Blog

Amazon KDP Publish Your Book Checklist to Avoid Rejections

Amazon KDP Publish Your Book: A Launch Playbook to Avoid the Most Common Rejections

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

  • Prepare clean EPUBs and high-resolution covers before you click Publish to avoid most technical rejections.
  • Be transparent about AI assistance and humanize the prose to meet current KDP expectations.
  • Use an author-focused system for formatted files, professional covers, and validated EPUBs to reduce review delays.

Overview: why this playbook matters

If your goal is to publish on Amazon KDP without repeated review cycles, focus on the things that trigger the most rejections. Amazon’s KDP review typically finishes in 24–72 hours, but that window can stretch if files fail formatting checks, metadata is inconsistent, or required disclosures are missing.

This playbook highlights practical edits and technical fixes that speed approval. For many authors, an established reference like Publish Book Amazon KDP helps on process steps, while focused formatting prevents the longest delays; see our guide on Publish Book Amazon KDP for a step-based walkthrough.

Write like a human, publish like an author.

Prepare your manuscript and assets

Good publishing starts long before you open the KDP dashboard. The single biggest cause of rejections is file problems: malformed EPUBs, low-resolution covers, missing embedded fonts, or inconsistent metadata. Fix those first.

Manuscript: preferred formats and common traps

Use EPUB as your primary upload for ebooks. EPUB preserves structure, navigation, and fonts reliably; if you convert from DOCX or PDF, inspect the output for odd breaks and missing headings.

  • Embed fonts when layout depends on a typeface; unembedded fonts can shift spacing and break chapter starts.
  • Images: keep print images at 300 DPI and use sensible resolutions for ebooks to avoid oversized files.
  • Structure: use consistent chapter titles and Heading 1 for chapter starts so readers and validators find your table of contents.
  • Validation: run an EPUB validator or use a converter built for Kindle to avoid hidden markup issues.

If you use a generator or converter, treat the output as the authoritative source and validate it in multiple readers before uploading.

Covers: what reviewers look for

Reviewers check that the cover file matches the declared format and that typography remains readable at thumbnail size. Covers that look experimental or use odd type treatments can be flagged for poor discoverability.

  • Use a full front cover file for ebooks that’s export-quality and sized for the store.
  • For print, supply a wrap file or follow KDP’s template requirements precisely.
  • Prioritize readability and genre expectations over elaborate art treatments to reduce metadata mismatch flags.

If you want automated cover ideas or templates, check the tools referenced below and learn how cover patterns affect discoverability.

Metadata: the invisible quality gate

Title, subtitle, series fields, and author name must match across your manuscript, cover, and listing. Inconsistencies cause review delays.

  • Use up to 7 thoughtful keywords and 2 relevant browse categories; avoid stuffing or misleading tags.
  • Keep the description clear, customer-focused, and factually accurate; excessive hype can prompt manual review.
  • Confirm contributor roles and translator credits when applicable.

Packaging your book as an ebook or paperback

Decide early whether you’re releasing ebook-only, paperback, or both. For multi-format launches, produce separate but consistent files and metadata that reflect the same author brand.

If generating books with a tool, verify it can produce both ebook and print-ready outputs so you don’t reformat twice.

Editorial: humanization and AI disclosure

KDP’s 2026 updates emphasize quality and, in specific cases, AI disclosure. Humanize the prose—edit tone, clarity, and flow—so the text reads like a deliberately authored book.

  • Disclosure: where required, include a short front-matter note describing the extent of AI assistance.
  • Human edit pass: read aloud sections, simplify sentences, and fix awkward grammar to reduce automated moderation flags.

Submit with confidence: checklist and common pitfalls

This section is your preflight checklist. Follow it in order and don’t skip validation steps.

1. Final file checks (manuscript and cover)

  • Open the EPUB in multiple readers (desktop, tablet, phone) to spot rendering issues.
  • Confirm chapter navigation and first-page links lead to the intended front matter or chapter one.
  • Check embedded fonts and ensure inline images don’t break layouts.
  • Validate the EPUB with a standard validator or trusted converter.

