05 · Publishing & Export

Prepare Your Book for Publishing

Learn how to review your finished manuscript, choose the right export format, prepare files for Amazon KDP, and publish your book for readers around the world.

StoryMaster AI helps you move from book creation to publishing preparation by bringing your manuscript, illustrations, cover, formatting, and export options together in one connected workflow.

4 lessons 25-minute track Beginner to intermediate Reading tutorial
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StoryMaster · Export ready

Your book, ready for readers

EPUB

Reflowable eBook

PDF

Fixed print layout

DOCX

Editable manuscript

KDP-READY

Amazon KDP files

Publishing readiness92%
Manuscript ✓Cover ✓Metadata ✓Preview pending
Lesson 1 of 4 6 minutes

Preparing Your Book

Finishing the first draft is an important milestone, but a complete draft is not automatically ready for publishing.

Before exporting your book, review the manuscript, illustrations, cover, structure, and publishing details carefully.

StoryMaster AI helps bring these elements together so you can prepare a polished and consistent final book.

Review the complete manuscript

Read the book from beginning to end as a complete reader experience.

Check:

  • Does the opening create interest?
  • Does every chapter have a clear purpose?
  • Is the book logically organised?
  • Are any ideas repeated?
  • Are important details missing?
  • Does the ending fulfil the promise of the book?
  • Does the tone remain consistent?
  • Is the language appropriate for the target audience?

Reviewing individual chapters is useful, but reading the full manuscript helps you identify problems that only appear across the whole book.

Check structure and flow

A well-prepared book should have a clear structure.

Depending on the book type, it may include:

  • Title page
  • Copyright page
  • Dedication
  • Table of contents
  • Introduction
  • Main chapters
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Author biography
  • References
  • Resources
  • Call to action

Not every book needs every section. Choose only the sections that support the reader and the publishing format.

Review chapter consistency

Check that chapter formatting remains consistent.

Review:

  • Chapter titles
  • Heading hierarchy
  • Paragraph spacing
  • Image placement
  • Page breaks
  • Numbering
  • Font use
  • Section dividers
  • Captions

A book looks more professional when the same rules are applied throughout.

Review characters and story continuity

For fiction, confirm:

  • Character names remain correct
  • Ages and appearances remain consistent
  • Relationships develop logically
  • Important memories are preserved
  • Locations remain recognisable
  • The timeline makes sense
  • Unresolved plot points are addressed

Review facts and references

For nonfiction, educational, professional, or research-based books:

  • Verify factual claims
  • Check names, dates, and statistics
  • Review quotations
  • Confirm sources
  • Remove unsupported claims
  • Check terminology
  • Update outdated information
  • Add references where appropriate

AI-generated material should always be reviewed before publishing.

Review illustrations

Check every illustration for:

  • Character consistency
  • Correct clothing
  • Accurate setting
  • Correct story moment
  • Appropriate style
  • Suitable resolution
  • Clear composition
  • Correct image placement
  • Readability in print and digital formats

Make sure no image contradicts the text.

Review the book cover

Check:

  • Correct title
  • Correct subtitle
  • Correct author name
  • Clear genre positioning
  • Readable typography
  • Professional composition
  • Thumbnail readability
  • Suitable dimensions
  • Correct spine and back cover where required

Add publishing information

Before export, prepare:

  • Final book title
  • Subtitle
  • Author or pen name
  • Book description
  • Target audience
  • Primary genre
  • Categories
  • Keywords
  • Author biography
  • Publisher or imprint name, when applicable
  • Copyright information
  • Publication year

These details will also be needed when creating a listing on Amazon KDP or another publishing platform.

StoryMaster final-preparation checklist

Before selecting export, confirm:

  • Manuscript approved
  • Chapter order final
  • Formatting consistent
  • Illustrations approved
  • Cover approved
  • Author details correct
  • Copyright page included
  • Table of contents checked
  • Publishing description prepared
  • Export format selected
Final review workflow
DraftReviewRewriteProofreadFormatPreviewExport
Key takeaway

Publishing preparation begins with a complete review of the manuscript, design, illustrations, structure, and book information.

