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PUBLISHING WITH AMAZON
There are at least a half dozen different ways to publish a book with Amazon.
Most people think of Kindle Direct Publishing, but that’s just one of many options:
- Amazon has multiple imprints, such as 47 North. However, like most major traditional publishers, Amazon Publishing does not accept unsolicited manuscript submissions.
- Another way to publish with Amazon as your “publisher” is through the new Kindle Scout program. This option is based on reader voting, not solely on an editor’s decision.
- For those who would like to write fan fiction, there is Kindle Worlds.
- Kindle Singles is a competitive publishing option for certain kinds of shorter Kindle e-books.
- Anyone can self-publish with Amazon using Kindle Direct Publishing.
- You can also self-publish a paperback book with Amazon using CreateSpace.
- The Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) lets you publish an audiobook that will be available through Amazon.
AMAZON IMPRINTS
Amazon Publishing includes multiple imprints. However, they don’t currently accept unsolicited submissions.
- Montlake Romance for romance novels.
- Thomas & Mercer for mysteries, thrillers, and suspense.
- 47 North for science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
- Skyscape for teen and young adult.
- Amazon Publishing for nonfiction, memoirs, and general fiction.
- Lake Union Publishing for contemporary and historical fiction, memoirs, and popular nonfiction.
- Two Lions for children’s picture books, chapter books, and novels.
- Little A for literary fiction.
- Jet City Comics for comics and graphic novels.
- Grand Harbor Press for personal growth and self-help.
- Waterfall Crest for Christian nonfiction and fiction.
- Story Front for short fiction.
- Amazon Encore for rediscovered works.
- AmazonCrossing for translated works.
You can learn more at Amazon Publishing here:
KINDLE SCOUT
Unlike Amazon Publishing, Kindle Scout is open to submissions from US authors. Categories currently include:
- Science fiction and fantasy
- Romance
- Mysteries, thrillers, and suspense
- Action and adventure
- Literature and contemporary fiction
You submit a complete copy-edited, never-before-published manuscript with at least 50,000 words. Readers will nominate books based on the first 3000 words (and the cover, title, description, and your biography). Nominations help you earn consideration, but having the most nominations by itself doesn’t guarantee acceptance. They stress that they are looking for professional, copy-edited manuscripts. If accepted, they pay a $1500 advance and 50% royalty (less than KDP’s 70% royalty, but perhaps the stamp of approval will help authors make up the difference).
You can learn more about Kindle Scout here:
https://kindlescout.amazon.com
KINDLE WORLDS
You can publish fan fiction through Kindle Worlds.
Learn about Kindle Worlds here:
https://kindleworlds.amazon.com
Once there, click See All Worlds and How It Works. Make sure that you adhere to the content guidelines and rules, otherwise you’ll have wasted your time and effort.
KINDLE SINGLES
You can publish a shorter e-book, with 5,000 to 30,000 words, with Kindle Singles, if it is “exceptional ideas–well researched, well argued, and well illustrated.”
This is a competitive process, and you submit your idea much like submitting to a traditional publisher or agent. In addition to an exceptional idea, they may also be considering the marketing aspect, much like a traditional publisher would, and why you should be the one to write book. (If someone else has better qualifications to fulfill that role, what’s to prevent them from asking a more qualified candidate to write a similar book? Nothing, really. You can copyright the words, but not the general idea that you’re trying to get published.)
KINDLE DIRECT PUBLISHING
Anyone can self-publish an e-book on Amazon with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP):
Read Amazon’s free guide, available in PDF form, before you publish. Also, preview your book carefully on each device before you publish.
https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=A2MB3WT2D0PTNK
Click on the Kindle Tips link at the top of my website for more free help.
CREATESPACE
Anyone can also self-publish a paperback book on Amazon with CreateSpace:
If you’re writing your book in Word, click on the Microsoft Word Tutorials link at the top of my website for free formatting help (e.g. with page numbers and headers).
AUDIOBOOK CREATION EXCHANGE
Learn more about creating an audiobook with the Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX):
Chris McMullen
Copyright © Chris McMullen, Author of A Detailed Guide to Self-Publishing with Amazon and Other Online Booksellers
- Volume 1 on formatting and publishing
- Volume 2 on marketability and marketing
- 4-in-1 Boxed set includes both volumes and more
chrismcmullen 
That’s an eye-opener, Chris! I never knew they had all those trad-pub imprints!
