ANSWERS
answers for authors.
Short, plain answers to the questions authors ask most about writing, AI and publishing on KDP.
Writing
- How do you write a book with AI?Yes, you can write a book with AI — but the best results come from treating AI as part of a structured writing process rather than asking a chatbot to “write me a novel.” A practical workflow: idea → book brief → outline → chapter drafts → revision → continuity check → editing → formatting → publishing..
- How do I keep story details consistent in a long book?The easiest way to keep a long novel consistent is to maintain a story bible: one central record of the characters, places, timeline, relationships, important objects and rules of your story.
- How do I get past being stuck on a book?When you're stuck writing a book, the problem is often not that you have suddenly lost the ability to write.
- How do I edit and proofread my own book?The best way to edit your own book is to edit it in separate passes.
- How many words should a novel be?Most adult novels fall somewhere around 70,000 to 100,000 words, but there is no universal correct novel length.
Formatting
- How do I format a book for KDP?For a paperback you upload a print-ready PDF at your chosen trim size with the right margins, plus a separate cover PDF.
- What trim size should I use for KDP?6 × 9 inches is the safe default for most novels and non-fiction.
- What margins and bleed does KDP need?KDP needs a minimum inside (gutter) margin that grows with page count, and outside margins of at least about a quarter inch.
Publishing
- Do I need an ISBN for KDP?Not for a Kindle ebook: Amazon gives it its own number.
- How do KDP royalties work?For ebooks you choose 35% or 70%.
- How long does it take to publish on KDP?Once you submit, KDP's review usually takes up to 72 hours, often less.
- Why did KDP reject my files?The usual causes are text or page numbers outside the margins, a cover that doesn't match the spine width for your page count, fonts that aren't embedded, low-resolution images, and a title or author name that doesn't match between the cover and the listing..
- How do I choose KDP categories and keywords?Pick up to three categories where books like yours already sell, and fill all seven keyword boxes with phrases readers would type: genre, setting, character type, mood.
- How do I write a book description that sells?Open with a hook line, introduce the main character and what they want, show what stands in the way, and end on the question the book answers, without spoiling it.
Tools
- Author Magic vs Atticus vs Vellum: what's the difference?Atticus and Vellum are formatting tools: you bring a finished manuscript and they make it look good.
- What's the best AI for writing a book?The big models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google all write well; the bigger difference is the workflow around them.