Summary

The website content provides guidance on using Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) for inexpensive self-publishing and printing of paperback books in small quantities, tailored for personal projects or family use.

Abstract

The article discusses the feasibility of publishing and printing a book without the need for large orders, focusing on Amazon's KDP service as a cost-effective solution for writers who wish to produce a few physical copies of their work. It highlights the ease of the KDP process, the ability to create a professional-looking product, and the affordability of printing through Amazon, which eliminates the need for significant financial investment or dealing with minimum print requirements. The author shares personal experience with KDP, including the joy of holding a printed book and the practicality of on-demand printing for sending autographed copies to reviewers. The article also explains how to calculate printing costs and outlines the benefits of Amazon Prime for free delivery.

Opinions

The author, referred to as Miss-know-it-all, is enthusiastic about the KDP platform, emphasizing its user-friendly nature and the quality of the final paperback product.
The article suggests that KDP is a sensible option for those who want to avoid excessive spending on publishing and are not concerned with making a quick profit.
The author expresses satisfaction with the minimal printing costs associated with KDP and the emotional value of being able to hold a physical copy of one's book.
There is a clear endorsement of KDP's on-demand printing feature, which allows for flexibility in distribution and the ability to print more copies as needed without upfront investment.
The author provides a cost breakdown and mentions the convenience of having all the publishing details stored for future use, which is seen as a significant advantage for self-publishers.
The article promotes Amazon's consumer services like Audible, Amazon Prime, and Kindle Unlimited, suggesting they complement the KDP experience for both authors and readers.

You Can Get a Book Published and Printed Inexpensively, WITHOUT Ordering Lots of Copies!

Have you created a book you want to publish and print just a few copies of?

More and more writers on Medium are turning into published book authors, and not just with digital books.

Some of us have even gone so far as to bother having our digital books sold on Amazon, formatted into print and even audible versions.

But suppose you’re not trying to publish and get copies for the purpose of making a quick buck?

What if you have a family project in mind, but you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg and go through a hassle to do it.

That’s the situation with one of the writers I enjoy hearing from. This is the story that Barb Dalton 🇺🇦 shared with the community.

Help! I Need Advice on Self-Publishing

I welcome feedback on writers’ experiences.

medium.com

So typical Miss-know-it-all me took it upon myself to share a little bit about Amazon’s publishing option: KDP.

NOTE: Please notice the affiliate link disclaimer below

Okay, listen up Barb…

Let’s talk about Amazon KDP for self-publishing

Every online writer and aspiring author has probably heard something about the KDP option for self-publishing books.

You can find a lot of informative stories on the subject of self-publishing a book digitally , right here on Medium.

For some reason, a great deal of the focus is on publishing digital books that can be sold online via a number of different distributors.

Again — you can find and read related stories here on Medium, and all over the internet.

But oftentimes, the conversation about hard copy versions of your digital books are not addressed enough.

Can you publish, have printed, and receive just a small amount of paperback copies, without mortgaging your home or selling a child?

Where to have paperback books printed without paying a lot to do it

In this digital day and age, some writers, and authors may never even consider non-digital options.

For those who do, or for any writer who wants to create a more personal publication, just for a few family and friends, KDP is a definite option.

All you need to do is take the steps to modify your digital book submission, by clicking on the correct link, after setting up the digital version.

Notice my KDP dashboard screenshot, and how the arrow is pointing to the option for “creating paperback”, in addition to the other available options on the page.

I didn’t create a paperback version for that particular short story collection on Amazon, but I did for my small sea stories collection (Tails of the Mermaids).

In fact, I wrote a Medium story about how I needed to lengthen the content of the book a little, to make sure the book spine would be wide enough to accommodate the title.

I Created a Print Book Cover Using Kindle Cover Creator

Are you thinking about creating a print version of your Kindle book?

medium.com

Consider KDP paperback printing as a sensible option

Personally, I consider the KDP paperback printing option a reasonable one, especially if your main concern is:

Having an easy step-by-step guide to walk you through the process of each step
Producing a visually appealing publication that you can be proud to share
Not spending an excessive amount of money from publishers, unnecessarily
Not worrying about printing minimums or quotas when you only want to publish a few books

How do KDP paperback printing costs work?

As far as I’m concerned, the KDP paperback printing costs are minimal and worth it, for the privilege of holding your paperback book in your hand.

That’s how I felt when this order arrived!

I previously ordered 4 ($6.99) copies of my paperback book — a format that I only created so that I could send autographed copies to two writers who read and reviewed advance copies.

I believe the base amount (and minimum that I could set) for publishing the book was actually $5.99, so I could have saved $4 when I ordered.

Of course, you also have to factor in the cost of delivery, unless you have Amazon Prime and get free delivery.

But once again, there are so many benefits to using KDP for print books, it’s worth it to check it out completely.

Here is how Amazon explains the pricing system:

“Printing costs vary depending on page count and ink type (black ink or color ink). Trim size, bleed settings, and cover finish don’t affect printing cost. Printing cost also depends on which Amazon marketplace (website) your paperback was ordered from. Based on the print options you choose, KDP automatically calculates and displays your printing cost in the Rights & Pricing section of your title setup.”

According to them, you can figure out what your paperback’s printing cost will be, by using the formula:

“ Fixed cost + (page count * per page cost) = printing cost”

As far as delivery is concerned:

You can have all the copies sent directly to you, so you can autograph them and distribute them when and how you want to.

You also have the option of having each copy individually mailed wherever you want, which is probably more costly, but might still be a more reasonable solution than other print distributors.

Another good thing, is the fact that once you set it up, your paperback details will remain on file and available to print more copies “on demand”, whenever you have the need.

Final Thoughts

Okay Barb and all other interested readers. Remember, I’m just the one that likes to sound the alarm, and the rest is up to you.

If you want more details about how creating paperback books on KDP works, you can go and get it straight from the horses mouth.

I hope this helped.

The above disclaimer applies to this and other Justiss Goode stories.

Don’t forget to take advantage of these popular Amazon consumer services:

Amazon’s Audible Book Offer (For the busy reader)
Amazon Prime (For music, movies FREE delivery and more!)
Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited trial offers (For the avid reader)

Not a Medium Member yet? Here’s your chance to click here and JOIN NOW with my Affiliate link. You’ll have access to more than 800 Justiss Goode stories, plus you can write your own!