Writers can use the Amazon Kindle to reach a broader audience.
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Authors who have published e-books can transfer those books to the Kindle format to reach a new audience. The Kindle, Amazon's electronic reading device, was introduced in 2007 and has continued to introduce updated Kindle designs since then. With the popularity of the Kindle device, e-books have skyrocketed in popularity. According to Wired, Amazon sold 143 e-books per 100 hardcover books in the second quarter of 2010. Amazon lets anyone who owns the legal rights to their own e-book content transfer that e-book to the Kindle format. The e-book is then submitted for publication and, if approved by Amazon, the e-book will be sold in the Kindle Store.
Step 1
Navigate to Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing site (see Resources.)
Step 2
Click "Register" to open an author's account. Complete the required information fields, which include your name, email address and electronic financial information so Amazon can send you payment for Kindle e-books sold.
Step 3
Click the "Add New Item" tab at the top of the screen.
Step 4
Complete the required book information on the "Product Details" screen that appears automatically. This information includes book language, book title, book description, date of publication and book keywords. You will also be prompted to select a category for the book. Categorize as closely as possible so the book appears in the Kindle Store search results when people search for books of its type.
Step 5
Upload an image for your book cover. The cover image is any image of your choice. The cover image must be saved on your computer in order to upload it to the Kindle Direct Publishing site.
Step 6
Click "Save The Entries" at the bottom of the page to save all of your book information to the Kindle Direct Publishing site.
Step 7
Read the publishing rights information that appears. If you own either world rights or limited rights to the e-book, click the box indicating which type of rights you hold and then click the box next to "I Am Authorized To Upload This Book." If you do not have rights to the e-book, you may not legally upload it to the Kindle Direct Publishing site.
Step 8
Click the "Browse" button to locate the files you want to upload from the computer to the Kindle Direct Publishing site.
Step 9
Click the e-book file you want to convert to the Kindle format and then click "Upload." The e-book will begin uploading to the Kindle Direct Publishing site. Upload times may vary depending on connection speed and file size.
Step 10
Click "Preview" once the download is complete to view a copy of your e-book as it will appear on the Kindle site.
Step 11
Click "Enter Suggested Retail Price" in the upper-right corner of the screen. Enter the amount you want to charge for your Kindle e-book. The minimum amount is 99 cents--there is no maximum amount you can charge as of March 2011.
Step 12
Click the "Publish" button to submit your e-book for publication on Amazon. The book will not appear immediately because it must be reviewed by Amazon prior to publication. Review times vary from 1 to 3 days.
Tip
- Kindle Direct Publishing accepts e-books in DOC, HTML, PDF, TXT, MOBI and PRC file formats.
- As of March 2011, Amazon pays Kindle authors 70 percent of the list price for all Kindle books sold.
References
Resources
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
