Kindle Direct Publishing has dropped the requirement to upload a manuscript as soon as you create a pre-order for an ebook.
Previously, KDP users have had to upload a ‘draft’ manuscript at least to qualify for a pre-order as Amazon said it needed to preview the content for compliance with its policies before creating the pre-order detail page but now ‘asset-less’ pre-orders will be accepted.
The deadline to submit your final content will be displayed on a timer on your KDP Bookshelf. For new and existing pre-orders, you will continue to have until the deadline displayed on your book’s set-up pages to make changes to your title and provide the file you want customers to receive. KDP encourages you to upload your file early, in case any changes are needed to meet publishing guidelines.
The facility for pre-orders on KDP was launched back in 2014 and it’s proved popular and very useful for many indie authors. Pre-orders contribute toward sales rank and other Kindle Store merchandising even before your ebook is released, which can help more readers discover your book.
You can make your new ebooks available for pre-order in Kindle Stores worldwide (except Amazon.in, where pre-orders aren’t currently available). Setting a pre-order allows customers to order your ebook up to 90 days before its release date and any time leading up to the release date you set, and it will be delivered to them on that date.
Changing the date of release — penalties for postponing, cancelling pre-orders or failing to meet deadline
If you move up the release date for your ebook, you need to submit the final version of your book, and all customers who pre-ordered the ebook will receive the content on the earlier release date.
You can postpone the release date for your ebook one time for up to 30 days past the initial release date. Customers who pre-ordered the ebook will get an email telling them you delayed the release.
If you postpone the release date, you won’t be able to postpone release dates for other existing pre-order ebooks and you won’t be able to set up a pre-order for any ebook for one year.
If you cancel the release of your pre-order ebook, for whatever reason, you can unpublish your pre-order ebook just like you would unpublish any other book on KDP. If you cancel a pre-order, you won’t be able to set up a pre-order for any ebook for one year.
If you don’t upload your file on time, your pre-order will be cancelled, and you won’t be able to set up a pre-order for any ebook for one year.
When you’re setting up a new ebook through your KDP Bookshelf, you can choose to make it available for pre-order, set a date in the future and a detail page will be published for it.
- Only new KDP ebooks are eligible for pre-order and you can list up to 10 titles at once for pre-order, with room for more pre-order listings as you release each ebook.
- KDP recommends waiting to upload your manuscript file until you have the version of the book you’d like delivered to customers.
- You can change your list price during the pre-order period, but if you lower it, KDP will retroactively charge that lower price to customers who already pre-ordered your book. If you raise the price during pre-order, all prior customers will pay the lower price. Your royalty will be based on the actual price KDP charges customers.
- You can enrol your pre-order book in KDP Select and the KDP Select term will begin on the book’s release date. Free promotions and Kindle Countdown Deals can be scheduled only after the book release.