There’s a certain kind of pain that comes with fixing your own mistakes, especially during book file preparation. It’s slow, it’s humbling, and sometimes it’s the kind of lesson you only learn after you’ve burned two full days chasing down a half-inch margin error. But that’s the real work — the unglamorous side of publishing that demands meticulous book file preparation.
This week, I want to start sharing what I’ve learned the hard way: how to prep your book for distribution the right way, before KDP (or any platform) gets its hands on it. Because once you hit Upload, the file stops being yours — and every small mistake becomes very public during book file preparation.
🧰 Step 1: Choose Your Workflow
There’s no single right way to build your book. It depends on what you’re making, but it always involves careful preparation of the book file.
| Workflow | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Book Bolt | Quick puzzle books, notebooks, and low-content interiors | Fast setup. Limited customization. |
| Affinity Publisher | Custom layouts, RPG books, or anything with design polish | Takes longer, but gives total control over fonts, images, and margins. |
Some creators also use Adobe InDesign, which remains an industry standard for print publishing. It’s a powerful option — but for many indie publishers, Affinity Publisher offers the best balance between cost and capability. You get professional-level results without the ongoing subscription.
The key is consistency. Don’t switch tools mid-project unless you like chaos.
📐 Step 2: Know the Specs
Whether you’re creating a puzzle book or a 200-page RPG tome, these specs never change and are crucial for successful book file preparation:
- Trim sizes: 6×9 inches (standard), 8.5×11 inches (workbooks/posters)
- Margins: 0.25″ no-bleed, 0.375″ with bleed
- Bleed: Always include if images or backgrounds touch the page edge
- Resolution: 300 DPI, RGB color mode
- File types: PDF for print / KPF (for Kindle via Kindle Create)
KDP’s previewer is your friend here — and your worst critic. If something looks off, it’s not a glitch. It’s you.
⚙️ Step 3: Avoid the Classic Traps
- Linked images instead of embedded — broken links mean blank pages.
- Forgetting bleed — KDP will “fix” it by cutting your layout in half.
- Fonts not embedded — your carefully chosen typeface becomes Arial overnight.
- Exporting at 72 DPI — looks great on screen, awful in print.
Every mistake you fix once is one you’ll never forget — and rarely make again during book file preparation.
✅ Step 4: Final Export Checklist
- Verify font embedding
- Recheck bleed and trim lines
- Confirm DPI = 300
- Export to PDF (print) or KPF (Kindle)
- Preview in KDP before publishing
Keep this list close. It’s saved me more than once.
💭 Reflection
After publishing a hundred-plus books, I’ve learned that speed means nothing without precision.
The “painful slowness” of fixing errors is actually what builds your system — the same system that lets you move faster later.
Mistakes are the tuition you pay for experience.
And once you’ve paid.. you might as well share what you learned.
🔗 Useful Tools & Resources
If you’re working on your own publishing setup — or just curious what I use behind the scenes — here are a few tools that make life easier:
🧰 Publisher Champ — Analytics, keyword tools, and listing optimization for KDP creators.
🧭 Book Bolt — Interior and cover design tools for puzzle and notebook creators.
💡 Hostinger — Reliable hosting for Grid & Ink’s site and blog.
⚙️ Advigator — Automated Amazon Ads management to track performance and scale efficiently.
📚 DriveThruRPG — Home for all Grid & Ink RPG titles, both print and digital.
🌐 gridandink.com — Central hub for all projects, freebies, and blog posts.