The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing on Amazon KDP | 2026–2027 Edition

From blank page to live listing — step by step. No experience required.

You have the book idea. Maybe you even have pages written. But then come the questions:

How do I format it? What size should my cover be? What do I upload? What do I put in all those KDP fields? How do royalties work? And what happens when I finally hit publish?

The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing on Amazon KDP was created to walk you through the process from beginning to end without assuming you already know how publishing works.

This 50-page 2026–2027 beginner guide, created by Deborah Rivera Valentin of Chosen Society Co., takes you from planning your book all the way through publishing your Kindle eBook and paperback on Amazon KDP. No publishing background required. No giant budget required. Just a clear roadmap and the willingness to follow the steps.

📚 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Inside, you'll learn how to:

✨ Set up your Amazon KDP account, tax information, and payment details
✨ Choose a book topic and research demand before you start writing
✨ Build a simple outline for your book
✨ Prepare and format your manuscript
✨ Understand current KDP file types, including DOCX, EPUB, and KPF
✨ Navigate current AI-generated content disclosure requirements
✨ Design a book cover that works at Amazon thumbnail size
✨ Understand eBook cover specifications
✨ Upload your manuscript and cover to KDP
✨ Complete your eBook details, content, and pricing sections
✨ Write a stronger Amazon book listing
✨ Choose keywords and categories
✨ Structure your book description
✨ Understand eBook pricing and royalty options
✨ Decide whether KDP Select fits your publishing goals
✨ Prepare for the KDP review process
✨ Set up your Amazon Author Central presence
✨ Approach book reviews ethically
✨ Publish a print-on-demand paperback
✨ Understand trim size, bleed, interior files, cover wraps, proofs, and paperback royalties

🔥 UPDATED FOR 2026–2027

Old KDP tutorials can become outdated fast.

This edition includes a dedicated “What’s New in 2026–2027” section highlighting important platform changes covered throughout the guide, including:

✓ Updated eBook royalty information
✓ Updated paperback royalty tiers
✓ Retirement of MOBI for new uploads and updates
✓ AI-generated content disclosure guidance
✓ Current category guidance
✓ Weekly title submission limits
✓ Updated paperback printing-cost and royalty examples

The guide was reviewed in November 2026, with reminders throughout to verify current Amazon KDP requirements before publishing because platform rules can change.

💻 EBOOK + PAPERBACK PUBLISHING

This isn't an eBook-only guide. You'll start with Kindle eBook publishing because it provides a beginner-friendly way to learn the KDP process.

Then you'll move into a dedicated paperback section covering important print-specific decisions such as:

✓ Trim size
✓ Bleed vs. no bleed
✓ Interior file preparation
✓ Full-wrap covers
✓ Spine considerations
✓ ISBN options
✓ Print Previewer
✓ Proof copies
✓ Paperback pricing and royalties

So you're learning how to take your idea beyond a digital file and understand both sides of KDP publishing.

🧠 THIS IS FOR THE BEGINNER WHO KEEPS SAYING…

“I want to publish a book, but I don't know where to start.”

Perfect for:

✓ First-time authors
✓ Beginner self-publishers
✓ Coaches and educators turning knowledge into books
✓ Digital creators expanding into publishing
✓ Entrepreneurs building authority through books
✓ Writers ready to publish without waiting for a traditional publisher
✓ Anyone who wants the KDP process explained without all the fluff

You do not need previous publishing or design experience.

📖 INSIDE THE 50-PAGE GUIDE

Chapter 01 — Introduction
Why KDP can be a beginner-friendly publishing opportunity

Chapter 02 — Setting Up Your KDP Account
Registration, tax information, payment, and identity checks

Chapter 03 — Planning Your Book
Choosing a topic, researching demand, and outlining

Chapter 04 — Writing & Formatting Your Manuscript
File types, formatting rules, front matter, back matter, and AI guidance

Chapter 05 — Designing Your Cover
Cover specifications, design tools, AI considerations, and cover strategy

Chapter 06 — Uploading to KDP
A walkthrough of the publishing setup

Chapter 07 — Writing Your Book Listing
Titles, subtitles, keywords, categories, and descriptions

Chapter 08 — Pricing & Royalties
Royalty options, pricing considerations, KDP Select, and distribution

Chapter 09 — Going Live & What Happens Next
Review periods, Author Central, reviews, tracking, and updates

Chapter 10 — Publishing Your Paperback
Print-specific formatting, covers, proofs, pricing, and royalties

Chapter 11 — Quick-Start Checklist
Bring the eBook and paperback process together before you publish.

📦 WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE

✓ The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing on Amazon KDP
✓ 2026–2027 Edition
✓ 50-page digital PDF guide
✓ Kindle eBook publishing guidance
✓ Paperback publishing guidance
✓ Current KDP update section
✓ Book-planning and market-research guidance
✓ Formatting and cover guidance
✓ Listing, keyword, and category guidance
✓ Pricing and royalty education
✓ Quick-start publishing checklist
✓ Instant digital access

Digital product only. No physical book will be shipped.

🔒 PERSONAL USE LICENSE

Your purchase is for personal educational use only. You may use what you learn inside the guide to plan, create, and publish your own books.

You may not:

✘ Resell this guide
✘ Share or redistribute the digital file
✘ Reproduce or republish any portion of the guide
✘ Use the guide's content to create derivative products for resale
✘ Claim the material as your own

This product does not include PLR, MRR, or resale rights.

© 2026 Chosen Society Co. All rights reserved.

⚠️ IMPORTANT

This guide is provided for educational and informational purposes only.

Amazon KDP can change its rules, fees, royalty structures, limits, tools, and file specifications. Information in this edition was reviewed in November 2026, but you should always verify current requirements directly with Amazon KDP before publishing. No specific sales, royalty, ranking, publishing, or income results are guaranteed. Results vary based on factors including your book, market, pricing, positioning, quality, promotion, and reader demand.

This guide does not provide legal, financial, tax, or professional advice. Amazon, Kindle, and KDP are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Chosen Society Co. is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon.

YOUR BOOK DOESN’T HAVE TO STAY AN IDEA.

Plan it. Prepare it. Publish it. 📚✨