Lock edition identity
Confirm the title, subtitle, author, contributors, language, series, and edition for this format.
Book listing checklist
Prepare KDP metadata that matches the book and cover
Metadata is the structured information that identifies and describes your edition. It must agree across the manuscript, cover, ISBN record where used, and KDP listing. Accuracy comes first; discovery language belongs where Amazon explicitly provides it.
01
Treat identity fields as production facts
Enter the title, subtitle, author or pen name, contributors, language, edition, and series information exactly as they appear in the book files. Decorative capitalization does not excuse a mismatch. Do not place rankings, prices, promotions, or keyword strings in identity fields.
Decide the imprint and ISBN strategy before creating editions. Paperback, hardcover, and formats from different publishers may require separate identifiers. KDP's current help and the ISBN agency for your market control those decisions.
- Title and subtitle consistent across cover, title page, and listing
- Author, contributors, language, edition, series, and publishing rights
- Description written for readers within the current field rules
- Keyword phrases and categories selected without prohibited claims
02
Use discovery fields to clarify, not to manipulate
A description should communicate the premise, reader benefit or story hook, genre expectations, and a reason to continue. Keyword fields should use relevant phrases a reader might search, without repeating information Amazon already indexes or borrowing other authors' names and protected brands.
Categories describe what the book actually is. Choosing an irrelevant shelf for temporary visibility disappoints readers and can trigger platform action. Review Amazon's current metadata guidance because accepted counts, interfaces, and enforcement details can change.
03
Validate the complete record before submission
Novelbound checks title and subtitle length, required listing fields, description length and restricted content patterns, keyword count and length, category count, and consistency risks before export. Findings explain what to change instead of returning a generic invalid message.
Automation is a preflight, not approval. Read the storefront preview as a customer, verify every name and series field, and compare the final listing with the cover and interior. Amazon's review and current policy remain authoritative.
A practical workflow
Put the method into the manuscript
Write reader-facing copy
Create a description that accurately sets expectations without reviews, prices, or promotional claims.
Choose relevant discovery terms
Use specific reader language for keywords and truthful shelves for categories.
Run a consistency check
Compare KDP fields with the cover, title page, copyright page, ISBN record, and other editions.
Questions, answered
Frequently asked questions
What counts as KDP metadata?
Metadata includes identity, contributor, edition, rights, description, keyword, category, and identifier information entered for a book listing.
Should keywords appear in my subtitle?
Only when the words are a natural, accurate part of the book's real subtitle and appear consistently on the cover and title page. Do not turn identity fields into keyword lists.
Can paperback and ebook metadata differ?
Edition-specific identifiers and format details differ, but core identity such as title and author should remain consistent when the editions represent the same book.
What does Novelbound validate?
Novelbound checks required and limited fields, prohibited-pattern risks, keyword and category counts, and print details, then returns actionable errors and warnings for the author to review.
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