Tips for Formatting Your Short Story for Kindle

Set Up the Right Formatting

You’ve penned a brilliant short story, and now it’s time to get it Kindle-ready. The first thing you need is the right format. Most writers use Microsoft Word or similar software for typing up their stories—very convenient for storytelling but formatting for Kindle can be a whole other bag of tricks. Ensure you save your document as a .doc or .docx file. Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) loves these formats and it helps to maintain most of the layout integrity.

Margins, Line Spacing, and Indents

It sounds trivial, but the little details in your formatting can make a world of difference. Set your document margins to 1 inch on all sides. This helps your text to look neat and uncluttered when viewed on various devices. As for line spacing, single line spacing works a treat. It’s easy on the eyes and keeps your story flowing smoothly.

Now, let’s talk about indents. Never use the spacebar to create indents; it’s a rookie mistake. Instead, set up automatic first-line indents. This keeps everything uniform and professional-looking.

Fonts and Text Size

Your choice of font can make or break the readability of your short story. Stick with basic, easy-to-read fonts like Times New Roman or Arial. These fonts are universally accepted and won’t cause any unnecessary fuss during the conversion to Kindle format.

Font size should be at least 12 points for the body text. Anything smaller and your readers might need to squint, which is a surefire way to lose their interest.

Headers, Footers, and Page Numbers

For the love of books, don’t use headers and footers. They don’t play nice with Kindle’s reflowable text, which adjusts depending on the device’s screen size. The same goes for page numbers. Kindle devices insert their own pagination, so including them in the text will just mess things up.

Using Page Breaks

Inserting page breaks after each chapter is a nifty way to ensure your readers can navigate your story with ease. Instead of just hitting ‘Enter’ a bunch of times, use “Insert > Page Break” to mark the end of each chapter.

Handling Images and Illustrations

If your story is complemented by images or illustrations, make sure they are in high resolution (300 DPI). Low-quality images can ruin the reader’s experience. Save them as JPEG or PNG files for best results and never forget to add “Alt text” to describe your images. This enhances accessibility for visually impaired readers.

Creating a Clickable Table of Contents

Nothing says professional like a clickable Table of Contents (ToC). This allows readers to jump directly to different chapters. Use Word’s built-in feature to create a ToC. Heading styles (like Heading 1, Heading 2) should be applied to your chapter titles to include them in the ToC.

Once your ToC is in place, make sure to update it before saving your final version. This keeps everything in order and avoids any dead links.

Proofreading and Editing

After you’ve sorted out the formatting, give your story a thorough proofreading. You’d be amazed at how many small errors sneak in! Consider reading your story out loud or let someone else take a crack at it. Fresh eyes often catch mistakes you’ve overlooked.

Using Kindle Previewer

Your short story is polished and gleaming, formatted to perfection, but hold your horses! Before you hit that publish button, use the Kindle Previewer tool, which you can download for free from Amazon. This handy tool lets you see how your story looks on various Kindle devices. It’s like a test drive before taking your book for a spin in the actual market.

Converting to Kindle Format

If you’re a hands-on kind of author, KindleGen, Amazon’s free eBook conversion software, is a powerful tool. You can convert your .doc or .docx files directly into the Kindle format (.mobi). It’s straightforward but make sure to check for any formatting quirks after conversion.

If you’re not tech-savvy, no worries. Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) accepts .doc and .docx files directly, and Amazon will handle the conversion for you. Just double-check everything once it’s done to make sure your story looks as it should.

Final Thoughts

Formatting your short story for Kindle might seem like a chore, but it’s essential. Your readers deserve the best experience, and proper formatting ensures your story is presented in the best possible way. It’s worth taking the time to do it right. Happy writing and formatting!

If you’ve got any tips or experiences to share about formatting for Kindle, drop us a line. We love hearing from fellow authors!