---
title: "How to Create an eBook: From Idea to EPUB and PDF"
description: "How to create an ebook step by step: pick a topic, outline, write, design the cover, export EPUB and PDF files, test them, and publish or share."
robots: "index, follow"
canonical: "https://bookeen.ai/blog/how-to-create-an-ebook"
markdown: "https://bookeen.ai/blog/how-to-create-an-ebook.md"
author: "Bookeen Team"
category: "Book Creation"
datePublished: "2026-10-09T09:35:00.000Z"
language: "en"
dateModified: "2026-10-07T07:01:02.743Z"
---

Here is how to create an ebook in one sentence: write the content, give it a layout and a cover, export it as an EPUB or PDF file, test that file on real screens, then publish or share it. Everything else is detail, and this guide walks through that detail in order. It is written for course creators, coaches, bloggers and novelists who already have something to say and want a clean file a reader can open on a phone, a tablet or an e-reader.

You do not need design skills or a publisher. You need a clear reader, a finished manuscript, one tool that exports the right file, and a short checklist for the final test. The sections below cover what an ebook is, the seven steps from idea to file, how to pick an ebook creator, how an online book creator fits in, and what to check before you hit publish.

## What Is an eBook?

An ebook is a book delivered as a digital file instead of paper, read on a phone, tablet, computer or dedicated e-reader. The file carries the text, chapter structure, images and cover, and the reading app handles the screen.

Ebook files come in two layout styles, and the difference decides almost every later choice:

- **Reflowable.** The text is not tied to a page size. The reader's app wraps lines to fit the screen and lets readers change font size, spacing and theme. Novels, how-to guides, memoirs and most nonfiction work well this way. The EPUB specification describes it plainly: publications "by default are intended to reflow to fit the available screen space" ([W3C EPUB 3.3](https://www.w3.org/TR/epub-33/)).
- **Fixed layout.** Every page keeps the same design on every device, like a photograph of a page. The same specification notes you can also build "pixel-precise fixed layouts." Workbooks, reports with wide tables and design-heavy guides fit here, usually as a PDF.

![What is an ebook: reflowable and fixed-layout pages compared on reading devices](/blog/how-to-create-an-ebook/what-is-an-ebook.webp#1448x1086)

The formats you will meet most often:

- **EPUB** is the open standard for reflowable ebooks. Most stores and reading apps accept it. If you want to know how it compares with other formats, our page on the [EPUB format explained](/book-formats/epub) goes deeper.
- **PDF** keeps a fixed page. It is the easy choice for printable workbooks, checklists and lead magnets you email directly. See [PDF ebooks](/book-formats/pdf) for when it is the better file.
- **KPF (Kindle Package Format)** is the file Amazon's Kindle Create tool produces. A **Kindle ebook** is simply an ebook sold through Amazon in a format Kindle devices and apps can read. You do not write a different book for it: KDP, Amazon's self-publishing service, accepts DOCX, EPUB and KPF for new ebooks ([Amazon KDP: supported manuscript formats](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200634390), as of October 2026). MOBI is no longer accepted: Amazon stopped taking MOBI uploads on March 18, 2025 ([Amazon KDP: MOBI support](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GULSQMHU5MNH4EZM), as of October 2026).

## How to Create an eBook in Seven Steps

The whole process fits on one page. Each step has its own section below.

1. **Choose a topic and a reader.** Decide who the ebook is for and what they will be able to do after reading it.
2. **Outline the chapters.** Turn the promise into a list of chapters, each with one job.
3. **Write the first draft.** Finish the whole thing before you polish any of it.
4. **Choose an ebook creator.** Pick the tool that takes your text to a finished file.
5. **Design the cover and interior.** A readable cover, consistent headings, a few images.
6. **Export and test the file.** Make an EPUB or PDF, validate it, and open it on real devices.
7. **Publish or share it.** Upload it to a store, or send it straight to your own readers.

The order matters. People who choose a tool first end up reshaping their book to fit it. People who skip the test end up with a broken table of contents on the day of launch. Work from the reader backward, and let the tool serve the book.

## Step 1: Choose a Topic and a Reader

Start with one reader and one problem. "Productivity" is a subject; "a 30-day morning routine for new parents who wake at 5 a.m." is an ebook. The narrower promise is easier to outline, easier to finish and easier to describe in a product page.

