Tags
Amazon, book publishing, kdp, Kindle Create, manuscript, MS Word
Last October, I started using Kindle Create to prepare my manuscript for publication and wrote about my experience using Kindle Create to create your manuscript.
Amazon has now released an Early Access feature that shows the direction the company wants to take their software.
Prepare Your eBook and Paperback with Kindle Create
The new feature’s main point is that it lets you design both a Paperback and eBook edition from a single file. In effect, Amazon wants you to stop using Word to format your document. Instead, you will paste your text into Kindle Create and format it there.
Several elements that you needed to enter manually until now, will be handled automatically by Kindle Create. Specifically:
- Kindle Create will automatically enter the book title at the top of the right-hand pages and the author’s name on the left-hand ones. Their alignment and style can’t be changed.
- Margins will be automatically calculated to meet KDP’s specifications.
- Page numbers are automatically added to the footer. They’ll start on the first page of your book’s first chapter.
- You can no longer specify font and font size for paperbacks.
- You can create a Table of Contents by specifying which pages you’d like included.
Why the change?
To me, the new feature suggests that Amazon is fed up with authors complaining about the way KDP Print deals with details such as margins. CreateSpace made a ton of small amendments to your files but KDP Print is fully automated. As a result, the majority of files will run into trouble before they are accepted for (paperback) publication. And all these frustrated authors inevitably contact KDP Support asking for help with their files–help which support isn’t really designed to provide (the reason why I was so sad to see CreateSpace stop publishing books).
So, in typical Amazon fashion, the company is creating software that will automate the process. All you need to do is enter your text and Kindle Create will generate the files you need. It will also format margins and fonts, therefore taking care of that particular nuisance.
Pros and Cons
The new feature will probably be helpful for many Indie authors, especially smaller ones, who don’t really wish to have to deal with formatting but lack the capital to outsource the job. Kindle Create’s interface is pretty intuitive, in part because it’s so basic. By limiting the things authors can customize, Kindle Create eliminates a number of potential errors.
Also, the fact that you can now create a single file and have both the eBook and paperback editions ready for upload will be a significant bonus for many.
If, however, you are one of those people who like to customize every single aspect of your book, you may find it too constrictive. Hiring a professional or formatting it yourself using tools like Calibre’s eBook editor may be a better option for you.
How to turn on the new feature
To use the new feature, open Kindle Create and turn on Early Access:
- Windows. Choose Help > Settings > Early Access
- Mac. Choose Kindle Create > Preferences > Early Access, then check the Enable Beta Features box
As you can guess, the new feature is designed for novels; not comics. As before, Kindle Create supports eBooks in Dutch, English, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Malayalam, Marathi, Portuguese, Spanish, and Tamil.
Use this link to take Kindle Create out for a spin or find out more on KDP’s support website.
[tweetthis]Prepare your eBook and Paperback Using Kindle Create[/tweetthis]
Jessica Bakkers said:
Thanks for the points. As someone who is new to this whole thing, I’m trying to get as much info on creating books as possible. These types of posts are immensely helpful.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Yay! So glad to hear that, thank you, Jessica 🙂
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kimwrtr said:
Reblogged this on Kim's Musings.
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gibsonauthor said:
Reblogged this on s a gibson.
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Charles Yallowitz said:
Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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Chuck said:
Thank you, Nicholas. Your posts are always helpful. I got an email from Kindle with a link to test the new version. I haven’t taken the time, but I will.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you, Chuck! Glad to help 🙂
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The Story Reading Ape said:
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
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EDC Writing/Believing Sight Unseen said:
Thank you, Nicholas – a timely, informative and helpful post for me! Eric
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Yay! So glad to hear it 😀
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Cynthia Reyes said:
Thanks, Nicholas. Sounds great for novels, but “not comics” as you say. Will they offer the same support for illustrated (colour) books?
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Illustrated books are harder to standardize, so I don’t know. If they do, color book published through Kindle Create may have to stick to specific templates.
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Patty said:
Reblogged this on Campbells World and commented:
A very informative post.
I have a question.
Does anyone know if they have an accessibility link thus making the entire process accessible for blind and visually challenged users?
So far Amazon has not been all that great when it comes to making its publishing products accessible for disabled writers.
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Penny Wilson Writes said:
Thank you for posting this! I’m trying to put together a book and the formatting has had me stalled for some time. This will help immensely!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
|Yay! So glad I could help 😀
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Shabnam said:
Thanks for sharing this! Do you happen to know if the file (paperback) created by Kindle Create can be used on other websites such as Smashword?
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
KindleCreate produces its own proprietary format, so I doubt it. I believe that Smashword needs PDF, right?
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Shabnam said:
Yes, as far as I know pdf is the acceptable file for them. I bought a word format for interior design and then exported it to pdf. Finally decided to go with Ingramspark and they need pdf too. Thank you for introducing this new tool. If anyone goes directly with Amazon, this should make their life easier.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
That’s the idea… at least if you’re not looking for some specialized kind of content.
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harmonykentonline said:
Sounds like a great improvement. Thanks for sharing, Nicholas 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
If you don’t mind the straitjacket mentality imposed on formatting, then yes, it’s great. I think it’s brilliant for “amateur” authors who simply wish to publish a book with as little fuss as possible. It makes it harder for those who prefer to customize their books, though.
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Don Massenzio said:
Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Nicholas Rossis tells how to Prepare your eBook and Paperback Using Kindle Create from this post on his blog.
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Pingback: Prepare your eBook and Paperback Using Kindle Create | Annette Rochelle Aben
Anna Dobritt said:
Reblogged this on Anna Dobritt — Author.
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rijanjks said:
Kindle Create was super easy to use and it made formatting MUCH easier! But, the file extension it saves the document is unusable for anything else, unlike Mobi or ePub.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Exactly. Walled garden mentality at its best.
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Lara/Trace said:
For a long time I was using (and paying) Pressbooks in Montreal to format the paperback and ebook with their software – worked very great. But free is better.
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Pingback: Author Inspiration and This Week’s Writing Links – Staci Troilo
patriciaruthsusan said:
Thanks for this helpful information, Nicholas. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you, Suzanne 😀
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Deborah Jay said:
Oh dear, I understand how easy this will make it for beginner users, but for those of us used to being in control of each aspect, how restrictive!
For example, I published an anthology on behalf of my writer’s group, and the early pages, including the dedication, foreword, and editor’s notes, have roman numerals numbering the pages. The ordinary (Arabic) numbers start where the stories begin. No facility for this sort of sophistication with this new system.
I also have different front and back matter in paperbacks compared to ebooks. Also not catered for.
I do hope this doesn’t become the only formatting Amazon permits.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
God, I hope so! Like you say, it’s way too restrictive!
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