Your First KDP Book: 10 Steps from Idea to Launch
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Your First Book on Amazon KDP: 10 Practical Steps from Idea to Publication for New Authors
Publishing your first book on Amazon KDP can feel overwhelming. Multiple stages, technical requirements, and unfamiliar terminology often intimidate beginners. In reality, the process is straightforward once it’s broken down into clear, manageable steps.
This guide will walk you from a blank starting point all the way to seeing your book live on Amazon. Follow the plan, and your first publication can realistically be completed in just a few days to a couple of weeks.
Book Type Selection on Amazon KDP 2025: Low-Content vs. Non-Fiction vs. Fiction
The first decision is what kind of book to create. This determines the scope of the work and the skills required.
Options for the first book
Low-content books —planners, journals, coloring books, trackers. Minimal text, focus on page design. Created in 2-5 hours. An ideal starting point for testing the platform.
Short nonfiction —how-to guides of 5,000-15,000 words. Requires prior knowledge or research. Production time: 1-4 weeks.
Fiction – short stories or novellas. Requires writing experience. For your first book, choose a short format.
Recommendation for beginners: start with a low-content book or a short non-fiction guide.
Niche Research Methodology: BSR Analysis & Competition Evaluation
Don't create a book on a random topic. Success is determined by choosing a niche before you begin.
How to analyze a niche
Open Amazon and enter keywords related to your topic. Check the first page of results.
Look at the BSR (Best Seller Rank) of top books. A BSR below 100,000 indicates regular sales. If several books have low BSRs, there's demand.
Count the number of search results. Less than 5,000 results means low competition. 5,000-20,000 means moderate competition. More than 20,000 means high competition.
Read your competitors' reviews. Negative reviews highlight what readers are missing. This is your opportunity to improve.
Signs of a good niche for your first book
There are books with BSR below 50,000.
The number of results is less than 10,000.
Top books have less than 100 reviews.
You understand the topic or are ready to learn it.
Structural Framework on Amazon KDP: Templates for Non-Fiction & Low-Content Books
Think through the structure before writing. This saves time and improves quality.
Structure for non-fiction
Introduction - why read this book, what will the reader get?
The main chapters are a logical sequence from simple to complex.
Practical elements – checklists, exercises, examples.
Conclusion - results and next steps.
For a 10,000 word book, 5-7 chapters of 1200-1500 words each are sufficient.
Structure for low-content books
Title page with the title.
Instructions for use page (optional).
Core pages - repeating pattern (80-120 pages).
A final page with thanks or information about the author.
Content Development System on Amazon KDP: Writing, Editing & Design Workflows
Proceed to creating the contents of the book.
For text books
Write daily, even if it's just 500-1000 words. Don't edit while you're writing—it slows down the process. Finish a draft, then move on to editing.
Use Google Docs or Word for writing. Keep backup copies.
After completing the draft:
First edit - structure and logic.
Second edit - style and readability.
Proofreading - grammar and typos.
Use Grammarly or LanguageTool for automatic checking.
For low-content books
Create a page template in Canva or another editor. Duplicate the template to create the required number of pages. Add variations to keep the book from looking monotonous.
Export to PDF for a printed book or to individual images for assembly.
Cover Design Protocol: Amazon Requirements & Conversion Psychology
The cover is the main driver of clicks. A poor-quality cover kills sales.
Kindle Cover Requirements
Size: minimum 1000 pixels on the short side, recommended 2560 x 1600.
Format: JPEG or TIFF.
Contents: book title, author's name, readable text in miniature.
How to create a cover
Study the covers of bestselling books in your niche. Determine the overall style: colors, fonts, composition.
Use Canva (free) to create a book cover. Choose a book cover template. Customize the text, colors, and images. Save as a high-quality JPG.
Alternative: Order a cover on Fiverr for $20-50.
Technical Formatting: Kindle & Paperback Preparation Standards
The manuscript must meet Amazon's technical requirements.
Formatting for an e-book
Remove page numbers - they are not used in the e-book.
Create an active table of contents with links to chapters.
Use standard fonts (Times New Roman, Arial).
Check your indents and spacing.
Save your file in DOCX or EPUB format. Amazon will accept and convert it automatically.
For complex formatting, use Amazon's free Kindle Create program.
Formatting for a printed book
Set the correct page size (popular: 6 x 9 inches).
Adjust the margins to accommodate binding.
Add page numbers.
Export to PDF.
Kindle Create automatically creates a printable PDF from your DOCX.
Account Configuration: KDP Registration & Tax Compliance
If you don't have an account yet, create one at kdp.amazon.com .
Account setup
Fill in the publisher information: name, address, contacts.
Attend a tax interview and complete Form W-8BEN.
Set up your payment method (bank transfer).
Once set up, the account is ready to publish.
Publication Dashboard on Amazon KDP: Keyword Strategy & Category Optimization
Proceed to publishing in the control panel.
Kindle eBook Details section
Book language - select from the list.
Title - Include keywords for search.
Subtitle - additional keywords.
Author - your name or pseudonym.
Description - selling text up to 4000 characters.
Keywords - 7 phrases for search engine optimization.
Categories - Select 2 relevant categories.
Kindle eBook Content Section
Upload your manuscript and cover.
Check the display in Kindle Previewer.
Set up DRM (copy protection).
Pricing section
Select a royalty rate (35% or 70%).
Set the price ($2.99-$9.99 for 70% royalty).
Adjust prices for other markets.
Post-Submission Process on Amazon KDP: Moderation Timeline & Status Monitoring
Click "Publish Your Kindle eBook." Your book will be submitted for review.
Timing and process
Moderation takes up to 72 hours, usually 24-48 hours. Amazon checks for compliance with the rules, file quality, and the absence of copyright infringement.
Once approved, you'll receive an email. The book will appear on Amazon with "Live" status.
Launch Momentum: Initial Promotion & Series Planning
Publication is the beginning of the work, not the end. Without promotion, the book will remain invisible.
First steps after publication
Check the book page on Amazon to make sure it displays correctly.
Ask friends and family to leave honest reviews.
Share the link on social networks.
Optimize keywords within 1-2 weeks based on data.
Consider Amazon Ads for paid promotion after you get your first reviews.
Plan your next book
A single book rarely generates significant income. Plan to create a series or several books in different niches. Each new publication increases your overall income and experience.
Creating your first book on Amazon KDP involves 10 specific steps from idea to publication. The process takes anywhere from a few days (low-content) to several weeks (text-based books).
The key is to get started. Your first book will teach you more than months of theoretical study. Mistakes are inevitable, but they become the foundation for improving subsequent publications.
Choose a book type, research the niche, and start creating. In just a few days, your book could be available to millions of Amazon readers.
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