Write a single sentence in this shape: *This ebook helps [reader] do [result] without [obstacle].* If you cannot fill in all three blanks, the idea is still a topic.

It also helps to decide what kind of ebook you are making, because the type sets the length, the tone and the file:

- **Practical guide.** Takes a reader from a starting point to a result in a clear order. This is the most common first ebook. If you are leaning this way, read how [how-to guide ebooks](/book-types/how-to-guide) are structured.
- **Lead magnet.** A short ebook offered free in exchange for an email address. It solves one narrow problem fast and works best as a PDF or EPUB attached to a welcome email.
- **Workbook.** Exercises, prompts and space to respond. These usually suit a fixed-layout PDF, because readers fill them in. See [workbook ebooks](/book-types/workbook).
- **Course companion.** Notes, templates and summaries that accompany a video or live course.
- **Research report.** Findings, sources and a point of view, usually with tables and charts.
- **Novel or short fiction.** Pure story. This is the most flexible format on a reflowable ebook because the text is the product.

Pick one. Hybrids sound attractive and read like confusion. You can always turn a successful lead magnet into a longer guide later.

One more check before you move on: say who the ebook is *not* for. Naming the wrong reader sharpens the right one, and it keeps you from stuffing in chapters that serve no one.

## Step 2: Outline Your Chapters

An outline is a contract with the reader. Each chapter should earn its place by moving them closer to the promise from Step 1.

**For nonfiction, outline from problem to result.** Write the end state first, such as "the reader has a working 30-day routine." Then list the questions they must answer to get there, in the order they would ask them. Each question becomes a chapter, and each chapter gets one sentence describing what the reader will know or be able to do at its end. A reliable shape is: why this matters, the core method, step-by-step application, common mistakes, a one-page summary or checklist.

**For fiction, outline by story beats.** Start with the opening situation, the event that disrupts it, the main turning points, the lowest moment and the resolution. Then assign beats to chapters. For a fuller method, see our guide on [how to outline a novel](/guides/how-to-write-a-novel-outline).

**Decide the target length now.** A lead magnet might be a few thousand words and be read in one sitting. A practical guide is longer, and a novel longer still. There is no single correct length: the right length is the one that delivers the promise without padding. Once you have a chapter list, give every chapter a rough word budget. It keeps the middle of the book from ballooning and the end from being rushed.

Keep chapter titles concrete. "Set up your first week" tells a reader more than "Getting started," and it will show up as a useful line in the table of contents on a phone screen.

## Step 3: Write the First Draft

This step has its own full guide, so here is the short version. Our walkthrough on [how to write a book from first idea to finished draft](/guides/how-to-write-a-book) covers habits, structure and revision in depth; for an ebook, these are the rules that matter most:

- **Write to the end before you edit.** A rough complete draft beats a polished half.
- **Set a daily minimum you can actually keep.** Consistency beats long, rare sessions.
- **Write for the screen.** Short paragraphs, descriptive subheadings and lists where a list is honest. Dense blocks of text are tiring on a phone.
- **Leave notes, not gaps.** If you need a statistic or an example, write a bracketed note and keep going.
- **Revise once for structure, once for language.** Structure first: move, cut and merge chapters. Language second: sentences, word choice, typos.

Use the [word counter](/tools/word-counter) while you draft. It reports words, characters, estimated pages and reading time, which helps you check each chapter against its budget and tells you how long the finished ebook takes to read.

If you would rather not start from a blank page, an AI book creator can draft chapters from your brief, which is covered in the sections below. Either way, the writing is the part that carries your name, so plan time to read every page.

## Step 4: Choosing an eBook Creator

An ebook creator, sometimes called an ebook maker, is any tool that turns your text into a finished ebook file. There are four kinds, and they solve different problems.

