Want to learn how to publish a book on Amazon? There are lot of steps along the way. Here’s the big picture to get you started.
Step 1: Write Your Book
Too obvious? Sorry. Just wanted to make sure you knew this had to be done first. Believe it or not, some people want to learn how to publish a book on Amazon without having a book to publish.
If you’ve not written your book yet, go ahead and click off of this article and get to writing. Otherwise, you’re just procrastinating. Start worrying about publishing after you’ve finished your manuscript. Until then, write on.
Step 2: Edit Before You Publish Your Book on Amazon
Like the first step, this one may seem obvious. But it should not be overlooked.
If you plan to publish your book on Amazon or anywhere else, you should edit your book first. No matter who you are and how skilled you may be, have someone else edit your book. Having a fresh set of eyes on your manuscript helps detect issues you may overlook as the author.
Ask a friend to pitch in if your friend is a professional editor. Otherwise, you’ll need to hire an editor. There are lots of places to find good editors, including TikTok and Fiverr. If you know of an editor, like Daniel K. Brantley (Argyle Fox Publishing founder), you can look that editor up directly online.
Step 3: Lay Your Book Out
Once you have the words in order, it’s time to make your book look good. That requires choosing fonts, page header and footer style, and more.
Depending on your preference, you can lay your book out with one of the following tools:
- Adobe InDesign
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Word
Of these choices, Adobe InDesign was built for book design. However, it is cost-prohibitive if you don’t use it regularly.
When designing the interior of your book, size your pages properly and keep all text within the margins of the page. If creating a picture book or other book with images, design your book with bleed to ensure the best end result.
Along with your interior, you need to create your cover. You can hire a book cover artist or create a cover on your own. If doing it on your own, you have various tools at your disposal. Professionals typically choose Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. You may find a program like Canva sufficient for your needs. Just make sure your cover looks as good as the books at your local bookstore. Also, download a cover template from Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or your other printing option for an easier cover-creating experience.
Step 4: Upload Your Book
Once your book is written, edited, and fully designed, it’s ready to upload to your account and release to the world. Log into your Amazon KDP or IngramSpark account and follow the instructions to upload your file. Information about your book to have on hand includes:
- Categories
- Dimensions
- ISBN
- Keywords
- Page count
- Price
- Release date
- Short description
Once your book is uploaded and you’ve approved the digital proof, do a little dance. Then go tell everyone to keep an eye out for your upcoming book release!
Need some help getting your book to the finish line? Argyle Fox Publishing loves helping great people produce great books. Submit your manuscript today to take the first step toward publication.