Formatting Guides
Common KDP Formatting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
A checklist of common Amazon KDP formatting mistakes, from blank lines and inconsistent headings to missing front matter and messy manuscripts.
Resources
Formatting and publishing guides for indie authors.
Compare tools, learn formatting workflows, explore publishing decisions, and get more from Koberger.
50 Articles
Formatting Guides
How to Format a Book for Kindle
A guide to Kindle formatting for self-published authors, including reflowable ebooks, chapter structure, front matter, back matter and previewing.
Formatting Guides
How to Prepare a Word Manuscript for Formatting
A step-by-step guide to preparing a Microsoft Word manuscript for clean ebook and paperback formatting, including styles, images, and common fixes.
Formatting Guides
How to Format a Paperback for Amazon KDP
A practical guide to paperback formatting for Amazon KDP, including trim size, margins, bleed, front matter, back matter, page numbers and Print PDF review.
Formatting Guides
KDP Trim Sizes Explained
A practical guide to Amazon KDP trim sizes for paperback books, including common sizes, genre expectations, page count, margins and cover design considerations.
Formatting Guides
Bleed vs No Bleed Explained
A clear guide to bleed and no bleed for Amazon KDP paperbacks, including when authors need bleed, when they do not, and how it affects interior and cover files.
Formatting Guides
How to Create an EPUB File
A practical guide to creating an EPUB file for ebook publishing, including manuscript preparation, front matter, back matter, images, validation and previewing.
Formatting Guides
How to Format a Book Series Consistently
A practical guide to formatting a book series consistently, including shared styling, reading order, reusable back matter, and building box set editions.
Formatting Guides
How to Add a Content Warning to Your Book
A practical guide to adding a content warning to your book, including where it belongs in your front matter, what to include, and how to format it.
Publishing Guides
ISBN Explained: Do You Need One to Self-Publish?
What an ISBN is, whether you need one for ebooks and paperbacks, and the difference between a free retailer ISBN and buying your own.
Publishing Guides
How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book?
A realistic breakdown of what it costs to self-publish a book, from editing and cover design to formatting and ISBNs, and where you can save money.
Publishing Guides
KDP vs IngramSpark: Where Should You Publish Your Book?
How Amazon KDP and IngramSpark compare for indie authors, covering print quality, distribution, hardcovers, and how to use both together.