Amazon's free self-publishing platform where you can publish ebooks and paperbacks and reach millions of readers worldwide.
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon's self-publishing platform that lets authors upload, publish, and sell ebooks and print-on-demand paperbacks through the Amazon store. You keep creative control over your work, set your own prices, and earn royalties of 35% or 70% on ebooks depending on your pricing. There's no upfront cost to publish. KDP is the single largest self-publishing platform in the world, and for many indie authors, it's where the majority of their sales come from.
KDP democratized book publishing. Before it existed, getting a book in front of readers required either a traditional publishing deal or an expensive vanity press. Now you can go from finished manuscript to published book in under 48 hours. Whether you're self-publishing as your primary strategy or using it to test an audience before querying agents, understanding KDP is a practical skill every modern author should have.
Weir originally self-published The Martian on KDP for $0.99 after serializing it on his blog. Reader demand was so strong that Crown Publishing picked it up, and it eventually became a Ridley Scott film.
Howey published this dystopian novella on KDP, and it became a massive bestseller. He famously negotiated a print-only deal with Simon & Schuster while retaining his ebook rights.
Penny self-published early work before her Gamache series took off with a traditional publisher, showing how KDP can serve as a launching pad for a long career.
KDP Select gives you access to Kindle Unlimited and promotional tools, but it requires that your ebook be exclusive to Amazon. That means no selling on Apple Books, Kobo, or your own website. Decide if the trade-off is worth it before checking that box.
You only earn the 70% royalty rate on ebooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99. Price below $2.99 and you drop to 35%. Price your book strategically within that sweet spot unless you have a specific reason not to.
KDP accepts Word docs and EPUBs, but a sloppy upload leads to a sloppy reading experience. Invest in proper ebook formatting or use a tool designed for it. Always preview your book using KDP's previewer before hitting publish.
Create a KDP account (it's free) and walk through the book setup process without actually publishing. Fill in a title, description, and keywords for your current project. Use KDP's cover creator to mock up a placeholder cover. Getting familiar with the interface now removes the intimidation factor when you're ready to publish for real.