Createspace to KDP...How Easy Is It?

KDP’s Paperback Tool

For those of you who have used Createspace in the past, I’m sure you’re aware that your paperbacks are being encouraged to migrate over to KDP.  At first, I was reluctant, because, let’s face it, it sounds like more work.  But in reality, it really isn’t more than a few minutes to send your titles over to where your ebooks are anyway. 

If you already have your books in paperback format as well as ebook, you’ll find the transition very smooth.  It’s just a matter of linking your ebook to your paperback.  Many of my titles, however, are only available in ebook. 

Yesterday, I took the opportunity to see how easy it is to create a paperback from an ebook, and compare the ease from Createspace to KDP.

If you use the 6” x 9” template (which is the most common paperback size), and copy and paste the ebook into the paperback, the only real legwork involved (if you’ve already formatted your ebook properly) is to set your chapter breaks to the next page after the previous chapter ends.  You’ll find that the chapter title wants to migrate to the middle of the next page, and its anchored there, so you can’t fix it.  To remedy this, go to format-paragraph-line and page breaks-and deselect ‘window orphan control’ and ‘keep with next’.  Then, you should be able to place your chapter title anywhere you want on the page.  Also, don't forget to remove any live links you have in your book's front or back matter, as they won't work in the paperback version.

The cover is so easy anyone can do it, and the best part is, you don’t have to fiddle with Myecovermaker and pay the $5.00USD time and again until Createspace is satisfied with the formatting of it.  You don’t even have to convert to PDF, KDP does that all for you. 

When you utilize the Cover Creator, all you have to do is upload your ebook cover, fit it to size (which they give you a nice red template to follow, so all you have to do is drag the image until it fits properly), and copy and paste your author bio image, bio information, and your book blurb.  You’ll also need an ISBN, but KDP can also supply you with one. I prefer to use my own, but that's an individual preference.

The worst part was waiting for the files to convert and save.  Some of them took upwards of a half hour or more, and some I had to cancel and re-do. 

Overall it was easy and much better than the Createspace process.

Great if you’re a working writer and a mom like I am, and don’t have the time to invest fiddling, which is one of the major reasons why I haven’t made many of my ebooks into paperback.  That’s all going to change!

Have you found any other time-saving strategies for self-publishing?  Are you also a working writer?  Please feel free to share your tips below.

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