Lesson 2 of 4 6 minutes

Choosing Export Formats

Different publishing and reading purposes require different file formats.

StoryMaster AI may support export options such as EPUB, PDF, DOCX, and KDP-ready files, depending on the available product workflow and plan.

Choose the format based on how the book will be edited, distributed, printed, or published.

EPUB

Reflowable eBook

Ideal for Kindle-style publishing where text adapts to any device and font size.

PDF

Fixed print layout

Preserves every page exactly — perfect for paperbacks, workbooks, and illustrated books.

DOCX

Editable manuscript

Send to an editor, keep a working backup, or import into another formatting tool.

KDP-READY

Amazon KDP files

Manuscript, front cover, and wraparound print cover prepared for upload to your own KDP account.

EPUB — the standard eBook format

EPUB is a widely used eBook format. It is suitable for:

  • eBook stores
  • Digital reading devices
  • Mobile reading apps
  • Reflowable text
  • Adjustable font sizes
  • Kindle publishing preparation, depending on platform requirements

In a reflowable EPUB, text adjusts to the reader's screen size and settings.

Best for

  • Novels
  • Business books
  • Self-development books
  • Guides
  • Text-focused educational books
  • Digital-first publishing

Review carefully

  • Table of contents
  • Chapter navigation
  • Paragraph spacing
  • Image placement
  • Heading hierarchy
  • Page-break behaviour
  • Special characters
  • Links

Because EPUB content adapts to different screen sizes, it may not preserve every page exactly as it appears inside the editor.

PDF — fixed visual layout

PDF preserves the visual layout of the book. It is suitable for:

  • Print preparation
  • Fixed-layout books
  • Workbooks
  • Manuals
  • Reports
  • Illustrated children's books
  • Digital downloads
  • Proof copies
  • Sharing a final visual version

Best for

  • Books with precise page layouts
  • Illustration-heavy books
  • Workbooks
  • Educational materials
  • Print previews
  • Direct digital distribution

Review carefully

  • Page size
  • Margins
  • Image quality
  • Page numbers
  • Fonts
  • Bleed
  • Blank pages
  • Text alignment
  • Print readability

DOCX — the editable manuscript

DOCX is an editable document format. It is suitable for:

  • Additional editing
  • Working with an external editor
  • Proofreading
  • Collaboration
  • Importing into other writing or formatting tools
  • Keeping an editable manuscript backup

Best for

  • Manuscripts that still need revision
  • External editorial review
  • Traditional publishing submissions
  • Collaboration with designers or formatters

A DOCX export may not preserve every complex design element exactly.

KDP-ready files

KDP-ready export refers to files prepared for use in an Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing workflow. These may include:

  • Formatted manuscript files
  • eBook files
  • Print interior files
  • Front cover files
  • Full paperback cover files
  • Publishing-related assets

StoryMaster prepares the files, but the user must still upload, configure, preview, and submit the book inside their own Amazon KDP account.

Choose format by publishing goal

Publish an eBook

Use EPUB or another supported eBook-compatible file.

Publish a paperback

Use a print-ready interior PDF and a full print-cover file.

Share a designed digital book

Use PDF.

Continue editing

Use DOCX.

Send to an editor

Use DOCX or PDF, depending on their preference.

Create a backup

Keep more than one format when possible.

Export more than one version

A practical publishing workflow may include:

  • DOCX for editing
  • PDF for final review
  • EPUB for eBook publishing
  • Print PDF for paperback
  • Cover file for digital use
  • Full cover file for print

Do not rely on only one exported file.

Name files clearly

Use clear file names such as:

  • Book-Title-Final-Manuscript.docx
  • Book-Title-eBook.epub
  • Book-Title-Print-Interior.pdf
  • Book-Title-Front-Cover.jpg
  • Book-Title-Paperback-Cover.pdf

Avoid file names such as

  • final2.pdf
  • newfinalfinal.docx
  • cover-last-version.jpg

Preview every format

A file that looks correct in one format may not look correct in another.

