This week I published my fourth book in seven months, a children’s picture book called “Saint Sayings About The Eucharist: A Picture Book for Catholic Kids.” I felt confident coming into publishing this week. I’ve written, illustrated, and published several books and expected to fly through the process without any hangups. Then, I was humbled.
It was one of those days when nothing came easily. I encountered several unexpected challenges and spent all day re-formatting and uploading files, desperate to get my book online before pickup. I was in tears, frustrated, and plugged in again after dinner. But worst of all, I wanted to quit for the first time since starting this self-publishing journey that I love so much.
I share all this because social media and online platforms often make it look like the road towards an outcome is without difficulty. Then, when we personally encounter (or imagine) a hangup, we wrongly assume we aren’t cut out for the thing we secretly want to try. And so, I want to encourage you from the start. As you try something new, know that we can never be completely prepared. We will never know everything. New pursuits will require effort and growth. At some point, you just have to jump.
Entering Your Book Information into KDP
Last week I wanted to demystify the self-publishing process by sharing the steps I take to publish my books on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). In many ways, it is that simple. This week, I’d like to dig deeper by sharing what you can expect when you create an account and log in to publish through KDP.
A lot of the information you’ll enter into KDP is plug and chug. You’ll enter your book title. You’ll enter your name and the information of collaborators involved with your project. (Think editors, illustrators, co-authors, etc.) But some of the information you’ll need takes time to create, so it’s nice to do some legwork and have it accessible to you before you log in to KDP.
1. Book Description
Your book description will typically be on the back of your book, but it will also be online on your book’s sales page. As you write your book description, or if someone else writes it, think about what a prospective buyer needs to know. What is inside your book? What information? What details? How will it help them? What type of experience can they expect? Your cover is an excellent opportunity to grab a user’s attention, but your book description will help close the sale! (And to be honest, like keywords, your book description helps algorithms determine whether or not to recommend your book.)
2. Keywords
You can include up to seven keywords about your book when you upload your content into KDP. Keywords are essential because they help algorithms determine what your book is about and whether or not it is relevant to what an Amazon shopper is looking for. An important thing to know: Keywords are more than one or two words. They can be phrases and don’t have to be strictly about your book topic. They can also help Amazon see when to recommend your product. For example, your book may be about “home appliance repair for the novice” but may also benefit from keyword phrases like “gift ideas for a new homeowner.” (My example is kinda lame… our washing machine has been out for nine days, and appliances are on my brain. But hopefully, you get the idea.)
3. Categories
Amazon also asks you to add two categories to your book. There are tons to choose from! Fiction and non-fiction categories are available, but you’ll want to dig deeper. For example, my children’s book “I’m Getting New Glasses!” is in a children’s book category about new life experiences. So get specific with your category and dig around for the right fit! You can also contact Amazon directly to add up to ten categories.
4. ISBN Numbers and Barcodes
Books need unique identifying numbers so Amazon (and other book retailers) can process and return orders. Think about checking out at Target or the grocery store. Systems need identifying numbers for products, and your book is no different.
Amazon KDP lets you use a free ISBN and barcode, but these only work on Amazon. If you have any interest now or later in distributing your books through Ingram Spark or Draft 2 Digital, purchase your ISBN from Bowker, which has the ironic website URL myidentifiers.com. You can get a price per ISBN discount if you purchase larger quantities of ISBNs. I knew I wanted to write lots of books, so I purchase 100 at a time. (Note that the same book title needs a separate ISBN for each format. So, your paperback, hardcover, and ebook will all have a different ISBN. I purchase barcodes individually for my physical book copies, but not for my ebooks.)
5. Final Cover and Interior Files
I design my book interiors and covers in two files that I export into separate pdfs before uploading into KDP. If you’re working with a designer, these files should be ready and setup according to KDP’s file specifications. That said, you will have the chance to preview your book electronically to ensure everything is as you intended. If something doesn’t look right, you can always adjust your document and upload a new file.
Final Thoughts
I hope that if you have a book publishing itch, this post will give you a little more information and the confidence to know that you have what it takes to push through. You can write and publish your own children’s book! The hardest part is taking that leap!
What do you think? Are you ready to start working on that book?
P.S. Publisher Rocket is one of my favorite ways to research keywords and categories for my book listings. It lets me check whether my intuition about keywords and categories is right. However, it also uses Amazon buyers’ data to recommend words and categories that may be more impactful.
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