Free DOCX preflight
Publishing glossary
Manuscript: the finished text before it becomes a book.
A manuscript is the complete, edited text of a book before typesetting and cover design.
Checked:
✓Draft to manuscript means structural edits done✓DOCX is the standard manuscript format✓Manuscript formatting precedes layout
From draft to publishable manuscript
A manuscript is more than a finished story: it carries consistent scene breaks, front matter, and a clean heading structure. Those details determine how cleanly the file converts to print and ebook.
- Use Word styles, not manual formatting
- One space after periods
- Keep the story in one file
Checking the manuscript before upload
Upload the DOCX to the free formatter check. It inspects modeled structure, spacing, and image risks before you upload.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What format should a manuscript be?
DOCX is the safest interchange format for KDP, built with paragraph styles rather than manual spacing.
When is a manuscript ready?
When the story is structurally edited and the file uses consistent styles. Layout and cover design come after.
Does Select exclusivity apply to print books?
No. Select covers the ebook only. Your paperback and hardcover editions can sell everywhere — exclusive stores, wide distribution, and bookstores — while the enrolled ebook stays exclusive to Amazon for 90 days.
Can I enroll a backlog of old titles later?
Yes, each title is enrolled separately. Many authors wait until the ebook has steady sales, then move it into Select to pick up Kindle Unlimited page reads. The trade-off never changes: exclusivity during enrollment, page-read revenue during exclusivity.
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