Formatting Your eBook with Kindle Create: My Self-Publishing Experience

Note: This post is not sponsored, and I am not affiliated with Kindle Create or Amazon. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own, based on my self-publishing journey.

So, you’ve done it—you’ve written your manuscript in your favourite word processor. A huge congratulations! Writing is no small feat, but now comes the exciting part: preparing your book for publication. In this post, I’ll share my experience of formatting my eBook using Kindle Create, a free tool specifically designed for self-publishers by Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform.

If you’re on your own self-publishing journey, follow along as I’ll be sharing more tips and insights in future posts.

Getting Started: Preparing Your Manuscript

Before diving into formatting tools like Kindle Create, make sure your manuscript is fully polished. Check that your margins, pagination, headers, footers, images, and overall styling are aligned and consistent. This groundwork will save you time and frustration when formatting.

If you’re planning to release a print version, it’s also a good idea to prepare a PDF separately for that purpose. I’ll cover print formatting in another post soon.

When I was ready to publish my eBook, The Unsung Goddesses: Mythological Wisdom and Guidance for the ModernDay Goddess, I explored several formatting options before settling on Kindle Create. Here’s what I discovered.

Why I Chose Kindle Create

Kindle Create is a free tool provided by Amazon to simplify the process of preparing eBooks and print manuscripts for Kindle Direct Publishing. While it’s not without its flaws, its ease of use and seamless integration with KDP made it an ideal choice for my eBook.

Key Benefits

1. Seamless Integration with KDP

Kindle Create exports your manuscript as a KPF file (Kindle Package Format), which is optimised for upload to KDP. This streamlines the publishing process and reduces the risk of formatting errors. You can also preview your book on Kindle devices, tablets, and smartphones to ensure a professional final product.

2. ePub Support

In addition to the KPF file, Kindle Create also generates an ePub file, which can be used for wider distribution beyond Amazon. This was particularly useful for me as I wanted to distribute my book outside of the Kindle ecosystem as well.

3. Ease of Use

With its intuitive interface and pre-designed themes for chapter titles, headers, and text, Kindle Create simplifies formatting. It’s especially suited for novels, memoirs, and other text-heavy books. However, it’s important to note that Kindle Create is not a word processor—you can only make limited adjustments within the platform. This is why having a polished manuscript before uploading is crucial.

4. Interactive Features

Kindle Create makes it easy to create clickable tables of contents and hyperlinks, adding a professional touch to your eBook. It also spares you the headache of creating these features manually, which can be time-consuming.

What You Need to Know

While Kindle Create has many advantages, there are some limitations to consider:

1. Limited Customisation

Kindle Create offers pre-set templates, and advanced customisation of fonts, layouts, or graphics isn’t possible. If your manuscript relies on complex formatting or illustrations, you may find these restrictions frustrating.

2. File Compatibility

Kindle Create only supports DOC and DOCX uploads—it doesn’t allow PDF imports. Furthermore, you cannot export your formatted manuscript as a Word file or PDF. You’re limited to KPF and ePub outputs, which are sufficient for eBook distribution but limiting for other use cases.

3. Print Formatting Challenges

Kindle Create provides basic tools for formatting print books, but it lacks the sophistication of dedicated design software like Adobe InDesign or Affinity Publisher.

4. No File Duplication

You cannot duplicate documents within Kindle Create. If you wish to test multiple layouts or formats, you’ll need to re-upload your manuscript, creating a new project each time.

My Tips for Success

If you decide to use Kindle Create, here are some tips to get the best results:

• Start with a Clean Manuscript
  Ensure your manuscript is fully edited and formatted before uploading it to Kindle Create. Only DOC or DOCX files are supported, so make sure your document is in the correct format.

• Experiment with a Practice File
  Before formatting your actual book, upload a test document to explore Kindle Create’s features, themes, and preview options.

• Preview on Multiple Devices
  Use the built-in previewer to see how your eBook will appear on Kindles, tablets, and smartphones. This ensures your book looks great on all platforms.

• Download and Review Files
  Download both the KPF and ePub files to review your book for formatting issues or inconsistencies. The ePub file can also be used for non-Amazon distribution.

Final Thoughts

Using Kindle Create was a helpful step in my self-publishing journey, particularly for formatting my eBook. Its user-friendly features made it simple to prepare my manuscript for Kindle Direct Publishing. While it’s not ideal for complex projects, it’s an excellent tool for authors of text-heavy books who are new to self-publishing.

For those considering cross-platform distribution or preparing print-ready versions, you may need additional tools—something I’ll cover in a future blog post.

If you’d like to learn more about my book, The Unsung Goddesses: Mythological Wisdom and Guidance for the ModernDay Goddess, or purchase a copy, visit my bookshop: naziaanwar.com/books.

What has your experience been with Kindle Create or other self-publishing tools? Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear your stories!