You’ve got the idea. Maybe a draft outline. Now you’re working out what kind of book it is, who it’s for, and what shape it’ll take. The work at this stage is all upfront thinking – done well, the writing and publishing become much easier.
Guides for this stage
Decisions and research before you put a word on the page. Start by understanding the landscape, then validate your idea against the market, then sort out the legal basics.
Understand the landscape
- What is KDP? – Plain-English KDP 101 – what you can publish, how royalties work, and what the platform expects.
- Beginner’s guide to self-publishing – The complete walkthrough for first-time authors – choices, costs, timeline.
- Self-publishing vs traditional (UK) – Honest comparison of control, royalties, and timelines so you pick the right path.
- How to self-publish on Amazon (UK) – UK-specific KDP setup, royalties, tax, and the steps before you upload anything.
- What it actually costs (UK) – Complete breakdown – editing, cover, formatting, ISBNs – and what you can skip.
- Self-publishing glossary – Every term you’ll meet – ARC, bleed, trim, gutter, royalty – in plain English.
Validate your idea before writing
- Market research for indie authors – How to validate a book idea in an afternoon – comp titles, BSR-to-sales, review velocity. Don’t write 90k words in a dead genre.
- Define your target reader – The avatar exercise – build a one-page profile of who your book is for. Drives every marketing decision from cover to keywords.
- Book title strategy – How titles drive Amazon discovery – fiction vs non-fiction patterns, the subtitle leverage most authors miss, how to test before committing.
- Pen name strategy – When you need one, when you don’t, KDP rules, and how to manage multiple identities without burning out.
Get the legal basics right
- Copyright basics (UK) – What protection you automatically have, when to register, and what the (c) line should say.
- What you can quote (UK fair dealing) – UK fair dealing is narrower than US fair use – what’s actually safe to quote.
- Using song lyrics in a book – The honest answer: almost never without a licence. Here’s why and what to do instead.
Positioning and market research
- Find your comp titles – Identify comparable titles to position your book and brief your cover, blurb and categories.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I spend planning before I write? Many authors spend a few hours validating the idea (genre, comps, target reader) and a few more on a one-page beat sheet – about a working day total. Spending months on planning before writing is usually procrastination disguised as preparation.
Do I need an ISBN if I’m selling on Amazon KDP? Not for Kindle ebooks – Amazon assigns an ASIN. For paperback you need an ISBN; KDP gives a free one if you don’t bring your own. UK authors can buy ISBNs from Nielsen for £93 (single) or £174 for a block of 10 (VAT included) if they want broader distribution.
Should I write under my real name or a pen name? Most first-time authors should publish under their real name. Pen names help when writing across very different genres, protecting day-job privacy, or restarting after a failed series. They add admin overhead – separate Author Central, newsletter, brand.
How do I know my book idea will sell? Find five close comp titles in your specific sub-genre. Check their Amazon Best Seller Rank (BSR), review count, and series structure. If your comps are selling steadily – healthy BSR, steady review velocity – your idea has a market. If you can’t find five comps, the genre may be very niche or under-served.
