Book formatting (layout) for Amazon KDP

You have written a book and you are ready to publish it. Excellent. But for the publication to go smoothly a manuscript alone is not enough, it also has to be prepared properly. If you have chosen to self publish, you will have to go through a technical stage, and that is formatting. It is a mandatory condition for uploading a book to Amazon KDP successfully and for selling it afterwards. Amazon has strict requirements for files, so the formatting and layout of a book for Amazon KDP affects not only how the book looks but also how much readers trust it.

What formatting is

Formatting is the technical preparation of a book for publication. It covers the styling of headings, text alignment, indents, paragraphs, page numbering, the table of contents, images and other elements. The file has to be comfortable to read, to meet the standards of the platform and to look good on different devices.

Amazon KDP supports DOCX, EPUB and PDF. For electronic books DOCX or EPUB is usually the best fit. For printed versions the file has to be prepared as a PDF with exact parameters. If you are not sure how to publish a book on Amazon, we will help you choose the format and prepare everything correctly.

Many authors underestimate the importance of layout. It is worth remembering that the reader sees not only the content but also the way the text is presented. A badly formatted book is irritating and reduces sales. A well prepared file, on the other hand:

• is easy to read;
• looks professional;
• passes review without problems;
• builds trust with the audience;
• increases reading time and engagement;
• improves the chances of positive reviews;
• makes it easier to navigate the book;
• works for reading on different devices;
• helps the book stand out among competitors;
• supports the growth of sales on Amazon.

Layout for an electronic and for a printed book

If you want to publish an electronic book (Kindle), first make sure that the text is correctly adapted to all devices. The pages have to adjust automatically to the size of the screen, whether that is a smartphone, a tablet or an e-reader. It is especially important to set up a clear structure: the headings have to be recognised, the table of contents has to be interactive and the links between chapters have to work without errors.

On top of that, an eBook must not contain widow lines, unnecessary gaps, incorrect markup or non-standard fonts. The file has to be light but functional. That is why layout for Amazon KDP calls for precision and attention to detail.

A printed book, on the other hand, has completely different requirements. Amazon asks for exact parameters: the page size in inches, the technical margins, correct markup of the spine and the back cover, and high quality images of at least 300 dpi. If these details are ignored, the platform may reject the file. Layout mistakes can also lead to defects during printing.

We prepare files professionally for all formats:

• Kindle eBook, for the digital version;
• Paperback, for a book in a soft cover;
• Hardcover, for a premium edition.

What the formatting service includes

Formatting a book is not simply a matter of aligning text in Word. It is a complete piece of work that requires attention to detail and strict compliance with the Amazon KDP standards. First of all we analyse your manuscript: we assess the structure of the text and the presence of chapters, tables, illustrations, footnotes and other non-standard elements. This allows us to define the exact scope of work and the best format for the edition.

Then we move on to the layout itself. Our specialists style the headings and subheadings, align the text, set the indents and the spacing, create the table of contents and set up its navigation. If the book is going to be released in print, we take the margins, the trim size, the spine and the bleed zones into account. For an electronic edition we set up the responsive behaviour and check that it displays correctly on Kindle.

As a result you receive a file ready for publication that meets all the technical requirements for self publishing a book on Amazon. We can also support you at the following stages of publication, from uploading the book to choosing the categories.

Why authors choose the Kavun publishing house

We work with the Amazon platform every day and we know all of its requirements. We help authors who are dealing with KDP for the first time and we support those who already work in the system. Besides layout, you can also order from us:

• registration of an Amazon KDP account;
• creation of a book cover for Amazon;
• translation of books for Amazon KDP;
• an ISBN code for Amazon KDP;
• proofreading of books for Amazon KDP in English;
• a consultation on Amazon KDP.

If you do not know how to publish a book on Amazon, get in touch with us and we will handle everything from start to finish.