Review:

  • EPUB in an eBook previewer
  • PDF at full size
  • DOCX in an editing application
  • Print files in the publishing platform's preview tool
Key takeaway

Select the export format based on the final use of the book, and always preview each exported version before publishing.

Lesson 3 of 4 7 minutes

Amazon KDP Preparation

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing allows authors and publishers to upload eBooks and print books for sale through supported Amazon marketplaces.

StoryMaster AI helps prepare the book and export the relevant assets, but publishing is completed through the user's own Amazon KDP account.

What you need before starting

Prepare:

  • Final manuscript
  • eBook or print interior file
  • Front cover or full print cover
  • Book title
  • Subtitle
  • Author name
  • Book description
  • Keywords
  • Categories
  • Publishing rights information
  • Price
  • Target territories
  • ISBN decision for print books
  • Bank and tax details for the KDP account

Do not begin uploading until the manuscript and cover are final.

Create the book listing

Inside Amazon KDP, users generally need to provide:

  • Language
  • Book title
  • Subtitle
  • Series information, when applicable
  • Edition number, when applicable
  • Author name
  • Contributors
  • Book description
  • Publishing rights
  • Keywords
  • Categories
  • Age and grade range, when relevant

The book description should explain clearly

  • What the book is about
  • Who it is for
  • What the reader will experience or learn
  • Why the book is worth reading

Choose effective keywords

Keywords help describe the book and may support discovery.

Use phrases relevant to:

  • Topic
  • Reader
  • Genre
  • Problem
  • Theme
  • Setting
  • Book type

Avoid

  • Misleading keywords
  • Unrelated popular terms
  • Other authors' names
  • Unsupported bestseller claims
  • Repetition
  • Promotional promises

Select suitable categories

Choose categories that accurately reflect the book.

Examples may include:

  • Children's fantasy
  • Business leadership
  • Personal development
  • Education
  • Mystery
  • Romance
  • Science fiction
  • Biography
  • Professional guides

The cover, description, keywords, and categories should all position the book consistently.

Upload the manuscript

Upload the correct file for the selected format.

For eBooks, review

  • Chapter navigation
  • Table of contents
  • Text flow
  • Images
  • Links
  • Page breaks

For paperbacks, review

  • Trim size
  • Margins
  • Bleed
  • Page numbers
  • Blank pages
  • Image resolution
  • Header and footer placement

Upload the cover

For an eBook, upload the approved front cover.

For a paperback, upload the complete wraparound cover with:

  • Back cover
  • Spine
  • Front cover
  • Bleed
  • Barcode area

Make sure the dimensions match the selected trim size, paper type, and page count.

Use the preview tool

The preview stage is essential.

Review every page for:

  • Cut-off text
  • Incorrect margins
  • Missing images
  • Blank pages
  • Page-break errors
  • Image quality
  • Spine alignment
  • Cover positioning
  • Barcode interference
  • Font issues

Do not approve the book until the preview looks correct.

Set pricing carefully

Consider:

  • Production cost
  • Book length
  • Format
  • Genre
  • Audience
  • Comparable books
  • Intended royalty option
  • Marketplace differences

Do not choose a price only because it produces a higher royalty percentage. The price must also make sense to the reader.

Royalties and sales

Authors may earn royalties from eligible book sales, depending on:

  • Format
  • Price
  • Marketplace
  • Printing cost
  • Delivery cost
  • KDP terms
  • Selected distribution settings

Publish through Amazon KDP and earn royalties when readers purchase your book. Royalty amounts, rankings, and sales are never guaranteed.

Submit for review

After the listing, manuscript, cover, preview, pricing, and territories are complete, submit the book for Amazon's review.

Amazon controls:

  • Review
  • Approval
  • Listing availability
  • Marketplace distribution
  • Royalty calculations
  • Account policies

StoryMaster does not control Amazon's review process.

