Publishing an e-Book on Kindle can be the best choice for authors without using traditional publishers or for writers who have retained rights to a backlist of their previously published work. Before putting a book on Kindle it is important that the writer make sure they own e-Book rights. Authors own e-Book rights if they are unpublished, have signed a contract for a print book that does not include e-Book rights, or have signed a contract with a publisher in which the e-Book rights have expired.
Get the Cover Ready
Just like a traditional book, an e-Book will need cover art. Cover art attracts readers. It is important to choose a cover with bright colors. The title, too, should stand out. Many dark colors fade on the computer screen, so make sure the title and author's name is easily readable on the screen. Some authors make their own covers by drawing the cover art or using art that is free for commercial use. If a writer is not artistically inclined, a cover artist can be hired to create cover at a reasonable price. If the book is a reprint, the old cover art cannot be scanned and used unless the author has permission to do so from the cover artist or original publisher.
Make Sure the Text is Well-Edited
A sloppy editing job really puts readers off. Before uploading on the Kindle platform, the text should be given a good spell and grammar check. Remember that some mistakes, such as a word spelled incorrectly, may not be caught by a spell checker. It is sometimes hard for authors to catch their own mistakes as they tend to repeat the same ones. It helps to print the book out or have a friend go over it.
Check the Formatting
Microsoft Word or other word processing programs can be used to create the document. The text should be in a clean file with no headers and footers. Times New Roman is the most recommended font for e-Book publishing. The manuscript should be single spaced with indented margins. Step by step instructions on creating and uploading an e-Book can be found on the Amazon website. For authors who have retained print rights, a paper copy of the e-Book can also be created using Amazon's CreateSpace publishing program.
Check these links to find out more about publishing on Kindle:
Kindle Direct Publishing
Kindle Guide to Formatting
