Self-Publishing on Amazon in 8 Easy Steps + A Sit Down with Our New Favorite Author

If you’re a writer, you likely have a book (maybe even a few books) you’ve considered writing. Until recently, though, writing was only one step in the publishing process. Authors had multiple barriers, like securing an agent and finding a company willing to print their work. But now, with self-publishing on Amazon and other platforms, writers can focus less on publisher gatekeeping and more on their own writing. 

In other words, your book may only be a few steps away from being published, purchased, and read. 

In this post, we’ll cover how to create your own ebook, and we’ll interview A.G. Miller (aka Grace Miller) about her experience with self-publishing on Amazon. She’ll cover the steps she took to make her book, Under the Knife, available on Kindle.

If you want to skip to her interview, click here.  

8 Steps for self-publishing on Amazon

1. Write your book
2. Sign up for Kindle Direct Publishing
3. Download Kindle Create to create KPF files
4. Choose and format an image for your cover
5. Go to your Bookshelf and click “Create”
6. Choose between preorder and immediate publication
7. Upload and preview your book
8. Set up rights and pricing

1. Write your book

Okay, so the first step isn’t exactly easy, but it is possible. If you’re wondering what to write about, remember, your literary path is completely unique to you. You can target specific search terms (e.g. “how to talk to anyone”), and you can write using your existing expertise. For instance, if you’ve worked in marketing for 20 years, that would definitely be something to write about!

Of course, you don’t have to stick to nonfiction topics. There are thousands of fiction ebooks, genres, and niches within those genres. If you have, say, a futuristic epic on your hands about star-crossed lovers, you already have a keyword ready to go: “science fiction romance.” Plus, the more specific you go, the greater your chances become of finding a profitable niche.

How to find keywords

How do you find these elusive search terms when self-publishing on Amazon? Below we have some resources you can use.

• Google auto-predict (free)

• Kindle/Amazon auto-predict (free)

• Kindle Best Sellers list (free)

• Keyword Tool (free)

• Sonar (free)

• Sellerapp (free)

• Moz Keyword Explorer (free with signup)

• PublisherRocket (paid)

• Ahrefs (paid)

There’s also something to be said for brevity. Remember, your book doesn’t have to be the length of a Stephen King novel. Some ebooks are as short as twenty pages, and they sell perfectly well.

2. Sign up for Kindle Direct Publishing

If you have an existing Kindle account, this step can be as simple as signing into your account and clicking “Create”. If you don’t have an Amazon account, you’ll need to sign up.

3. Download Kindle Create to make KPF files

Self-publishing on Amazon lends itself to a variety of formats, but your book will look best in the proper formatting. You can download Kindle Create for Mac or PC.

Once downloaded and installed, you can see samples before uploading your own unformatted file. You’ll have the option to add title pages and back pages, choose a theme, and more. You’ll get a chance to preview before exporting.

You can find all the necessary steps here.

4. Choose and format an image for your cover

You’ll need to choose an image for your cover. Of course, this image will need to be yours to use (not infringing on any copyrights). You can learn to format your image here.

How to make book cover art when self-publishing on Amazon

There are several resources for making your own book cover. Here are a few platforms you can use to make a unique image:

• Canva (free)

• Visme (free)

• Fiverr (paid freelance design services)

• Etsy book cover templates (paid)

5. Go to your Bookshelf and click “Create”

Once you’re ready, it’s time to create your Kindle book!

• Go to your Bookshelf

• Click Create

• Click Create eBook

• Input fields (e.g. title, author, description, keywords, etc.)

Image source: Jungle Scout

6. Choose between preorder and immediate publication

While you’re filling out the fields during your ebook creation, you’ll have the option between making your book available for preorder or publishing it right away.

If you just want to get your book out there, you may choose to publish it directly. On the other hand, if you want some time to market your book and generate excitement, a preorder may be the way to go.

7. Upload and preview your book

Once you add the details about your book, it’s time to upload your actual content! Don’t forget to read the KDP guidelines before uploading your files. 

Upload your manuscript and cover, and you’ll have a chance to preview your ebook.

8. Set up rights and pricing

Welcome to the final step: setting up rights and pricing. You’ll need to choose your royalty rate. As long as your pricing is competitive (between $2.99 and $9.99), you can choose to receive 70% of royalties (in applicable countries). 

