How to Self-Publish Books on Amazon by Learning Everything Online
How I Turned Knowledge Into Published Books, Without a Publishing Degree
As many of you know, I’ve published more than 10 books on high-protein, high-fiber living.
I’m a certified health coach. I know protein. I know fiber. I know nutrition. I know recipes. I know cooking.
I’m a certified health coach. I know protein. I know fiber. I know nutrition. I know recipes. I know cooking.
What didn’t you know?
How to publish a book.
Not the writing part, I’ve always been a writer.
Not the knowledge part, I lived and breathed this topic for years.
Not the knowledge part, I lived and breathed this topic for years.
What I didn’t know was the technical, logistical, and strategic side of self-publishing.
And like most modern entrepreneurs, I didn’t learn it in a classroom.
I learned it online.
I learned it online.
This article is not about writing the “perfect” book.
It’s about how I learned Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) step by step, using online courses, practice, and repetition, and turned what I already knew into real, published products.
It’s about how I learned Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) step by step, using online courses, practice, and repetition, and turned what I already knew into real, published products.
Your niche might be completely different from mine.
You might write fiction. Children’s books. Baking guides. Journals. Memoirs. Poetry.
You might write fiction. Children’s books. Baking guides. Journals. Memoirs. Poetry.
The process is the same.
Why Self-Publishing Came Into My Life (Later Than You’d Expect)
I originally studied health coaching through a paid certification program led by the same founder of IIN (Institute for Integrative Nutrition), earning my certification. It was thorough, science-based, and transformative.
But at the time, I didn’t have:
- The mental space
- The creative energy
- Or the time
to turn that knowledge into books.
Life was busy. Career was full. Publishing felt like “something I’ll do someday.”
Then COVID happened.
Like many people, I suddenly had time and clarity.
Social media was exploding with creators talking about:
- Passive income
- Self-publishing
- Amazon KDP
- Digital products
And for the first time, publishing didn’t feel intimidating.
It felt… accessible.
It felt… accessible.
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Why I Started With Recipe Books (And Why You Should Start With What’s Easy)
I didn’t start with a deeply philosophical book or a complex manifesto.
I started with recipe books, intentionally.
Why?
- I already knew the structure.
- I understood formatting
- I knew my audience
- I knew the content would be useful.
This is an important lesson.
Your first book should not be the hardest thing you’ll ever write.
It should be:
- Familiar
- Practical
- Executable
Momentum matters more than perfection.
You Don’t Need to Know Everything — You Need to Learn the System
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is free.
Let me say that again because it matters:
👉 It costs nothing to publish on Amazon KDP.
Here’s how it works in simple terms:
- You create a book (ebook, paperback, hardcover)
- You upload it to KDP.
- Amazon handles printing, shipping, and distribution.
- Every time someone buys your book:
-
- You earn a royalty
- Amazon takes its cut.
- No inventory
- No upfront printing costs
- No fulfillment headaches
It’s one of the most creator-friendly platforms available.
But — and this is important —
KDP is a system, not just a website.
KDP is a system, not just a website.
And systems need to be learned.
How I Actually Learned Amazon KDP (The Honest Version)
At first, I did what most people do.
I watched YouTube.
A lot of YouTube.
Random videos. Conflicting advice. Different strategies.
Some helpful. Some outdated. Some overwhelming.
Some helpful. Some outdated. Some overwhelming.
That worked only because I had a lot of time.
Eventually, I realized something:
A structured course saves months of confusion.
That’s when I turned to Udemy.
Why I Recommend Learning KDP Through a Paid Course
Yes, you can learn everything for free.
But here’s the trade-off:
- You’ll spend dozens of hours.
- You’ll question what’s accurate.
- You’ll second-guess every step.
A good Udemy course gives you:
- A clear beginning-to-end framework
- Screen-by-screen walkthroughs
- Confidence that you’re doing it correctly
The courses I took covered:
- Setting up a KDP account
- Choosing book formats
- ISBN vs. no ISBN
- Keywords and categories
- Uploading interiors and covers
- Pricing strategies
- Understanding royalties
Once you upload one book, everything falls into place.
Publishing the second book is faster.
The third feels routine.
By the fifth, you’re confident.
The third feels routine.
By the fifth, you’re confident.
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The Udemy Courses I Recommend for Amazon Self-Publishing
These are the types of courses that actually help — especially if you value clarity and efficiency.
1. Amazon KDP for Beginners
Perfect if you:
- Have never published a book
- Want a step-by-step walkthrough.
- Need help understanding the dashboard.
This type of course focuses on execution rather than theory.
2. Kindle Publishing From Start to Finish
Ideal if you:
- Want ebooks and paperbacks.
- Care about formatting and presentation
- Want to avoid beginner mistakes.
This is where most people gain confidence.
3. Low-Content & No-Content Publishing (Optional)
Useful if you’re curious about:
- Journals
- Workbooks
- Planners
Even if you don’t publish these, the course helps you understand Amazon’s ecosystem.
What You Actually Need to Start Publishing on Amazon
Let’s simplify this.
You do not need:
- A publisher
- A literary agent
- A massive social media following
- Perfect writing skills
You do need:
- A topic you understand
- Willingness to learn the system
- A few focused hours
- Patience for your first upload
That’s it.
Outsourcing vs. Doing It Yourself (I’ve Done Both)
I write a lot of my content — but I also outsource.
And yes, Fiverr has been incredibly helpful.
You can find:
- Ghostwriters
- Recipe writers
- Editors
- Book formatters
- Cover designers
This is especially powerful if:
- You know the content but not the writing.
- You want to scale faster.
- You’re building a catalog, not just one book.
Publishing is not about doing everything yourself.
It’s about owning the process.
It’s about owning the process.
Why Self-Publishing Is One of the Smartest Digital Skills You Can Learn
Here’s the bigger picture.
Self-publishing teaches you:
- Product creation
- Digital distribution
- Platform thinking
- Intellectual property ownership
Your book becomes:
- A product
- A credibility asset
- A business foundation
I didn’t just publish books.
I built:
- A publishing company
- A catalog
- A long-term digital asset
And it all started with learning online.
You Already Know More Than You Think
If you’ve ever said:
- “I’ve thought about writing a book.”
- “I don’t know where to start.”
- “I’m not technical.”
You’re exactly where I was.
You don’t need permission.
You don’t need perfection.
You don’t need to know everything today.
You don’t need perfection.
You don’t need to know everything today.
You just need:
- One topic
- One course
- The first upload
Amazon KDP rewards action, not overthinking.
And if you already have knowledge —
Self-publishing is simply the bridge between what you know and what the world needs.
Self-publishing is simply the bridge between what you know and what the world needs.
