Conversion of a Manuscript for Sale Through Amazon Kindle
There are five basic steps for converting a Word manuscript to a format acceptable for
uploading for Kindle sales. The instructions below are for simple novels, not works of
poetry or manuscripts with graphics and custom formatting.
1. Set up account on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, https://kdp.amazon.com/self-
publishing/signin
2. Prepare modifications in Word document to assure that all page and section breaks
are in place.
3. Create HTML file from Word file by saving Word file as filetype “Web Page,
Filtered.”
4. Convert HTML file to .prc file using Mobipocket.
5. Upload .prc file to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing website to make it available
for sales for Kindles.
Notes:
1. There are several formats for eBooks. These instructions use Mobipocket, which is
a subsidiary of Amazon and is recommended by Amazon for preparing manuscripts for
upload to Amazon Kindle.
2. Documentation indicates that headers, footers, page numbers, etc. should be
removed in Word file prior to creating HTML file. This does not appear to be necessary.
3. Drop caps, however, need to be removed.
4. Carriage controls will not suffice to create blank lines; use <Shift><Enter> for a
hard line break and <Ctrl><Enter> for a hard page break. For example, you will want a
hard page break when starting a new chapter.
5. Just because the document looks correct in Word does not mean it will look correct
in HTML; just because it looks correct in HTML does not mean it will look correct in .prc,
etc. The result of each step must be checked.
Detailed Steps for Uploading a Manuscript
1. Download Mobipocket Creator and Kindle for PC. Both are free downloads.
2. Open the Word version of the manuscript. Save a backup copy.
3. Save the file under a new name, with a file type of “Webpage, Filtered.” This will
create your HTML file. For example, you might call the Word file “Manuscript in Word” and
the HTML version “Manuscript in HTML.”
4. Open Mobipocket Creator.
5. Click on “Home” if it does not open in the home page.
6. Under “Import from existing file,” click on “HTML document.”
7. Browse for the file that was saved in Step 3, then click on “Import.”
8. If you want to add a cover image, click on “Cover Image” under “Publication Files.”
9. Browse for front cover graphic file, then click on “Update.”
10. Click on “Build” icon, then on the “Build” bar.
11. Go to Windows Explorer and find “My Publications.”
12. Find the catalog with the same name as your HTML file. Click on the catalog, then
double click on the .prc file within the catalog. It will either have a little blue book next to it
and/or the file type will be “Kindle Content.”
13. This should open the .prc file in the Kindle for PC viewer so that you can see how it
should look on Kindle. As long as you have no illustrations besides the cover, it should be
fine for uploading to Amazon for sale on Kindle.
14. Open Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing website, https://kdp.amazon.com/self-
publishing/signin, and sign into your account.
15. Click on “Add a new title” and complete the steps indicated. After you have
uploaded your ms in Step 5 of the instructions on the KDP website, be sure to preview the
uploaded document. It may not appear the way that it does in Word, HTML, or even on
the Kindle for PC viewer. If you are not satisfied, make corrections to the Word file, then
redo Items 3 through 13 above and reload the ms to KDP.
16. Once you are satisfied with how the ms will look on Kindle, click on “Save and
Continue” below Step 5 on the website. You will then be sent to another page which will
request information about what price and royalty you want for your book. Use the 70%
royalty option.
17. It will take a few days for the upload to go “live,” but that is all that you need to do.
Once your royalties exceed $25, you will begin receiving monthly funds transfers to your
bank account. You can check your sales at any time by clicking on the “Reports” bar on
the Kindle Direct Publishing “dashboard,” i.e. the page that you get when you log into your
KDP account.