More than I had realized. 🙂
Goodness, talk about ruling the publishing world. Thanks for the insightful post, Chris. 🙂
Well, at least as far as Amazon sales go. Bookstores are another matter. 🙂
Great summary, Chris. I’m trying my hand at Kindle Scout right now, as a matter of fact. https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/39NKUAPW0GOGE I figure it’s worth a shot.
Good luck. I hope it works out for you. 🙂
I’m “hot” which is a welcome designation…and probably the only way I will be considered hot at this stage of my life, haha!
Keep that HOT when it starts selling. 🙂
Maybe I can help a little. Please check out my Kindle Scout post on Read Tuesday: http://readtuesday.com/2015/03/28/has-anyone-tried-kindle-scout/
Thanks, Chris – you’re aces!
Chris, isn’t there a way people publish serials? Like blog posts, or continuing stories?
There is something lodged in my brain at that spot, and I can’t remember, but your post brought it to mind.
There was. The blogs and periodicals were originally beta tested and that has closed. The link to it is hard-to-find. It says “beta.”
https://kindlepublishing.amazon.com/gp/vendor/sign-in
Ah. It must not have proved profitable – you can hardly blame them if it isn’t. Amazon is a business – I have never faulted them for that, as I appreciate their new business model, and hope to benefit from it.
I followed the link – but you said it was closed. Does that mean they don’t do it any more, or are not looking for more?
I would think that some of your books would be good as a more continuous supply for kids, for example. Have you used it?
All moot it they aren’t doing this any more.
It let me sign up as a vendor, but most of the links there didn’t appear to work (though if anything develops, I’ll let you know).
Thanks, Chris.
Nice information, thanks.
I’m glad it was helpful. 🙂
Small problem, but these Amazon imprints (the ones I checked) are ‘not open for submissions.’ So they are as traditional as the other trad publishers.
Not a whole lot of help, even if you think your story would fit perfectly in the imprint.
Discouraging – but I suppose they’d otherwise be overwhelmed, like everyone else.
That’s true (and noted in my post). I know an author who was contacted by the translation imprint; hot sales can get Zon’s attention.
I’m of two mind about that kind of discovery, whether by Amazon or by a traditional publisher: it is only offered to those who are doing fairly well – so it isn’t given to those who might benefit from the exposure, but to those who are more of a sure thing.
I figure, those who do a lot of the work may be reluctant to give up the control and the perks.
Possibly the terms are satisfactory.
I recently published a short story book with createspace and the quality of the product was amazing. Its also a user friendly site 🙂
Thank you for sharing your experience. I love CreateSpace. 🙂
No problem! I love it too, i will definitely be using them again! 🙂
Thanks, Chris, for sharing this helpful information. 🙂
You’re welcome. 🙂
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
Thank you. 🙂 #tsra
Welcome Chris 🙂
Thanks for sharing! I didn’t know this. Good to know. Sharing with mah peeps on Twitter! Happy Saturday, Chris!
You’re welcome and thank you for sharing. 🙂 Happy Saturday to you, too, Kylie.
Who knew? I’m gobsmacked. 😀
That’s a fun word. 🙂
😀 😀 😀
Reblogged this on ldbush21.
Thank you. 🙂
Thanks for this. Very informative.
You’re welcome. 🙂
Reblogged this on .
Thank you. 🙂
Great post! I’m thankfully you wrote it. So many things I didn’t know about amazon publishing. 🙂
And it’s always changing. 🙂
It is a whole scary publishing world out there, thank you for all your advice.
You’re welcome. I hope it helps. 🙂
Pingback: Did you know? Amazon has Several Publishing Options. Not just KDP. | biancarowena
Reblogged this on biancarowena and commented:
Great post about publishing with Amazon
Thank you. 🙂
Reblogged this on Leona's Blog of Shadows.
Thank you. 🙂
Reblogged this on Books and More.
Thank you for the reblog. 🙂
Reblogged this on Mtnwriter77's Blog and commented:
Aspiring authors and those with completed works often ask me about publishing options. In addition to the options I’ve described in past posts, Amazon offers a range of options. My thanks to Chris McMullen for such a comprehensive summary of those, and allowing me to share them with my readers.
Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Interesting that the one doesn’t accept unsolicited manuscripts. So I assume they’re still using the “agent” model there? How else would they find novelists with unpublished works?
It’s possible that they also invite authors or their agents.
Pingback: Have You Heard of Kindle Scout? I Haven’t Either – Vania Margene Rheault
All of thes option is kind of mind bending, I may have to try out some
how about for your next book how to get an agent. I’m trying. It’s very tough
It is indeed. Good luck. 🙂