Why Print with Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing
If you’re looking to self-publish then it’s a great idea to consider Amazon’s KDP print-on-demand publishing platform. By using this platform, you’re choosing to put your book on the shelf at the largest bookstore in the world. You also have the opportunity to publish your own paperback books, hardcover books, ebooks, and even journals and planners. For me, it has enabled me to publish my mother’s book series as well as my own, and help dozes of other authors and educators share their teachings easily and affordably.
Buy a Printed Proof
No matter what you’re looking to self-publish, you can use a free Amazon KDP account to print reading copies for yourself and your book making team. This is a great way to keep the publishing momentum going and help make the book feel more real at an earlier stage in the publishing process.
I recommend printing a physical proof at each stage of your publishing journey. One after the manuscript first draft is complete. One after the initial design stage. One before going to press (and any more as needed along the way).
Buying yourself a printed and bound copy of your book can be as little as $5 and, from my experience, can give you a mega boost of creative energy. Plus, you get a chance to see your book from a reader’s perspective and can make an even better book this way.
Balance the Pros & Cons
There are definitely benefits to publishing your books through local printers and specialty online printers. With many projects, I work directly with a local printer so that I can have hands-on review, talk with a person face-to-face, and ensure that each print run meets my high quality expectations.
When printing with Amazon, the books come as they come, and while there can be damaged copies and misprints, Amazon (in my experience) is very good at issuing refunds. Additionally, by using KDP as a print-on-demand source, then you can publish your books, journals, and ebooks for free.* This is a huge pro for me, and outweighs the cons for publishing.
*Free from the publishing standpoint, if you’re doing all the work of making the book 100% yourself. This of course, isn’t free either, since your time is valuable. But KDP does not charge for listing, they simply deduct the cost of shipping and their own profit from books sales – with you getting royalties sent automatically.
Select your Trim Size
A Book’s trim size is the specific dimensions that it will end up, such as the common sizes of 5×8, 6×9, 7×10. While Amazon’s KDP does not have every trim size possible, they have a wide variety to choose from and provide a detailed list of the options available. Even if working with a local or custom printer, this is a great resource to see standard book sizes. You can see the trim sizes page here.
Pricing Your Amazon Book
Once you know your book’s trim size (i.e. 5×8) and your page count (i.e. 200) and your desired paper type, then you can calculate an estimate of what your book will cost to print. From there, you can start seeing what type of royalties (i.e. profit) you can start to earn and can adapt your book’s specifications accordingly. You can see the price calculator here.
ZieBee Pro Tip: If you want to print your book and offer wholesale (or consignment) to local bookstores and gift shops, then price your Amazon listing at a level that is realistic for retailers. This means using the simple Wholesale Price Formula: Printing Costs + Profit = Wholesale x 2 = Retail.
Creating Your Cover
Building your book, the cover is a key component. It is the powerful piece that can captivate and intrigue, while letting potential readers know what to expect when they look inside. To create your cover, use the KDP Cover Calculator to determine what size the design file needs to be. You can see the cover calculator here.
ZieBee Pro Tip: Figure out your approximate file size, then create a new project in a design program such as Canva, Adobe Express, or any other favorite app. Start from a template and play with possibilities. Once your book is complete, you can work with a designer or just fine tune it yourself.
Below shows an example of the book information and cover calculations by KDP.
Books can Arrive with Printing Errors
This is unfortunate, but unavoidable. There are errors that fall within reasonable variance, and those that qualify for a refund, which requires you to contact KDP directly. You can learn more here on KDP’s website.
ZieBee Pro Tip: If there is an issue with a book, take a photograph of the last page of the book with the manufacture date and Product ID as well as the issue itself. Compile all the photos into a single PDF and state the details of the issue and your request (a full refund, and keep the books to donate to a good cause). Save the template as an editable Google Docs file so you can easily create a new one for future Author Copy orders.
NOTE: Be sure to submit your request within 30 days from the date of delivery. If you wait longer than that, you will not qualify for the refund.
Flip through your book to ensure everything looks good!
Ask for Help from an Editor
Every author needs an editor. Your editor can be your best friend, your mother, your spouse, or a colleague. It can also be someone who is a professional editor and is ready to help you take your rough draft, first draft, or final proof through to Ready-for-Publishing. Whoever you end up choosing, make sure it is someone who you know will support, encourage, and lend positive critic in the editing process. Check out this chart on rates from the Editorial Freelancers Association.
ZieBee Pro Tip: Order a printed reading proof to accompany your editor’s Word document. This will help them greatly in the editing process and is a very low-cost addition to your editing budget.
Editing a paperback book is the best, you get to write on the pages and really test out the reader experience.
Give it a Try
This summer is a great time to give self-publishing a try. Simply writing one page a day, five days a week, for three months, and viola – you have a first draft. This can be printed as a “not for resale” reading proof through Amazon KDP and then you can see where it goes from there.
Relax, get creative, and have fun!
About the Author
Mackenzie Bakewell, or ZieBee, is the lead author and artist here at ZieBee Media. Mackenzie is a travel photographer, illustrator, and professional book maker. She specializes in helping people turn their ideas into reality, tapping into her background in web design, publishing, and portrait photography. She is passionate about the use of coloring as a tool for health and happiness.