2. Metadata and listing

  • Match title, subtitle, and author name on the cover and inside the file.
  • Fill in description, keywords, and categories carefully—no false claims.
  • Provide required contributor roles and translator credits if relevant.

3. Rights, pricing, and territories

  • Confirm you have rights to publish the text and included images; copyright claims lead to takedown or rejection.
  • Choose your royalty option and check price-based marketplace rules.
  • Reserve ISBN decisions for print formats and ensure the ISBN is placed correctly in metadata.

4. AI-related disclosures and quality checks

  • If AI contributed substantially, include a brief disclosure in front matter or contributor notes when required by policy.
  • Perform a humanization pass to edit unnatural phrasing and improve readability.

Common rejection reasons and fixes

  • Malformed EPUB: reconvert with a tool that produces clean navigation and validated markup.
  • Cover quality or mismatch: replace with a correctly sized, high-resolution file that matches metadata.
  • Metadata mismatches: ensure title and author are identical across files and listing entries.
  • Copyright issues: remove questionable content or secure licenses.
  • AI policy/non-disclosure: add required disclosure and a human edit pass before resubmitting.

How BookAutoAI helps avoid rejections

Book-generating systems can cut friction when they produce validated files and readable prose. Learn more about tools and resources at Bookautoai.

  • Generates fully formatted manuscripts and performs humanization passes to reduce editorial flags.
  • Produces EPUBs structured for Kindle with embedded metadata and covers.
  • Creates market-ready covers designed for thumbnail readability and store expectations.

Technical submission tips that matter

  • Color profiles: use RGB for ebooks and CMYK for print where required.
  • File names: keep names simple and avoid special characters.
  • ISBNs: use KDP-assigned ISBNs for free assignment, or embed your own if managing an imprint.
  • Previews: use KDP’s previewer for print pagination and preview ebooks on devices.

Upload flow reminder

  • Complete tax and payment details in your KDP account; missing info delays royalties and distribution.
  • Choose territories and pricing carefully to match your audience.
  • Decide on exclusivity programs like KDP Select understanding the implications.

When managing uploads to retailers and distribution partners, consider specialized book upload tools for broad distribution and batch publishing of titles; many authors compare different book upload tools when planning multi-store distribution (book upload tools).

When a rejection happens: practical next steps

  • Read the KDP notice carefully; it usually includes the reason.
  • Fix the source file and re-export a fresh EPUB or cover file.
  • Resubmit and watch email for the second review; avoid unrelated changes during troubleshooting.

Why automation still needs safeguards

Automation speeds production, but marketplaces care about quality. Always include manual checks: read key chapters, verify captions and tables, confirm references, and ensure a consistent voice.

Final steps before moving to publish

  • One last read-through of the first 20–30 pages to ensure tone and clarity.
  • Confirm title, author name, and cover reflect the same brand.
  • Prepare a short author bio and select relevant categories and keywords.
  • Plan post-launch monitoring for reviews and formatting feedback.

Learn more about publishing best practices and file preparation at Bookautoai.

FAQ

Q: What’s the simplest file format to upload to KDP?

A: EPUB is the recommended ebook format because it preserves navigation and structure. For print, follow KDP templates and submit a high-resolution PDF when required.

Q: Do I need to disclose AI assistance to KDP?

A: KDP’s 2026 policy updates require disclosures in specific cases. If AI was used substantially, include a clear disclosure in the front matter and perform human edits to improve readability.

Q: How do I avoid cover-related rejections?

A: Use readable typography that works at thumbnail size, avoid misleading imagery, and ensure the uploaded file matches the metadata and listing.

Q: What’s the best way to choose keywords and categories?

A: Choose clear, relevant keywords and two categories that match your genre and audience. Avoid keyword stuffing and misclassification.

Q: If KDP rejects my book, how long until I can resubmit?

A: You can resubmit as soon as you’ve fixed the issue. Technical fixes can be quick; rights or markup problems may take longer. Keep changes focused.

Sources

Amazon KDP Publish Your Book: A Launch Playbook to Avoid the Most Common Rejections Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Prepare clean EPUBs and high-resolution covers before you click Publish to avoid most technical rejections. Be transparent about AI assistance and humanize the prose to meet current KDP expectations. Use an author-focused system for formatted files,…