The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Publishing Your Book on Amazon KDP (Paperback & Kindle)

You've written a book? Congratulations! That is a monumental achievement. But now, you are probably asking yourself THE crucial question: how do I turn this text document into a real, physical book and an eBook available worldwide on Amazon?

Don't panic. This tutorial will guide you through every single step. We will prepare your Word file, design your covers, and set everything up for Amazon KDP.

Part 1: The Paperback Book

This is the physical object your readers will hold in their hands. It requires precise formatting so that the printing comes out perfectly.

Step 1.1: Prepare and Clean Your Word File

Before uploading to KDP, your manuscript must be flawless. Follow this exact checklist:

A. Spacing and Font

• Paragraphs > Spacing: Set to 12 pt "Before" and 12 pt "After".
• Line Spacing: Choose "Multiple" and set the value to 1.3.
• Font: Use "Georgia", size 10. This serif font is elegant and highly readable in print.

B. Page Dimensions

• Go to Layout > Size > More Paper Sizes (Custom Size).
• Set Width to 15.24 cm (6") and Height to 22.86 cm (9") — the classic 6x9 inch standard format used by most self-published authors.

C. Pagination Management

You don't want page numbers on your title page or acknowledgments. Page 1 must start at Chapter 1.

• Place your cursor at the bottom of the page just before Chapter 1.
• Go to Layout > Breaks > Section Breaks > Next Page.
• On the Chapter 1 page, insert page numbers in the footer (centered, size 8 font).
• Deselect "Link to Previous" in Header & Footer settings, then delete page numbers from all pages before Chapter 1.
• Select all text and apply Justified alignment for that professional "real book" look.

D. Text Cleanup

Use Word's Find and Replace (Ctrl+H) to fix invisible formatting errors:

• Double line breaks: Find ^p^p and replace with ^p to remove blank spaces.
• Non-breaking spaces: Prevent orphaned punctuation marks (?, :, !) by replacing the normal space before them with a non-breaking space: Ctrl + Shift + Space. This detail separates amateurs from pros.

Step 1.2: Create Your Paperback Cover

Your cover is your #1 sales pitch. Choose one of these two methods:

Part 2: The Digital Format (Kindle eBook)

Readers on Kindle and other e-readers represent a massive chunk of the market. The good news? Most of the hard work is already done from Part 1.

Step 2.1: Create the KPF File

Never upload a basic Word file for an eBook. The text needs to be reflowable to adapt to all screen sizes.

• Download Amazon's free software: Kindle Create.
• Import your finalized Word document from Part 1.
• Format your chapters with a single click and export.
• You'll get a perfectly formatted .kpf file ready for upload!

Step 2.2: Create Your eBook Cover

An eBook cover is simpler — no spine or back cover needed. Only the front matters.

Part 3: Publishing on Amazon KDP

Your interior files (cleaned Word doc for print, KPF file for eBook) and both covers are ready. Now it's time to go live!

• Head to the official Amazon KDP platform.
• Log in (or create your free publisher account).
• Click "Create" and follow the prompts to upload your files.
• Fill in your metadata: title, description, keywords, categories.
• Set your pricing and royalty preferences (35% or 70%).
• Hit Publish — your book will be live within 24-72 hours!