The Real Guide to Self-Publishing on KDP (Digital, Print, and Audio)
If you want your book to survive and thrive, this is where you start.
Finishing a book feels like an ending. It isn’t. It’s just the start.
If you want your book to matter—to find readers, earn you money, and build your platform—you have to publish it properly. Self-publishing through Amazon’s KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) gives you three real ways to release your work into the world:
Digital (Kindle eBook)
Print (Paperback)
Audio (Audiobook via Audible/ACX)
Each one requires a slightly different setup. Each one unlocks a different type of reach.
And stacking all three? That’s how you turn a single book into a real business move.
This is the full guide to doing it right, without having to figure it all out the hard way.
In this post, you’ll find:
How to format and publish your Kindle eBook the right way
How to structure and compile a professional paperback edition for KDP
How to create and launch your audiobook on Audible (ACX)
The tools, templates, and workflows I actually use—no guesswork, no fluff
Links to the Digital Novella Template, Print Novella Template, Canva Wraparound Cover, and full Scrivener setup guide
1. Digital: Kindle eBook
Publishing your book digitally gets you in front of readers faster than any other format.
But Kindle readers expect professionalism: clean formatting, clickable contents, and books that don’t look like they were built in a Word doc during a caffeine crash.
Here’s how to do it properly.
Formatting Your eBook
If you want fast and free:
Use Google Docs. I built a Digital Novella Template that gives you everything you need:
Title page
Copyright page
Auto-generated Table of Contents (use Heading 1 for chapter titles)
About the Author section
From Docs, you can export directly as EPUB — ready for Kindle upload.
If you want full control:
Use Scrivener. (And if you don’t want to spend an afternoon cursing at the Compile menu, I wrote a full guide to Scrivener here).
Set up your chapters as folders, your scenes as documents. Metadata matters.
Compile as EPUB using the Kindle preset.
Either way, the goal is clean navigation, professional flow, and no formatting disasters on mobile.
I used Google for my first novella, but it started to get REALLY slow. I would suggest getting Scrivener if you are serious about getting your work out there. Granted, it’s not the nicest interface, but it gets the job done.
Uploading to KDP
Create your Kindle eBook project
Upload your EPUB file
Upload your cover (JPEG, minimum 2560px x 1600px)
Set your pricing (between £1.99 and £9.99 if you want 70% royalties)
Always use the Kindle Previewer. Always check mobile view. You’d be amazed at what slips through.
I ended up changing my manuscript about fifteen times after spotting errors and formatting issues. You can check out all the formatting details for digital and print HERE.
2. Print: Paperback Edition
A paperback isn’t just a vanity project. It’s proof you’re serious—and a whole new revenue stream.
Preparing Your Print Files
Best tool for print: Scrivener. Again.
Set trim size (6" x 9" is standard)
Use Garamond, Georgia, Times New Roman, or Minion Pro, 11–12pt
Full justification for text
Insert Section Breaks for proper front matter and chapters
Page numbers in the footer, starting from Chapter One
Compile directly to PDF for print.
Alternative:
If you prefer Google Docs, use my Print Novella Template. It will be harder to format than using Scrivener, though.
Export your manuscript as a high-res PDF.
Designing Your Cover
For digital, you will only need a front cover (which makes life nice and easy). For print, think again. You’ll need a wraparound cover (front + spine + back in one file). I searched Canva high and low and couldn’t find a template, so I had to make my own.
KDP give you a spine estimate when you’ve uploaded your manuscript. All you have to do is input the number of pages, and you will get the spine measurements.
Sounds intimidating? It’s not. Honest. Even though I had a mini breakdown trying to design my cover. But I didn’t want you to struggle too, so I’ve already built a Standard Novel Canva Template. It’s got all the right dimensions, so you can customise with your own design. I’ve added notes for you to follow if you need to change the spine dimensions.
You’ll need:
Final page count (for spine width)
ISBN (either free from KDP or purchased yourself via Nielsen). When you design your cover, the barcode and ISBN go in the bottom right-hand corner of the back cover. Leave the area blank on your design.
High-res file (300 DPI minimum)
Uploading to KDP
Create a Paperback project
Upload your print PDF manuscript
Upload your wraparound cover
Carefully review the print previewer (pay attention to margins and spine alignment)
Set price (usually £7.99–£11.99 for fiction, depending on length)
Order your ‘Proof’ copy to make sure everything looks grand.
KDP takes up to 72 hours to approve paperbacks. Don’t plan a big launch until it’s live.
3. Audio: Audiobook via Audible (ACX)
Audiobooks aren’t optional anymore.
They’re growing faster than print—and your future readers are already listening. It’s another place to get your work out there, especially in a world where some of your audience would prefer to listen instead of read.
Creating Your Audiobook
You have three choices:
Record it yourself (DIY)
Hire a narrator through ACX
Partner with a studio and split royalties
If you narrate yourself:
Use a proper microphone (no laptop mic)
Record in a quiet space (closet recording is real and effective)
Edit with free tools like Audacity
Technical Requirements:
MP3 files, 192kbps
Consistent volume, no spikes
Room tone at the start and end of each file
One file per chapter
Audiobook Structure:
Opening credits
Chapter files
Closing credits
Audible will reject uploads for minor tech errors—get it right the first time.
Uploading to ACX
Create an ACX account
Claim your book using your ISBN or Amazon link
Upload MP3 files per chapter
Upload square cover (2400px x 2400px JPEG)
Submit for review (this can take up to 30 days)
Tip: build the wait time into your full launch plan if you’re coordinating formats.
What to Remember
Most indie authors only upload a Kindle book and stop.
They leave paperback money on the table.
They leave audiobook reach on the table.
They leave readers who prefer holding books—or listening to them—completely out of the picture.
When you publish across digital, print, and audio, you triple your footprint.
You multiply your revenue streams.
You build a platform that doesn’t vanish after launch week.
You’re not just self-publishing a book.
You’re building an asset.
And you’re doing it properly.
If you want the templates, the tools, and the real publishing maps I use, you’ll find them here:
Everything you need to start—and everything you need to finish strong.
No excuses. No guesswork. No ghost launches.
This is what it really takes.
— H.J.
P.S. If you need any help with anything, just reach out, and I’ll do my best to get you there!
Affiliate notice: If you decide to buy Scrivener via the link in this post, I may earn a small commission. It won’t cost you anything extra. I only recommend tools I’ve actually used—and occasionally sworn at.