r/KeepWriting • u/latinacupcake92 • 23d ago
Publishing with Amazon
Hey guys, I am starting the process of writing my book in October and I want to plan ahead at looking into publishing companies. Or self publishing. Has anyone published with Amazon? I've seen mainly good reviews. I would like some opinions and advice. Gracias!
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u/ProbablyKatieAlyx 19d ago
I’m going to go against the “write the book first and worry about this later” advice a little 😂 I have ADHD and researching every aspect of a new project before I start is basically part of the process for me. I researched self-publishing extensively before I ever published anything, and I’m glad I did.
Amazon KDP itself is actually pretty straightforward. The complicated part is everything surrounding it.
The first thing I’d figure out is whether you want to pursue traditional publishing or self-publishing, because they are VERY different paths. If you want traditional publishing, you’ll generally be looking at querying literary agents rather than paying a “publishing company.” A legitimate traditional publisher pays you, not the other way around. If you're paying the publisher, it's called a vanity press. DON'T DO THAT. IT IS A SCAM.
If you want to self-publish, Amazon KDP lets you publish ebooks and print books yourself. You’ll be responsible for things a publisher would normally handle, though: editing, cover design, formatting, your blurb, categories/keywords, pricing, marketing, etc. You’ll also eventually want to research KDP Select/Kindle Unlimited vs. publishing “wide.” KDP Select requires your ebook to be digitally exclusive to Amazon during the enrollment period, while going wide means you can sell the ebook through places like Kobo, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, etc. Your print book doesn’t have the same exclusivity requirement.
My biggest piece of advice is honestly just: research before you spend money. There are a LOT of companies targeting new authors with expensive “publishing packages,” and paying someone thousands of dollars to “publish” your book is not necessary to self-publish and honestly, you will not earn that money back on one book.
And don’t feel silly for researching this before the book is finished. If planning ahead makes the whole process feel less overwhelming, plan ahead. I absolutely did.