![eBook creator options compared: word processor, design tool, formatting tool and AI book tool](/blog/how-to-create-an-ebook/ebook-creator.webp#1448x1086)

| Tool type | Examples | What it does | When to use it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Word processor | Microsoft Word, Google Docs | Writes and edits text with headings and styles; exports DOCX or PDF | You already write there and want a simple file. KDP accepts DOCX for ebooks. |
| Design tool | Canva | Lays out visual pages and exports image and PDF files | Short, design-led PDFs such as lead magnets and checklists |
| Formatting tool | Kindle Create, Atticus, Vellum | Applies a book layout to your manuscript and exports store-ready files | You have a finished manuscript and want a polished layout |
| AI book tool | Bookeen | Plans, drafts and revises chapters, then exports ebook files | You want help getting from idea to a complete manuscript and files |

A few facts about the named tools, each checked in October 2026:

- **Word and Google Docs** work well if you keep the structure clean. KDP's own guidance for DOCX says to apply the Heading 1 style to chapter titles, to leave out headers, footers and page numbers because ebooks reflow, to turn off Track Changes, and to leave the cover image out of the manuscript file ([Amazon KDP: eBook manuscript formatting guide](https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=G200645680)). Following those rules is most of the work.
- **Canva** is a design tool. Its download options are image, video and PDF types, such as PDF Standard and PDF Print; EPUB is not on the list ([Canva Help Center](https://www.canva.com/help/download-file-types/)). That makes it a good fit for a designed PDF and a poor fit for a reflowable EPUB.
- **Kindle Create** is Amazon's own formatting tool. It runs on Windows 10 or later and on macOS, turns a DOC or DOCX file into a reflowable ebook, and saves KPF, the format Amazon prefers. It can also export EPUB, though Amazon recommends KPF for uploads to KDP ([Amazon KDP: Getting Started with Kindle Create](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GUGQ4WDZ92F733GC)).
- **Vellum** runs on Mac only. You can download it and format a book for free, and you pay when you are ready to export: $199.99 for Vellum Ebooks or $249.99 for Vellum Press, which adds paperbacks, before tax ([Vellum](https://vellum.pub/), as of October 2026).
- **Atticus** combines a writing editor with book formatting and exports EPUB and PDF files. Because pricing and platform support change, check [atticus.io](https://www.atticus.io/) for the current terms before you buy.

Match the ebook maker to the file you need. A designed PDF needs a design tool. A reflowable EPUB for stores needs a tool that outputs real EPUB. If the hard part is writing the book, choose a tool that helps with drafting, not only layout. Most people combine two: one place to write, one to format. Keep the handoffs few, because every copy-and-paste is a chance for headings to break.

## Using an Online Book Creator From Draft to Export

An [online book creator](/) runs in the browser and handles planning, drafting and export in one place. Bookeen is built this way: an AI online book creator that takes a book from a one-sentence idea to files you can share. This section describes that flow so you can see what the steps look like in practice.

![Online book creator workspace with a book brief, chapter editor and export panel](/blog/how-to-create-an-ebook/online-book-creator.webp#1448x1086)

**1. Start with a sentence.** You describe the book you want in plain language. Bookeen turns that into a book brief with the topic, the reader and the intended length, and you can edit the brief before anything is written. Because the brief steers everything after it, a sharper brief gives you a more useful draft.

**2. Pick a book type.** The templates are Lead Magnet, How-To Guide, Research Report, Interactive Workbook, Course Companion and Novel, plus a children's book preset. The type shapes the outline and the tone of the chapters.

**3. Generate and revise chapters.** The AI writes the chapters from the brief, and you read, change and regenerate sections until they say what you mean. This is the point of an AI book creator, and also its main limit: it drafts, but you remain the author. Read every page, check every fact, and rewrite anything that does not sound like you.

**4. Export the files.** Bookeen exports Word (DOCX), PDF for reading, EPUB, PDF for print, a cover image, a print cover and Markdown. The EPUB is EPUB 3 and passes EPUBCheck with 0 errors, and the ebook cover defaults to 1600×2560 pixels. Exports and multiple formats do not cost extra credits.

A few honest limits to plan around:

- **Credits.** One credit covers roughly one page, which is about 400 English words, so a 100-page manuscript uses on the order of 100 credits. Treat that as an estimate, not a quote. The current plans are Starter ($20 for 200 credits), Creator ($50 for 600) and Studio ($100 for 1,500).
- **Signup credits.** A new account gets 30 credits, enough to generate and preview a short book online. Downloading the delivery files requires a paid plan.
- **No body illustrations.** Bookeen writes text. For a children's book it writes the text and a description of each page's illustration; it does not draw the pictures.
- **No publishing step.** Bookeen does not send anything to a store. You upload the finished files yourself.

