How to Make an Ebook
From Draft to Published

Before you touch formatting or design, your content needs to be production-ready. This means the writing is done, the structure is finalised, and you are not going back to rewrite chapters. Making an ebook on top of unfinished content creates rework - you will format chapter 5, then rewrite chapter 5, then reformat chapter 5. Do not start production until the manuscript is locked.

A production-ready manuscript has: all chapters written and edited, a finalised table of contents, front matter decided (title page, copyright, dedication, foreword if applicable), and back matter planned (author bio, resources, call to action). Front and back matter are often forgotten until the last moment, creating a scramble that delays the whole project.

If your content exists in another format - Google Docs, Word, Notion, or scattered files - consolidate it first. Inkfluence AI's import tool accepts PDF, DOCX, EPUB, and TXT files. It strips existing formatting, detects chapter boundaries, and restructures the content into the editor where you can add a cover and export clean files.

If you have not written the content yet, consider using Inkfluence AI to generate the manuscript first. Describe your book concept, and the AI produces a structured, multi-chapter draft using genre-specific blueprints. Then move into the production phase covered in this guide. For the full writing process, see how to write an ebook.

The cover is the single most important visual element of your ebook. On Amazon, readers see the cover at thumbnail size (about 100x160 pixels) in search results. At that size, intricate designs become blurry noise. The covers that sell have: a clear, readable title, high contrast between text and background, and a simple dominant colour scheme.

What makes a cover convert: Title readable at thumbnail size (large, bold font, maximum contrast). Subtitle that clarifies the value proposition. Author name (builds credibility over time). Genre-appropriate design language - business books look different from romance novels, and readers notice when the cover signals the wrong genre.

Inkfluence AI's cover designer has five tabs: templates (pre-designed layouts you customise), custom upload (use your own image as background), AI generation (describe your vision and generate a cover), colour/font controls, and layout adjustments. Output resolution is 2560x1600px - the specification Amazon KDP requires for sharp rendering on high-DPI devices.

Common cover mistakes: Too many fonts (use two maximum). Cluttered composition (one strong image beats a collage). Unreadable text at small sizes (test your cover at 100px height). Generic stock photos that match a hundred other covers in the same category. Colour combinations that clash with most Amazon category page backgrounds.

If design is not your strength, start with a template and customise the text and colours. A well-executed template beats a poorly executed custom design every time.

The most common question in ebook production is whether to use PDF or EPUB. The answer depends on your content type, distribution channel, and reader's device.

PDF is a fixed-layout format. Every reader sees exactly the same page, regardless of device or screen size. This is essential for workbooks (fill-in-the-blank fields stay in position), recipe books (ingredients and instructions stay on the same page), design portfolios, and any content where visual layout is part of the value.

EPUB is a reflowable format. Text adapts to the reader's screen size, font preference, and accessibility settings. This is better for text-heavy content: novels, how-to guides, business books, self-help titles. Readers on a phone see a narrow column of text. Readers on a tablet see wider columns. Both are comfortable.

When you need both: If you sell on Amazon KDP (EPUB) and also sell directly on Gumroad (PDF), you need both formats. Inkfluence AI exports both PDF and EPUB from the same project with one click. No reformatting, no separate tools, no conversion headaches.

Once your ebook is exported, you need to get it in front of readers. The distribution strategy depends on your goal: maximum reach (Amazon KDP), maximum margin (Gumroad or your own site), or lead generation (free download in exchange for email).

Amazon KDP: The largest ebook marketplace. Upload your EPUB and cover. Set your price (most non-fiction ebooks: $2.99-$9.99 for the 70% royalty tier, $0.99-$2.98 for the 35% tier). KDP Select enrols your book in Kindle Unlimited (additional revenue per page read, but requires Amazon exclusivity for the ebook format). Books appear in the Kindle Store within 72 hours of submission.

Gumroad: Direct sales platform. You set the price, keep about 90% after fees. No exclusivity requirements. Best for building an owned audience - you get the customer's email. Send PDF downloads immediately after purchase. Good for premium pricing on niche topics.

Lead magnet distribution: Use your ebook as a free download to build your email list. Host the PDF on your website or a service like ConvertKit/Mailchimp. Gate it behind an email opt-in form. This is the most common use case for shorter ebooks (5-8 chapters). See the lead magnet generator.

Multi-channel strategy: Sell the EPUB on Amazon for discoverability. Sell the PDF directly on Gumroad for higher margins. Offer a shorter free version as a lead magnet to build email subscribers for future launches. This three-tier approach maximises both reach and revenue.

Most ebook production mistakes are invisible to the author and glaring to the reader. Here are the ones that matter most, roughly in order of impact on reader experience.

1. Unprofessional cover. The cover is the first thing every potential reader sees. A bad cover signals "this person did not invest in quality" and readers assume the content matches. Spend time on the cover. Use a template if you are not a designer. Test it at thumbnail size.

2. No table of contents. Ebooks without a TOC feel unfinished. On Kindle, the TOC enables the "Go to" navigation. In PDF, a clickable TOC lets readers jump to specific sections. Always generate a proper table of contents from your heading structure.

3. Inconsistent formatting. Different fonts in different chapters. Varying heading sizes. Inconsistent spacing. These errors are easy to make when working manually and nearly impossible when using a platform with enforced styling. Use a consistent template or a tool that handles formatting automatically.

4. Not testing on mobile. Over 60% of ebook reading happens on phones and tablets. Your EPUB might look perfect on a desktop preview and broken on a Kindle Paperwhite. Test on at least two devices. Inkfluence AI's device preview shows how your ebook renders on Kindle, tablet, and phone before you export.

5. Missing metadata. Title, author, description, and keywords in the file metadata affect discoverability. An EPUB without proper metadata may not appear in search results or may display "Unknown Author" in reading apps. Fill in all metadata fields before exporting.

6. Wrong format for the platform. Uploading a PDF to KDP when you should upload an EPUB (or vice versa). Submitting a low-resolution cover that gets rejected. Using fixed-layout PDF for a text-heavy novel that readers need to adjust font size on. Match your format to your distribution channel.