard, thinking:
“Okay… what do I actually do next?”
And here’s what no one really says out loud: Publishing on Amazon isn’t hard…but it’s surprisingly easy to mess up if you rush it.
There are a handful of decisions that quietly make or break your launch. And if you gloss over them, Amazon doesn’t exactly give you a redo button. Although some things can be changed, if you can avoid having to do so over a simple mistake, let’s ensure we do it right the first time.
So in this guide, I’m going to walk you through exactly what to do, step by step.
No fluff. No guessing. No “hope this works.”
Let’s get your book published to KDP the right way.
What You Need Before You Start
Before you even log into KDP, pause for a second.
This is where a lot of authors accidentally sabotage themselves. They jump in too early, then get stuck halfway through trying to “figure things out.”
Don’t be that author. Because I’ve done the quick route before with publishing and wish I had known more about preparing rather than rushing in.
So here’s what I wish I had known, and how you can be ready before you click anything.
Your Title (and Subtitle)
This isn’t just about sounding clever. If you’re like me you’ve probably had a handful of awesome titles but when doing your research you may have discovered what sounds the best might not actually be the best.
This is because your title plays a critical role in how Amazon understands your book and who it shows to. So yes, creativity matters…but so does strategy.
If you already locked this in earlier, perfect. If not, don’t rush it here.
Your Book Description
This is where I learned a lot from when I first got started publishing. I used to use this space as more of a summary, but through trial, error and research I discovered readers don’t want a summary. They want a reason to care.
So, think of your description like the back cover in a bookstore. Its job is simple: Make someone need to click “Buy”.
Your Author Name
Whether it’s your real name or pen name, it doesn’t matter. I’ve personally always used a pen name and have never regretted it or doubted whether it would work.
What does matter is that you choose a name and stay consistent. This is how readers recognize you. It’s also how Amazon connects all your books together. Changing it later? Not fun.
Pick it. Own it. Stick with it.
Your Keywords and Categories
If there’s one thing you should not be guessing on…it’s this.
Keywords and categories are how Amazon decides where your book shows up. Get them right, and your book gets seen. Get them wrong, and your book basically disappears.
By this point, you should know that I’m a big proponent of using Publisher Rocket for this step. If you don’t have Publisher Rocket that’s okay! It’s definitely not mandatory but has personally saved me days and hours of research and stress.
So, if you already have these figured out, great! In case not, I’d highly suggest stopping here and figuring these out now. I’ve got several articles to help you out.
You can find my article on choosing your keywords here: https://bookishnerd.com/amazing-kindle-keywords/
And how to choose your categories here: https://bookishnerd.com/how-to-choose-the-best-amazon-categories/
Again, it’s okay to take a few extra days to ensure you have these nailed down. Your first few days of going live are crucial to the longevity of your book!
Step-by-Step: Publishing Your Book on Amazon
Alright, now we’re getting into the actual process.
When you log into KDP, everything might look a little…overwhelming at first. Trust me, you’re not alone! I was right there with you a few years back.
So, don’t worry. We’re going to go through this exactly the way Amazon presents it, so nothing catches you off guard.
Step 1: Go to Your Bookshelf and Create a New Book
Once you’re inside KDP, head to your Bookshelf.
You’ll see a button that says something like: “+ Create”
Click that.
Now Amazon will ask what type of book you want to publish:
- Kindle eBook
- Paperback
- Hardcover
You can do all three, eventually. But for right now, choose which you want to go live first and then you can go in and add other formats later on.
So don’t stress trying to do everything at once.
Step 2: Fill Out Your Book Details
This is where Amazon starts asking you for all the important information.
And yes… this part matters more than it looks.
You’ll fill in things like:
- Title and subtitle
- Author name
- Description
- Keywords
- Categories
Nothing here is complicated. But this is where a lot of authors rush… and that’s a mistake.
Because this section tells Amazon not only what your book is, but also who it’s for and where exactly it belongs.
Take your time here.
Step 3: Upload Your Manuscript and Cover
Now for the fun part.
This is where your book actually starts to feel real.
You’ll upload:
- Your manuscript file
- Your book cover
Amazon will process everything and show you a preview.
Do not skip the preview.
Scroll through it. Check formatting. Look for weird spacing. Make sure your cover looks right.
This is your last chance to catch mistakes before readers see it.
Step 4: Set Your Price and Royalties
This is where you decide how much your book costs… and how much you earn.
Amazon gives you a few options here, including different royalty rates depending on your pricing.
Here’s the simple way to think about it:
- Price too high – you may end up with fewer buyers
- Price too low – you could get less of a profit (and sometimes less perceived value)
You don’t have to get this perfect on day one since you can always adjust pricing later. However, you don’t want to scare away any new readers.
Step 5: Hit Publish
Once everything is filled out, Amazon lets you hit publish.
But before you do…
Pause.
Double-check everything:
- Title spelled correctly (this can’t be changed once live for Print versions)
- Description formatted properly
- Keywords and categories accurate
- Files uploaded correctly
Because once you hit publish, your book goes into review and can be live within about 72 hours.
And that first impression? It matters more than you think.
Conclusion
There you have it! You’ve now successfully published your book to Amazon and now just get to wait it out.
If anything looks wrong or Amazon finds problems, they will reach out to you within 72 hours and let you know what needs to happen. Otherwise, you’ll get the email saying “Success!” and it’s off to the races.
Hopefully after reading through this you’ll feel more confident and ready to take on the next book release. After reading this you are already significantly further ahead than I was when I just got started.
So, good luck!
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