StoryMaster-to-KDP workflow
CreateEditIllustrateDesignFormatExportUploadPreviewSubmit
Key takeaway

StoryMaster prepares your book assets, while Amazon KDP handles the upload, review, marketplace listing, sales, and royalty process.

Lesson 4 of 4 6 minutes

Publishing and Distribution

Publishing is not only the moment when a book becomes available.

It also includes how the book is presented, distributed, discovered, updated, and promoted after release.

Choose your publishing route

Common routes include:

Amazon KDP

Suitable for:

  • Kindle eBooks
  • Paperbacks
  • Hardcovers, where supported
  • Amazon marketplace distribution
  • Independent self-publishing

Other eBook stores

Authors may also distribute through platforms that serve:

  • Apple Books
  • Kobo
  • Google Play Books
  • Library systems
  • Regional eBook stores

Availability and requirements vary by platform and distributor.

Direct distribution

Authors may sell or share books through:

  • Personal websites
  • Online shops
  • Membership platforms
  • Course platforms
  • Email lists
  • Client portals

Print services

Authors may use:

  • Print-on-demand
  • Local printing
  • Bulk printing
  • Specialist publishing services

Each route has different costs, requirements, and responsibilities.

Prepare your book description

A strong description should:

  • Open with an engaging line
  • Explain the main topic or conflict
  • Identify the intended reader
  • Communicate the book's value
  • Avoid revealing too much
  • End with a reason to read

For nonfiction, focus on the result or knowledge readers gain.

For fiction, focus on character, conflict, stakes, and emotional experience.

Prepare author information

Your author profile may include:

  • Author name
  • Professional biography
  • Relevant experience
  • Author photograph
  • Website
  • Social links
  • Other published books
  • Contact or newsletter information

Keep it relevant to the book and audience.

Create launch assets

Useful launch materials may include:

  • Book mockups
  • Social media graphics
  • Cover reveal
  • Short promotional video
  • Sample chapter
  • Author introduction
  • Quote cards
  • Email announcement
  • Website landing page
  • Book description
  • Reader review request

The design should remain visually consistent with the cover.

Build reader trust

Readers may evaluate:

  • Cover quality
  • Book description
  • Sample pages
  • Formatting
  • Author profile
  • Reviews
  • Price
  • Category positioning

Professional presentation improves trust, but does not guarantee sales.

Plan the launch

A simple launch process may include:

Before release

  • Finalise the book
  • Prepare listing information
  • Create promotional assets
  • Share previews
  • Build an email list
  • Inform relevant communities

Release period

  • Announce the book
  • Share the sales page
  • Publish short promotional content
  • Encourage genuine reader feedback
  • Speak about the book's value
  • Track listing and file issues

After release

  • Continue promotion
  • Gather reader feedback
  • Correct errors
  • Update descriptions when necessary
  • Create related content
  • Plan the next book

Publish more than one format

Depending on the audience, consider offering:

  • eBook
  • Paperback
  • Hardcover
  • PDF edition
  • Workbook
  • Audiobook in the future

Different readers prefer different formats.

Maintain the published book

Publishing is not always the final step.

You may later need to:

  • Correct typographical errors
  • Update outdated information
  • Improve the cover
  • Refine the description
  • Change keywords
  • Adjust categories
  • Update the author biography
  • Release a new edition

Keep the StoryMaster project and source files organised so changes can be made efficiently.

Respect platform policies

Every publishing platform has its own rules.

Review current requirements related to:

  • AI-generated content
  • Copyright
  • Metadata
  • Images
  • ISBNs
  • Pricing
  • Reviews
  • Book quality
  • Public-domain content
  • Prohibited material

The user is responsible for ensuring that the book complies with the platform's current policies.

Publishing success requires more than export

StoryMaster can make the creation and preparation process more accessible, but the author must still make decisions about:

  • Quality
  • Audience
  • Positioning
  • Pricing
  • Distribution
  • Promotion
  • Reader experience
Final publishing workflow
CreateReviewExportPublishPromoteLearnImprove
Key takeaway

Exporting creates the book files. Publishing, positioning, and promotion help those files become a real product for readers.

Track completion

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