What’s the difference between 35% and 70% royalties rate for KDP?

If you’re self-publishing on Amazon, you may be unsure of which royalty amount to choose. There are some different schools of thought on this; some people believe file size comes into play and cuts into your 70% royalties. Overall, though, 70% is theoretically the best deal for authors, so price your book in the competitive $2.99 - $9.99 range.

Author interview on writing an ebook: A.G. Miller discusses self-publishing her novel debut on Amazon

Now, to the fun part! For this post, I was so excited to interview A.G. Miller (aka Grace Miller), the author of one of my favorite novels from last year. She’s a content strategist, marketing writer, and editor. 

Read her answers for a firsthand account of what it’s like to self-publish on Amazon.

JW: Hello! Thanks for sitting down with us. How would you describe yourself to readers?

AGM: I'm a storyteller. I write fiction and essays, of course, but I also use storytelling every day in my marketing work. In addition to my own writing, I help other people tell stories, too, as an editor and a strategist. I'm an all-around word nerd, and I love helping people get to the heart of what they want to say, saying it in a way they're proud of.

JW: Obviously, I own your book and love it, but where can new readers find it?

AGM: They can find it on Amazon. Every positive review helps, too!

JW: Can you tell our readers what your book is about?

AGM: It's a historical thriller set in Prohibition era NYC. A young woman goes missing after trying to procure an abortion and her friend Charlotte has to venture into the murky criminal underworld to try to find her. As you can imagine, danger is everywhere and no one can be trusted when everyone has something to hide. As Charlotte searches for her friend, she comes closer and closer to a twisted killer.

JW: In your opinion, what are some of the barriers to entry with traditional publishing?

AGM: So much of traditional publishing is luck. You have to get your query letter in front of the right person at the right time. 

When I was pursuing that path, I had a couple people tell me they might've been interested in representing my book, but they were going out of town and wouldn't have time to read it or they just picked up something historical. Who knows what would’ve happened if they weren’t out of town or hadn't just grabbed another novel? And obviously, there's no way you can know that or strategize your way around that. 

Then, my agent ultimately left publishing before we found this novel a home. I don't blame her for leaving a career that wasn't right for her, but that did leave me in a bad position. You put your heart and soul into a novel, and then so much of its success comes down to luck and circumstances you can't plan for. Maybe I'm a control freak, but I hate that idea!

JW: That makes a lot of sense. What steps did you take to then publish your book on Amazon?

AGM: It was actually far easier than I expected it to be. I just had to format the manuscript correctly, come up with a book cover, write some blurb copy, pick a price, and hit go. I'm still new to this, but the actual steps were incredibly easy.

JW: What has the response to your book been like?

AGM: It's been good. I've been surprised at the people in my periphery who have bought it and raved to me about it. I expected my mom to read it and support me, but it's still a surprise when random people, like my career coach, say such nice things. 

As creatives, it's so easy to look at a finished piece and only see the things you want to change! So, I've been trying to trust people when they say kind things and take them at face value. I also think a lot of close friends and family who aren't as familiar with my work as, say, my writing buddies, have been pleasantly surprised how good the book really is.

Plenty of them have told me that it's better than the traditionally published books they've read recently, and it seems like they didn't expect that! I don’t take that personally. So many people assume that traditional publishing means better books, but that isn’t always true. Like I already mentioned, so much of publishing comes down to luck so going a different path isn’t a reflection of the quality of the writing or the story. 

JW: You can add me to that list! I liked this book better than several traditionally published books I’ve read. Would you recommend self-publishing to other aspiring writers?

AGM: I definitely think it's a good idea, though I wouldn't recommend it to everyone in every situation. My advice is to think long-term about what you want out of publication. 

For me, I needed to get this book out in the world for my own growth. After my agent left publishing, I was getting caught up in the what-might-have-beens and struggling to be creative again. Self-publishing allowed me to move on to the next project and put that experience behind me. And now the book is being loved by readers, which is what it's all about!

How to get your copy of Under the Knife

We so appreciate hearing from Grace, and we hope her story inspires you to start self-publishing on Amazon, too. You can purchase Under the Knife here.  Interested in connecting with Grace directly? You can find her on LinkedIn for marketing consultations, content management, and copy expertise.

And if you need help branding yourself as a new author, we can help. We have a variety of services that could be right for you. Interested in chatting? Contact us here for a free consultation.