Cailin Riley Books

Self-publishing doesn’t need to be confusing! If you have a manuscript you would like to turn into an e-book, the process is actually quite simple. (But it does need to be done well!)

Edit

Make sure your manuscript is as flawless as possible. You should ideally go through at least two to three rounds of edits using your own eyes, as well as free editing software such a as Grammerly.

Prep

Make sure you do your research and understand what file format you will need to upload into Amazon Kindle Create to make formatting your book easy. Typically, text files with no images can be uploaded as DOCs. If your manuscript contains images, you will likely want to upload a PDF file, and consider bleed and trim options.

Format

Download and use Kindle Create software to format your book. This is where you can create a title page, table of contents, page numbers and any other front or back matter for your book. This is also a good time to use Cover Creator to create a cover for your book. You can design your own cover, or hire someone else to do so.

Publish

Double check everything to make sure it all looks good. In KDP, you will go through several pages to upload your book’s data, book pricing and formatting details. Amazon typically takes a day or less to analyze your book and approve it for distribution. If any changes are required, you will be emailed. Now is also the time to make sure you create a robust author profile on Amazon and Goodreads.

Market

Now for the hard part! Once your book is out in the world, it’s up to you to spread the word. Make use of your social media channels, groups and blogs to share your book. Word of mouth also counts!

Good luck!