Kindle Create helps you format your Kindle ebook. If you are self-publishing Kindle ebooks on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), this is a must-have free app for you to use.
- Kindle Direct Publishing Self-publishers can convert books into electronic format using Amazon's self-publishing tools and sell them on Amazon Kindle with Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). KDP is a fast, easy selfpublishing system for Amazon Kindle. Upload your content, enter sales copy and pricing information, and publish in minutes.
- Direct access to Mac users. This is actually a lot bigger than you would expect. Mac users tend to focus more on brand loyalty. Mac users are more likely to have iPhones and vice versa. Apple tends to create a full user experience through their products and Apple Books is no exception.
- A free tool from Amazon Kindle. Kindle Create is one of the must-have self-publishing apps for all authors. It is the best ebook publishing software for authors. There are all the tools you need to easily create and format perfect ebooks for Kindle.
- Kindle Direct Publishing is Amazon’s publishing platform that allows independent authors to access readers around the world, without going through a traditional press. In a matter of hours, anybody can create an author account, upload their book files, and sell their book through Amazon — all without any setup cost.
The program has improved over the last couple of years. At first, it was a little unstable, and its basic function was to help you format a Kindle book.
But stability is much better, and Amazon has been adding new features since it merged Createspace into KDP. While still in beta, it can also format paperback books.
It is available in more languages. It supports ebooks in Dutch, English, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Malayalam, Marathi, Portuguese, Spanish, and Tamil.
In This ArticleDownload Kindle for macOS 10.10 or later and enjoy it on your Mac. The Kindle app gives users the ability to read eBooks on a beautiful, easy-to-use interface. You may also read your book on your phone, tablet and Kindle e-Reader, and Amazon Whispersync will automatically sync your most recent page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights, so.
HideHow to get Kindle CreateGetting startedOpening your Word documentStyling and formatting your book
Using preset themesImportant points to considerToo early for print booksConclusionHow to get Kindle Create
If you are not familiar with it, here is a short Kindle Create review and how-to guide to get you started.
Go to your KDP dashboard and make sure you are logged in.
In the help section, navigate to Tools and Resources.
Or you can click this link to go to the download page. The Kindle Create download is available for PC or Mac.
Download your preferred version, then install the software. It is a straightforward installation process.
Getting started
After you install the program and launch it, you will see the welcome screen.
But before you start, make sure you go to Preference Options and change one setting.
Early access ensures that you have all the latest beta features that are available.
If you want to format paperback books, you need to have early access ticked.
Be aware, however, that by ticking this box, you will use beta features that might not be working perfectly.
Click save after your choice and return to the home screen. Now click on New Project From File. You will see this screen.
You can only upload a Microsoft Word file in either .doc or .docx file type by using the first option.
There are two other options.
One is to upload .pdf files for comic books. The other is to work with text-heavy textbooks, cookbooks, and music books.
This option also allows you to transform PDF files into interactive Print Replica ebooks.
Also, the last option allows the inclusion of interactive elements such as video. These can be viewed using the Adobe Flash Player on certain Kindle devices.
For most authors, however, you will choose the first option and start working from your Word file to format Kindle ebooks or print books.
Opening your Word document
Once you select your .doc or .docx file and open it, the program will start a short conversion process.
When it completes, you will see that the app automatically tries to create a table of contents.
You can see it in the top left-hand corner of the screen.
If you use Heading styles in your Word document for your book title, subtitle, and chapter headings, the table of contents should be correct.
If your chapter titles are not right, it’s easy to solve the problem. Navigate to each chapter’s first paragraph. Then set the chapter title using the buttons under the Elements menu on the right-hand side of your screen.
You should then save your changes. It will save your project into a new .kcb file.
It’s the file the app uses to upload to KDP when you are ready to publish your book or ebook to the Kindle Store.
Styling and formatting your book
If you have Early Access ticked, you will get a reminder screen pop-up from time to time. It will tell you that you can prepare your ebook and print book using the same file.
The pop-up is a bit annoying, but the time saving is well worthwhile. There is no need to have two separate files of your manuscript for each version when you prepare your book.
Kindle Direct Publishing Support
Formatting is similar to how you would do so with any word processor.
Use the formatting menu to make changes to your title page, body text fonts, apply drop caps, change paragraphs, indents, justification, and line spacing.
Make sure you save regularly to update your book as you make your changes and edits.
Keep in mind, though, that any fancy fonts you choose to use will work for a print book. But they will be replaced by the standard fonts that are available on Kindle devices for an ebook.
Using preset themes
You can take a quick shortcut to your formatting by selecting a preset theme. Click the theme button at the top-right of your screen to make your selection.
As you make changes to your book formatting, you can preview your reflowable ebook for Kindle, tablet, or phone. It is the best way to be sure that your book looks great on all device sizes.
Once you have finished formatting your book, you will then need to click on the Publish button. It will create a new kpf file that you can then use to upload your ebook to KDP.
However, there is no facility to export to a mobi file as yet.
Update: You can now add or edit links
Kindle Direct Publishing Tools For Mac Users List
It was not possible to insert or edit hyperlinks before. You needed to add these in your Word document and then re-import your Word file.
But now, if you update to the latest version, you can insert hyperlinks into your ebooks.
Important points to consider
The program is not a word processor, but you can certainly make small changes to your text in different types of books.
However, it won’t overwrite your original Word file because it is only imported into the program.
So make sure that your manuscript Word file is perfect before you start formatting.
You should only start formatting your book after you have done a full and thorough grammar and spelling check and completed your proofreading.
If you’re preparing print on demand books, there are some issues you should be aware of before you rush into publishing using this program.
Customization of margins, headers, page numbers, font.
You will not be able to customize the margins, headers, page numbers, and font.
Margins will be automatically calculated to meet KDP’s specifications.
Left-page headers will show the author name, right-page headers the book title.
The alignment and style of the author’s name and book title can’t be changed.
Page numbers are automatically added to the footer. (Print books only)
They will start on the first page of your book’s first chapter.
Font and font size for paperbacks can’t be changed.
Too early for print books
For some authors, these issues might be a drawback. If so, it is best to stay with formatting your print books using Word and exporting to .pdf to have your books published.
But for ebooks, the software is excellent now. It is a great tool to ensure that your book will be perfect for ebook readers.
Occasionally though, it can throw up a few confusing error messages.
One of the main issues seems to be with JavaScript errors. If you get an error, check that the Java app on your Mac or PC is up to date.
Another cause can be a bug in your .docx Word file.
If you get an error using a .docx file, try saving your Word file in a new .doc file and try again.
These issues are rare now, but at least you have a way to fix them if they happen.
Conclusion
Kindle Create is a handy tool to have if you are self-publishing Kindle ebooks on Amazon KDP and Kindle Unlimited.
For print books, though, I think it is early days.
It is still a new beta feature. So there is more development to come, and hopefully, Amazon will address some of the current restrictions in the future.
I have used it for ebooks for quite some time now, and it is an easy process from formatting right through to publishing.
The final result is always perfect. It is also an excellent tool for formatting poetry ebooks.
But I would not recommend it just yet for paperback publishing. Once this feature is out of the beta stage, it might be worthwhile, but it still has some way to go.
For more information, you can watch this short video about how to use Kindle Create.