KDP Ebook Pre-Order Changes
Spoiler alert: You need to upload a customer-ready ebook file before submitting it for pre-order.
Indie authors, sometimes changes happen when we aren’t paying attention. I know that’s the case for me! I saw something in passing recently about KDP allowing customers to read a sample (look inside the book) of Kindle books available for pre-order. So I went investigating.
Remember that, for now, Amazon does not have the option of setting up pre-orders on print books. (However, I DO wonder if that might be in KDP’s future. Wouldn’t that be amazing?) We have the option of setting a release date and ordering author copies ahead of time, but the public cannot see it.
However, we do have the option of making the Kindle version available for pre-order. And I have understood that until the ebook1 was released, we could have a draft in place and replace it with the final version in the required window of 72 hours before the release time. We can. But there is a good reason why this is not a good idea.
First, let’s look at what KDP says about Read Sample (Look Inside the Book).
Look Inside the Book
From KDP:2
How Read Sample Works
Once your book is available for purchase on Amazon, including eBook pre-orders, the reading sample will display within a few days. If you make updates to your book, it will take additional time for the sample to update with the latest content.
Timelines and amount vary by type of book:
Paperback and hardcover: 9 -10 business days
eBook: 7-8 business days
Did you see the part that I put in bold there? When the pre-order is available for sale, people will be able to look inside the book. If the opening pages are not part of the final book, it might be embarrassing for authors.
I was able to confirm this same info in another help topic.3
Note: If you upload a manuscript at the time of submitting your pre-order, Amazon may allows [sic] readers to preview samples of your book.
Does the File Need to Be Final?
I dug a little further, and this is what I found in another help topic:4
Submitting pre-order
When you’re ready to submit your pre-order, you must upload your final manuscript file to publish the version of the eBook you want delivered to customers.
Follow the instructions below to submit your pre-order:
Go to your Bookshelf.
Select the ellipsis button (”…”) under KINDLE EBOOK ACTIONS next to the eBook you want to update.
Choose Edit eBook content.
Under Manuscript, upload the manuscript file that contains the version of the eBook you want delivered to customers.
That part in bold also confirms it. It must be the version of the ebook you want customers to see. Yes, you could be still making a few minor changes and replace the file at least 72 hours before the release, but you can’t put up a “sloppy copy” and be incognito.
It would appear that KDP is getting a little tired of authors not reading the rules, releasing the wrong file, and then asking the staff to undo it. We’re required to submit it for publishing (human review) before it will be enabled for pre-order.
And, they’re serious about it if you don’t do it their way. This is what the help topic says:
Note: If you haven't uploaded a manuscript and your pre-order is in "Draft" status, you must upload your final manuscript and submit your pre-order at least 72 hours before the submission deadline. If you do not submit your pre-order before the deadline, the pre-order will be canceled. You'll lose the ability to edit your eBook and can't set up new pre-orders for a year. Our customer service team cannot unlock your eBook title after the submission deadline.
What Does It Mean for Authors?
I’ve been saying from the beginning (if you’ve been following Indie Author Blueprint, you know) that we need to treat our writing and publishing as a business if we’re putting books out there on our own. I see way too many authors go through KDP and make human errors and then get mad at KDP for it.
The advice given in too many comments on someone else’s post is to reach out to KDP to fix it. Um, no. ** gets on soapbox ** Can you imagine how annoying it is for KDP to be flooded with questions that are not honest mistakes but just authors who were unwilling to read the policies and learn the business of what they were about to do?
** the soapbox is getting slippery **
The act-now-and-beg-for-forgiveness-later principle is not for people who take this seriously. I want to be diligent to the best of my ability. We can all make the indie publishing space better, and maybe erase some of the stigma, if we study the platform, and not just someone else’s take on it. Do your homework too! Don’t trust me or others if you can’t verify what they say.
** exits soapbox **
What’s Next?
When you set up your next Kindle book and consider whether you want to make it available for pre-order, remember that as soon as you submit the file, customers might be able to preview it. If you’re ready to go, go for it! And if you’re considering putting a pre-order in Draft mode, be sure you have a lot of reminders set for yourself to put a file there on time.
If you need to do some work on the book, a soft launch without a pre-order might be perfect for you.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
As of the Chicago Manual of Style 18, ebook is now written without a hyphen or a capital letter.
This section of content is from Amazon’s KDP help topics. https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200644250
This quote is from Amazon’s KDP help topics. https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201499380#status
This section of content is from Amazon’s KDP help topics. https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201575300