📚 How to Get Started with Amazon KDP: A Guide for Beginners

Publishing a book on Amazon is easier than you think — even if you’re brand new to writing or design. Whether you want to release a novel, a journal, a coloring book, or a puzzle book, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) makes it possible to turn your ideas into income.

Here’s everything you need to know to get started:

🛠️ Step 1: Set Up Your Amazon KDP Account

Go to kdp.amazon.com and sign in with your Amazon account (or create one). From there, fill out:

Your author/publisher name
Tax and payment info
Preferred currency

✅ Tip: Use a name you’re comfortable publishing under — it can be your real name, a pen name, or your brand (like Grid & Ink).

📝 Step 2: Decide What Type of Book You’ll Publish

KDP supports all kinds of books:

Low-content books: journals, planners, sketchbooks, logbooks
Activity books: coloring books, puzzle books, word searches
Fiction & nonfiction: novels, how-to guides, poetry, and more

If you’re just getting started, low-content or puzzle books are a fast and fun way to learn the process.

📤 Step 3: Format and Upload Your Book

You’ll need:

A PDF interior (formatted to the correct size)
A cover design (upload your own, or use KDP’s Cover Creator)

Popular trim sizes:

6″ x 9″ – ideal for standard books
8.5″ x 11″ – great for puzzle/activity books

✅ Pro tip: Tools like Canva, BookBolt, or Adobe Illustrator are excellent for design. I use Bookbolt.

🖼️ Step 4: Add Your Book Details

In KDP, you’ll enter:

Title, subtitle, and author name
Book description (this appears on your Amazon listing)
2 categories (e.g., “Activity Books” or “Music”)
Up to 7 keywords (e.g., “mythology word search”, “guitar tab book”)

✅ Write your description for your target reader — what they’ll get, who it’s for, and why it’s useful or fun.

💲 Step 5: Set Your Price and Publish

KDP lets you:

Choose global distribution
Select royalty option (60% is standard)
Set your list price (they’ll show you estimated royalties)

Once ready, hit “Publish” — your book will go live on Amazon in 24–72 hours.

🎁 Bonus Tips: Promote Your Book

After publishing:

Share it on social media and your blog
Add it to a landing page or use a QR code inside your print book
Use A+ Content if you’re in KDP Select for better product pages

Final Thoughts

Amazon KDP is a powerful platform for self-publishers, artists, teachers, and creators. Once you publish your first title, it’s easy to expand into new formats, genres, or series.

📦 Need free tools or templates? Check the Files page here at Grid & Ink — we’ve got downloads to help you design, format, and launch with confidence.