Uploading to Amazon KDP & Other Platforms: The Ship-It Playbook
Most authors stall at the finish line—not in writing, but in publishing logistics. Specs. File types. Covers. Keywords. Pricing It feels like a wall. Here’s the truth: it’s not hard—it’s a checklist. Follow the steps below and you’ll go live in a single afternoon. Step 0 — Prep the Assets (one-folder rule) Create a folder named: BOOK_TITLE_PUBLISH. Inside, place: - Manuscript (eBook): .epub (reflowable) - Manuscript (Print): print-ready .pdf (correct trim size, margins, no hyperlinks) - Cover (eBook): front cover .jpg/.png (thumbnail friendly) - Cover (Print): full wrap .pdf (front + spine + back, sized to trim & page count) - Metadata doc: title, subtitle, series, author, description, keywords, categories, pricing - Author assets: author photo, short bio, long bio - Extras: 3–5 quote graphics, back-cover copy, ISBN(s) if you’re bringing your own Pro tip: Name everything cleanly. KDP day is not the day to hunt files. AI prompt (metadata draft):“Create a book metadata sheet (title, subtitle, 200-word description with hooks & benefits, 7 SEO keywords, 2 BISAC-style categories, author bio) for a nonfiction book about [topic] for [audience] promising [transformation]. Tone: clear, compelling, zero fluff.” Step 1 — Validate Interior Files (readability first) eBook (.epub): - Reflowable text, no weird spacing, clickable ToC, simple images. - Test on Kindle Previewer (desktop) to catch formatting quirks. Print (.pdf): - Choose trim size (e.g., 5x8, 5.5x8.5, 6x9). - Set margins/bleed consistently. - Page numbers on content only (not title/copyright). - Export as PDF/X or high quality—fonts embedded. AI prompt (cleanup):“Scan this chapter for formatting issues (headers consistency, paragraph spacing, orphans/widows). Return a checklist of fixes and a clean version.” Step 2 — Design Covers That Sell (thumbnail test) eBook cover: big readable title, bold subtitle, high contrast. Must pass the thumbnail test (legible at ~1 inch).Print cover (wrap PDF): front + spine + back copy + barcode space. Spine width depends on page count & paper type.