Submit a Book to Amazon Publishing: Free Guide to Self Publishing on KDP

Short answer: you upload it yourself through Kindle Direct Publishing, better known as KDP. Amazon’s own imprints don’t accept open submissions, so for most authors self publishing through KDP is the real way in. The setup takes an afternoon. Getting it right takes a bit longer.

The Steps, Roughly

Start by creating a KDP account and filling out the tax interview properly. Yeah, that part trips people up more than it should. Then add your book details: title, subtitle, description, categories and seven keywords. Don’t rush the description... it’s the only sales pitch a browsing reader gets.

Next comes the manuscript. KDP takes DOCX, EPUB and PDF files, but a messy file means odd page breaks and a reader who quits at chapter two. Same story with the cover. For print, it needs the right dimensions, spine width included, otherwise the upload gets rejected.

Then pricing. Ebooks earn either 35% or 70% royalty depending on your price and territory, while paperbacks pay 60% minus printing costs. Check the preview, hit publish, and wait. Review usually takes up to 72 hours, sometimes much less.

What About Amazon’s Own Imprints?

Those run through literary agents, not a submit button. So if anyone charges you to get “inside” Amazon Publishing, walk away. Honestly, that’s a red flag every time.

When It Makes Sense to Get Help

Not everyone wants to wrestle with file formats, cover templates and category choices. Fair enough. That’s where amazon publishing services come in, handling editing, formatting, cover design and the upload itself. Just ask what’s actually included before you pay. A vague “package” tells you nothing.

FAQ

Can I submit a book to Amazon for free? Yes. KDP costs nothing to join, and you only pay for things like editing or design if you hire them.

Do I need an ISBN? Not for ebooks. For paperbacks, KDP can give you a free one, though it limits where the book can be sold.

How long until my book goes live? Usually within 72 hours of submitting.

Can I publish from Australia? Absolutely. You just need to complete the tax details and add your bank account for royalties.