What you need to create an ebook

An ebook is a book-length document formatted to read on screens — phones, tablets, e-readers, or computers. You do not need special software or technical skills to make one. Most people use either a word processor they already own (like Microsoft Word or Google Docs) or a free tool built specifically for ebooks. The real work is writing the content and deciding what format your readers will use to open it.

Before you start, decide whether you want to sell your ebook or share it for free, and where people will read it. This choice determines which format to use. An ebook for Amazon Kindle works differently than one for Apple Books or a general PDF that works everywhere. The good news: you can create one master document and convert it to multiple formats later.

Key Takeaways

  • Start with a word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, write your content, and format it with clear headings and consistent spacing before converting to ebook format.
  • The three main ebook formats are PDF (works on any device), EPUB (standard for most ebook readers and Apple Books), and MOBI (Amazon Kindle), and you can create all three from one document.
  • Free conversion tools like Calibre can transform your Word document into EPUB or MOBI format without requiring you to learn new software.
  • If you plan to sell on Amazon Kindle, use their free Kindle Create tool or upload a Word document directly — Amazon handles the conversion for you.
  • Test your finished ebook on at least one actual device or reader app before sharing it, because formatting often looks different on screens than it does in your word processor.

Writing and formatting your ebook in a word processor

Open Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or any word processor you already use. Write your ebook as you would write any long document. The formatting you do now matters because it tells conversion tools where chapters begin, where emphasis belongs, and how the ebook should be organized.

Use the built-in heading styles instead of making text larger or bold by hand. In Word, go to the Home tab and click Heading 1 for your chapter titles, Heading 2 for subheadings, and Normal for body text. In Google Docs, click the paragraph style dropdown and select Heading 1, Heading 2, or Normal. This matters because conversion tools read these styles to build a table of contents and structure the ebook correctly. If you just make text bigger, the conversion tool sees it as regular text and your ebook will be a mess.

Keep formatting simple. Use one or two fonts throughout. Avoid multiple spaces between paragraphs — use the spacing settings instead. In Word, go to Design > Paragraph Spacing. In Google Docs, go to Format > Line & Paragraph Spacing. Remove any page breaks you added manually; conversion tools handle page breaks automatically. Save your document as a .docx file (Word format) when you are done — this is the easiest format to convert.

Choosing your ebook format

PDF is the simplest format and works on every device. It looks exactly the same on a phone, tablet, or computer. Use PDF if you want readers to see your ebook exactly as you designed it, or if you are sharing it by email or on your own website. The downside: PDF does not reflow text to fit different screen sizes, so readers on phones may have to zoom in and scroll more.

EPUB is the standard format for most ebook readers and for Apple Books. The text reflows to fit any screen size, so readers can adjust font size and the ebook adapts. If you plan to sell through Apple Books, Draft2Digital, or other ebook retailers, EPUB is what they want. Most e-readers like Kobo and Nook also use EPUB.

MOBI is Amazon's format for Kindle devices and the Kindle app. If you only want to sell on Amazon, you can upload a Word document directly and Amazon converts it for you. If you want to sell on multiple platforms, you will need to create a MOBI version for Amazon and an EPUB version for everyone else.

Many authors create all three: PDF for their website, EPUB for Apple Books and other retailers, and MOBI for Amazon. You can do this from one Word document using free tools.

Converting your document to EPUB or MOBI with Calibre

Calibre is a free, open-source tool that converts Word documents into EPUB, MOBI, PDF, and other formats. Download it from calibre-ebook.com. Install it like any other program on your computer.

Open Calibre and click "Add books" in the top left. Find your .docx file and open it. Calibre adds it to your library. Right-click the book and select "Convert books." A conversion window opens. On the left side, click the format you want to create — EPUB or MOBI. On the right side, you will see options for margins, fonts, and other settings. The defaults usually work fine. Click "OK" at the bottom right. Calibre converts your document and saves the new file in your Calibre library folder.

To find your converted file, right-click the book in Calibre and select "Open containing folder." You will see your new .epub or .mobi file. Copy it to wherever you need it — your computer, a folder for uploading to a retailer, or your e-reader device.

Creating a PDF version

You probably already have the tools to make a PDF. In Microsoft Word, go to File > Save As, choose PDF from the format dropdown, and click Save. In Google Docs, go to File > Download > PDF Document. Both create a PDF from your formatted document in seconds.

If you want more control over how the PDF looks — margins, page size, whether to include a cover image — open your Word document and adjust the page setup before saving. Go to Layout > Margins and Page Setup in Word, or File > Page Setup in Google Docs. Make your changes, then save as PDF. The PDF will match what you see on screen.

Uploading to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

If you want to sell your ebook on Amazon Kindle, go to kdp.amazon.com and sign in with your Amazon account. Click "Create a new title" and fill in your ebook title, author name, and description. Upload your manuscript — Amazon accepts Word documents (.docx), PDF, or MOBI files. Amazon converts Word documents automatically, so you do not have to use Calibre first if you are only selling on Amazon.

Upload a cover image (Amazon provides a template and size requirements). Set your price and choose your royalty rate — Amazon offers 35% or 70% depending on price and region. Review the preview to see how your ebook looks on Kindle. When everything looks right, click "Publish." Your ebook goes live on Amazon within 24 to 48 hours.

If you want to sell on other platforms too, you can use the same ebook on multiple sites. Create an EPUB version with Calibre and upload it to Draft2Digital, Smashwords, or Apple Books directly. Each platform has its own upload process, but they all accept EPUB files.

Testing your ebook before you share it

Before you send your ebook to readers or upload it to a retailer, test it on at least one actual device. Download the free Kindle app on your phone or tablet, add your MOBI file to it, and read a few pages. Open your EPUB file in Apple Books or a free reader like Calibre's viewer. Check that chapter breaks appear in the right places, that your table of contents works, and that images (if you have any) display correctly.

Formatting often looks different on a screen than it does in your word processor. Spacing might be tighter, fonts might render differently, and line breaks might fall in unexpected places. This is normal. If something looks wrong, go back to your Word document, fix it, and reconvert. Small adjustments — like removing extra spaces or adjusting heading sizes — usually solve the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy special software to create an ebook?

No. Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or any word processor works fine. Calibre (the conversion tool) is free. If you sell on Amazon, their Kindle Create tool is also free. You do not need to spend money on ebook-specific software unless you want advanced features.

Can I include images and a cover in my ebook?

Yes. Insert images into your Word document the same way you normally would. For a cover, create a separate image file (JPG or PNG) and insert it on the first page or as a separate cover page. When you convert to EPUB or MOBI, the images come along. Test on an actual device to make sure they display at a readable size.

What if my ebook looks different on Kindle than it does in my Word document?

This is common because Kindle reflows text to fit different screen sizes and fonts. Readers can also change font size, which shifts where line breaks fall. This is actually a feature, not a bug — it makes your ebook readable on any device. If text is hard to read or formatting is broken, the problem is usually in your original document (like inconsistent heading styles or manual page breaks). Fix those and reconvert.

Can I sell the same ebook on Amazon and other platforms?

Yes, but Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program requires exclusivity — you cannot sell the same ebook anywhere else while enrolled. If you want to sell on multiple platforms, do not enroll in Kindle Unlimited. Create an EPUB version for other retailers and a MOBI version for Amazon sold outside Kindle Unlimited.

How do I add a table of contents to my ebook?

Use heading styles in your Word document (Heading 1 for chapters, Heading 2 for sections). When you convert to EPUB or MOBI, Calibre and Amazon automatically build a table of contents from these headings. Readers can tap the table of contents to jump to any chapter. You do not have to create it manually.