While uploading your paperback at Kindle Direct Publishing, you’ll eventually reach the Manuscript section on the Paperback Content screen. 

You’ll upload your formatted manuscript in the section. Presumably, you’ve already formatted your book. If not, you’ll need to do that first.

A variety of document types can be used to upload your book to KindleDP. Your best option is a pdf. As a pdf is a series of “pictures” of your document, this prevents the text from being reflowed when KindleDP processes your file. That’s not a guarantee when uploading a Microsoft Word document.

To get started, click the yellow oval that says “Upload paperback manuscript.” This opens a browser where you’ll find then click onto the pdf of your manuscript.

KindleDP will need some time to upload the manuscript. After that, it’ll need to process the uploaded document. Once it’s done processing, it’ll leave you a message saying so, and you then can move on to the next step.

Sometimes, of course, KindleDP rejects the manuscript right away or later during the vetting process. Some possible reasons that this might occur include:

• Title/author’s name/ISBN don’t match what you previously entered at KindleDP – If they don’t, you’ll either need to change it on your manuscript or start the uploading process all over and enter the correct title/author’s name on the Paperback Content page.
• The formatted manuscript’s trim size doesn’t match the trim size you’ve entered – On KindleDP’s Paperback Content screen, you’ll be asked to enter the book’s trim size (its height by width). If you put in 5.5 x 8.5, but the book has been formatted to be 6 x 9, you’ll need to change the trim size that you previously entered in the Print Options section.
• Page numbers are on the wrong side – Even numbers should appear on the book’s left pages and odd numbers on the book’s right pages. Usually the issue is that a blank page was placed before the title page and wasn’t deleted. Sometimes, if you used a section break for the page numbering, when creating a PDF an extra page is inserted in the PDF. You’ll then want to delete that extra page in Adobe Acrobat.
• Text is in the margins – When formatting, you may have placed the margins too close to the edge of the page. KindleDP generally wants the text at least 0.375 inches from the edge. Go with a half-inch margin to be safe.
• An image is in the margins – When placing photographs or other artwork on the page, you may have placed them over the edge of the margin. You’ll need to replace the image and do a little reformatting so that it fits within the margins. Ditto if you get a textbox is in the margin error message.
• Images are pixelated – If the photograph or image you used is less than 200 KB and 300 dots per inch (dpi) in size, it may appear pixelated. You’ll need to use an image that is the correct size and replace it in the text.
• Colors images are used in a black and white book – In the Print Options section, you’ll tell KindleDP if your book is entirely black and white or if there are color images in it. If you said you had black and white images but then upload a manuscript with color photos, artwork or text, you’ll need to change your answer in the Print Options section.
• Fonts aren’t embedded – Unless you’re using rare, specialized fonts – say letters in the shape of lightning bolts – usually this isn’t cause for rejection. KindleDP will automatically embed the fonts for you.

There are myriad other reasons why KindleDP might reject your manuscript, but the above eight are the most common that my author clients have experienced. Should you receive a rejection that isn’t listed above, you’ll need to google a solution. Usually KindleDP explains what is wrong in an email or in its Book Preview, which appears at the bottom of the Paperback Content page.

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My name is Rob Bignell. I’m an affordable, professional editor who runs Inventing Reality Editing Service, which meets the manuscript needs of writers both new and published. I also offer a variety of self-publishing services. During the past decade, I’ve helped more than 300 novelists and nonfiction authors obtain their publishing dreams at reasonable prices. I’m also the author of the 7 Minutes a Day… writing guidebooks, four nonfiction hiking guidebook series, and the literary novel Windmill. Several of my short stories in the literary and science fiction genres also have been published.