Do I Have to Disclose AI Use to Publishers or Retailers? TL;DR:Amazon KDP requires disclosure of AI-generated content (but not AI-assisted content) during the publishing process. The disclosure is for Amazon’s internal records — it is not shown to readers. Major traditional publishers generally require AI disclosure in manuscript submissions. Policies vary by platform and […]
What Is the Difference Between AI-Generated and AI-Assisted Writing?
What Is the Difference Between AI-Generated and AI-Assisted Writing? TL;DR:AI-generated content is produced by an AI tool with minimal human creative input — the AI determines the expressive elements. AI-assisted content is created by a human author who uses AI tools to support their own creative process. This distinction matters for copyright, platform policies, and […]
Can I Copyright a Book Written with AI Assistance?
Can I Copyright a Book Written with AI Assistance? TL;DR:Yes, if you are the human author who exercises creative control over the work. The U.S. Copyright Office requires human authorship for copyright protection. Using AI as an assistive tool does not disqualify your work from copyright — but purely AI-generated content with no human creative […]
Do I Need an Editor If I Am Self-Publishing?
Do I Need an Editor If I Am Self-Publishing? TL;DR:Yes — at minimum, every self-published book should be professionally proofread. Ideally, you should also invest in copy editing. Developmental editing is the most transformative but also the most expensive. The type and level of editing depends on your experience, your manuscript’s needs, and your budget. […]
How Long Does It Take to Self-Publish a Book?
How Long Does It Take to Self-Publish a Book?? TL;DR:From finished manuscript to live listing, self-publishing typically takes 2–4 months. The biggest time investments are editing (4–8 weeks), cover design (2–4 weeks), and formatting (1–2 weeks). The actual upload and approval process on KDP takes 24–72 hours. The typical self-publishing timeline is 2–4 months from […]
What Is the Difference Between Traditional, Self, and Hybrid Publishing?
What Is the Difference Between Traditional, Self, and Hybrid Publishing? TL;DR:Traditional publishing involves selling your manuscript to a publisher who handles editing, design, printing, distribution, and marketing in exchange for royalties (typically 10–15% of net). Self-publishing means you handle (and pay for) everything but keep 35–70% royalties. Hybrid publishing is a fee-based model where you […]
Should I Use Fixed Layout or Reflowable for My Ebook?
Should I Use Fixed Layout or Reflowable for My Ebook? TL;DR:Use reflowable for any text-heavy book (novels, nonfiction, memoir). Use fixed layout only for heavily visual content where page design is essential — children’s picture books, comics, graphic novels, cookbooks with complex layouts, and art books. Choosing between fixed layout and reflowable formatting determines how […]
Why Does My Ebook Look Different on Every Device?
Why Does My Ebook Look Different on Every Device? TL;DR:Ebooks use reflowable layout, meaning the text adapts to each device’s screen size, resolution, and the reader’s chosen settings for font and text size. This is by design — it makes ebooks readable on screens of any dimension. You control structure and hierarchy; readers control appearance. […]
How Do I Format an Ebook for KDP?
How Do I Format an Ebook for KDP? TL;DR:KDP accepts EPUB, DOCX, and KPF file formats. Your ebook needs a properly structured table of contents, clean chapter breaks, consistent formatting, and embedded images at 300 DPI. Avoid complex layouts and manual formatting — use styles for headings and body text. Formatting an ebook for Kindle […]
What Is EPUB and How Is It Different from MOBI?
What Is EPUB and How Is It Different from MOBI? TL;DR:EPUB is the universal ebook standard used by Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and most other retailers. MOBI was Amazon’s proprietary format but has been replaced by KPF (Kindle Package Format). When you upload to KDP, you can submit EPUB, DOCX, or KPF files […]