If you want to try the flow with your own idea, start with a short lead magnet or a single how-to guide. A small book teaches you the workflow, and you can read all of it in an evening.

## Step 5: Design the Cover and Interior

A cover has one job in the store: make a stranger stop. It has to work as a small thumbnail, so read your title at a fraction of full size and make sure it is still legible. A short, high-contrast title, one clear image and plenty of empty space beat a crowded design.

On the technical side, Amazon's recommendation for a Kindle ebook cover is an ideal size of 2,560 pixels high by 1,600 pixels wide, a minimum of 1,000 pixels high by 625 pixels wide, JPEG or TIFF format, and an RGB color profile ([Amazon KDP: eBook cover image requirements](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200645690), as of October 2026). The Bookeen ebook cover default matches that ideal size at 1600×2560. If you design your own, start at that size and you will not need to rescale.

Inside the book, keep the design plain, because a reflowable ebook lets readers choose their own font and size:

- **Use real heading styles.** Chapter titles should be Heading 1 and sections Heading 2. A table of contents builds itself from these, and screen readers use them to navigate.
- **Do not fake layout.** Skip tabs for indents, blank lines for spacing and manual page breaks inside a chapter. Let the reading app do the layout.
- **Keep images purposeful.** Use a few clear images with descriptive alt text, sized to read on a phone. A wide chart that needs a magnifying glass is a sign to switch to a fixed-layout PDF.
- **Add a short front matter and back matter.** A title page, a copyright page, a contents list at the front and an "about the author" and next-step link at the back are enough.

Layout details such as trim size, margins and print files matter more for paperbacks. Our later guides on book formatting and on KDP cover templates cover those in depth.

## Step 6: How to Make an eBook File, EPUB vs PDF

You have a manuscript and a cover. Now you make the actual file. The question is which one: EPUB, PDF, or both.

> EPUB publications by default are intended to reflow to fit the available screen space.
>
> — [W3C, EPUB 3.3](https://www.w3.org/TR/epub-33/)

![How to make an ebook file: export, validate with zero errors and test on devices](/blog/how-to-create-an-ebook/how-to-make-an-ebook.webp#1448x1086)

**Choose EPUB when** the book is mostly text and readers will use phones, tablets or e-readers. It is the better choice for novels, memoirs and guides.

**Choose PDF when** the page design is the point: worksheets, templates, checklists, reports with large tables, or anything readers will print. A PDF looks identical everywhere, and it is the easiest thing to attach to an email. The cost is that it does not reflow, so it can be uncomfortable on a small phone screen.

Many authors make both. They keep an EPUB as the main reading edition and publish a PDF for people who want to print the exercises. Bookeen exports both from the same manuscript, so the two stay in sync.

### Validate the file

A file that opens on your laptop can still be rejected by a store. Run these checks before you upload:

1. **Validate the EPUB.** EPUBCheck is the W3C's conformance checker for EPUB publications; it checks files against the official specifications and supports EPUB 2 and EPUB 3 ([W3C EPUBCheck](https://www.w3.org/publishing/epubcheck)). The goal is a report with no errors. Fix any error it lists, then run it again.
2. **Test on real devices.** Open the file on a phone, a tablet and, if you can, an e-reader. Check that the cover shows, the table of contents links work, headings look consistent, images appear and nothing is cut off.
3. **Preview as Kindle.** If you plan to sell on Amazon, check the file in Kindle Previewer, a free desktop app that shows how an ebook will look on tablets, phones and e-readers, and opens EPUB, KPF and DOCX files ([Amazon KDP: Kindle Previewer](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G202131170)).
4. **Read it once from start to finish as a reader.** Not as the author. Typos and awkward breaks show up on a final read in the real format that you never noticed in the manuscript.

A short "export, validate, test" routine takes less than an hour and prevents the most embarrassing mistakes. If you need to print the file or hand it to a designer later, the PDF for print and the Word file are there as well.

