How to create an e-book for Amazon.com

1. 74

   Maddambutterflyposted 11 years ago

   How to create an e-book for Amazon.com
   
   I have finished my book and have had it edited. I have been trying for the past three days to get it formatted correctly for Amazon.com in order to self publish on kindle with no luck. Anyone know an easy way to do it myself? Any help is welcomed and appreciated. English and laymen terms please.

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2. 77

   Inspired to writeposted 11 years ago

   Hello Maddambutterfly hope your book is a success I know how frustrating self publishing can get but what a sensation when your mind's work is available for all eyes & your wish has finally become true.
   
   I create my books in Microsoft office word, never had problems uploading to Kindle saving my file as 'Microsoft 97-2003 document otherwise Amazon won't accept it.
   
   I don't know if any of the above helps, the formatting seems impossible at first but really, I have been there, quite easy once you gone through the practice a few times.
   
   It is difficult to explain me writing like this so you may have to do a little more reading but the concepts are super learn able and 'smashwords dot com' have a great free info book especially for new authors to publish work on a wide range of digital book selling platforms, it can be download free titled 'smashword style guide' showing you the correct way to format your 'book/novel' documents which usually Kindle accepts.
   
   Hope this helps you, well done for your hard work, looking forward to seeing details of your book on the world wide web.
   
   Regards Dale

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      multiculturalsoulposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Dale's right. Once you understand the template, it's not too bad. I recently used a newer version of Word, file extension .docx, and I had no trouble at all. I did have some issues with the 97-2003 version, especially with paragraphing.

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   oceanuniverseposted 11 years ago

   If I knew how I would tell you, sorry I can't help. But keep on asking, you'll find your answer.

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4. 75

   Leighandrewposted 11 years ago

   I had my first e-book published on amazon a few months ago. I wanted it to be easy to read and I knew I didn't have the know how to get it converted correctly. I wanted my first e-book to be done right...So I went to a website odesk.com and placed a help wanted ad, I described what I wanted, my word program text converted into the amazon format, plus I needed a front cover done as well, The prices I was quoted ranged from the lowest being $8 to the highest being $ 240, I chose Russ Crowley as he quoted $ 133, he did a quick edit, converted it into the amazon format, outsourced the cover to my liking and gave me exact instructions on how to upload the file he sent back to me into the amazon site. He made my book come to life. Here is his link that you can use to contact him thru , he is an englishman living in Thailand, great person; http://www.technicalwriter-wordexpert.com/ Let me know if I can help ! - ANDY

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5. 65

   viveresperandoposted 11 years ago

   Amazon has a great free eBook that describes step by step how to format it and also with screen shots to assist.  What program is your eBook stored in?  I have another eBook that I am done with, but I typed it Before reading the format sooo...
   I am going to have to basically, buckle down one day, copy and past to notebook (txt file) so I can see all the improper returns and stuff and delete them.   You can do it.  I found it easier to start a new book following step by step the eBook and it helped me understand how I have to go back and correct the other.  I would recommend you do the same even if you build a 5 page eBook that you will never publish, just to go through the steps and do it.  I promise you can do this yourself and you don't have to pay someone.  I have short term memory problems, fibro fog days, and still managed to build one a bad fibro fog day where I had the attention span of gnat, thank goodness for page by page screen shots.. lol .  If I can do it, so can you, I promise.. there is also websites like fiverr that you can find someone to do .  The name of the free Ebook is Building Your Book for Kindle by Kindle Direct Publishing.   Even after doing a sample 5 page eBook so you can get an idea, it will give you more knowledge on what it takes so you can decide if you really want to pay someone to do this and you won't get taken advantage of.  It really is not all that difficult.  There is some really great fee eBooks also regarding marketing your eBook.  I also recommend the free eBook Secrets to EBook Publishing Success by Mark Coker.  It gives you information about another platform you can use instead of Amazon and then you can decide which one is better for you.  This book also explains many different formats of eBooks out there which can be helpful.  Hope this helps.  I am not endorsing Amazon or Smashwords just want you to be informed of both of the eBook giants that are available so you can make informed decisions.  We make decisions based on the information we have at the moment.  I wish you much success in your publishing journey!  Send me a note when you publish your book.  I do book reviews.

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      Virgo908posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Very helpful...

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6. 74

   Maddambutterflyposted 11 years ago

   Thanks everyone for all your help. I wrote this book on the program Word Starter that came with my computer. I then converted the file over to MOBI HTML with no issues. When I go to look at it using Amazon's kindle previewer it looks horrible. Leighandrew, I would love nothing more then to hand this over and have it done, But after paying for editing, proof reading and cover image I'm now tapped out on cash, so back to the drawing board I go...Thank you again.

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   1. 74

      Maddambutterflyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I was finally able to figure it all out. Thanks again to everyone who offered help. If all goes well it should be up and published this weekend! THANKS AGAIN!!

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      viveresperandoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      woo hoo! 

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