## Step 7: Publish or Share Your eBook

An ebook is only useful once it reaches readers. You have three realistic paths, and you can use more than one.

**1. Amazon KDP.** Kindle Direct Publishing lets you publish an ebook without upfront cost ([Amazon KDP](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GHKDSCW2KQ3K4UU4)). Pricing and royalties depend on the plan you choose: the 35% and 70% royalty options exist, and the 70% option applies to list prices from $2.99 to $12.99 on amazon.com, with a delivery fee deducted ([Amazon KDP: eBook pricing](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200634500), as of October 2026). Our step-by-step on [how to publish a book on Amazon](/blog/how-to-publish-a-book-on-amazon) walks through the upload, and the [Amazon KDP overview](/blog/amazon-kdp) covers the rest of the platform.

**2. Other ebook stores and distributors.** Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play Books and distributors such as Draft2Digital each have their own sign-up, file rules and royalty terms. Our guide on [where to sell ebooks](/guides/where-to-sell-ebooks) compares the options. Rules differ by store, so read each store's current help pages before you upload.

**3. Directly to your readers.** If the ebook is a lead magnet, a course companion or a bonus for existing customers, you do not need a store at all. Host the PDF or EPUB on your own site or send it through your email tool, and let it do its job of building trust.

On identifiers: an ebook published on KDP does not need an ISBN. If you publish without one, Amazon assigns an ASIN, its own product identifier ([Amazon KDP: ISBN and imprint](https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=G7DMSKCM9DVS65TC)). Other stores handle ISBNs differently, so check each store's help pages rather than assuming one rule fits all.

## How to Create an eBook: FAQs

### What is an ebook?

An ebook is a book published as a digital file that you read on a phone, tablet, computer or e-reader instead of on paper. Common ebook files are EPUB, which reflows to fit the screen, and PDF, which keeps a fixed page. It can be a novel, a how-to guide, a workbook or a free lead magnet.

### What is the best format for an ebook: EPUB or PDF?

It depends on how readers will use it. EPUB suits text-heavy books read on phones, tablets and e-readers, because the text reflows. PDF suits workbooks, checklists and printable templates, where the page layout matters. If you are not sure, produce both from one manuscript.

### Can I create an ebook for free?

KDP lets you publish an ebook without upfront cost ([Amazon KDP](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GHKDSCW2KQ3K4UU4)), and a word processor plus a validator can take you from manuscript to file. What you spend instead is time, and sometimes money on a cover designer, an editor or a formatting tool. With Bookeen, a new account gets 30 credits to generate and preview a book online, but downloading files needs a paid plan.

### How long should an ebook be?

Long enough to deliver the promise in the title and not a page longer. A lead magnet can be short, a practical guide needs room for steps and examples, and a novel follows its genre. Use the [word counter](/tools/word-counter) to check your length and reading time, and judge by whether each chapter earns its place.

### Can I create an ebook with AI?

Yes. AI tools can draft chapters, suggest outlines and help you revise, but you still read the whole manuscript, check facts and edit for your own voice. If you publish on Amazon KDP, you must tell KDP when you publish content that AI generated, including text, images and translations. Content you wrote yourself and only edited or polished with AI tools is treated as AI-assisted and does not need to be disclosed ([Amazon KDP: AI-generated content](https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=G200672390), as of October 2026). Amazon's AI content policy is worth reading in full before you upload.

### Do I need an ISBN for an ebook?

Not for KDP. Amazon says eBooks do not require an ISBN and assigns an ASIN when you publish without one ([Amazon KDP: ISBN and imprint](https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=G7DMSKCM9DVS65TC)). Other stores and distributors have their own rules, so check each one before you upload.

### Can I sell an ebook I created on Amazon?

Yes. Upload the finished file to KDP, add your cover, description and price, and submit it for review. The full process is in our guide on [how to publish a book on Amazon](/blog/how-to-publish-a-book-on-amazon). Bookeen does not publish for you, so you upload the exported files to KDP yourself.

## Create your ebook with Bookeen

Ready to turn your idea into a finished ebook file? Start with one sentence about your book and let Bookeen help you plan, draft and export it. [Create your account at Bookeen](/signup) and begin with a short guide or lead magnet to see the whole flow end to end.