Make a Best-Selling Word Search on KDP (Step-by-Step, Inside Book Bolt)

A word search uploaded just two months ago reportedly pulled in $19,000 in a single month. In this guide, I’ll show you how to build a similar book entirely inside Book Bolt—from research to interior generation, cover design, and KDP upload—plus the exact formatting you’ll feed into ChatGPT to create your puzzle lists correctly.

What you’ll use

• Book Bolt (Research, Studio, Cover Designer, Puzzle Generator)

• ChatGPT (to format themed word lists for import)

• CSV export (for Book Bolt’s Word Search generator)

• Amazon KDP (to publish)

Target Book Plan (you can copy this)

• Trim: 8.5" × 11"

• Interior: Black & white, no bleed (use bleed only if your puzzle frames touch the edge)

• Puzzle count: 200 puzzles (1 per page)

• Words per puzzle: 25
  → 200 × 25 = 5,000 words total

• Solutions: 4 per page, after all puzzles
  → 200 ÷ 4 = 50 solution pages

• Estimated page count: 200 (puzzles) + 50 (solutions) + 2 (front matter) ≈ 252 pages

Step-By-Step Instructions

1) Research top sellers in Book Bolt

1. Log into Book Bolt → Research → Cloud.

2. Category: Puzzle Book → (optional) add keyword “word search” → Top 100 → Search.

3. Open promising books and note:

   • Publish date, ratings, BSR

   • Interior layout (1 vs 2 puzzles per page)

   • Solutions strategy (QR download vs printed at back)

   • Keywords & subtitle cues in descriptions

4. Identify patterns to emulate (e.g., clear “Large Print,” simple, bold covers).

Pro tip: Two puzzles per page lowers page count (cheaper to print), but one per page is cleaner and easier to read. Pick a lane and stay consistent.

2) Decide your specs and pricing strategy

• For this tutorial, we’re using 1 puzzle per page and solutions at the end (4 per page).

• Fewer pages usually means a lower retail price; aim for readability + affordability.

3) Create a new project in Book Bolt Studio

1. Book Bolt Studio → New Project (Paperback).

2. Title (working): Mega 5,000 Word Word Search (adjust later on KDP).

3. Trim: 8.5 × 11, Black & White, No Bleed (unless using edge frames).

4. Create the project.

4) Prepare your word lists with ChatGPT (correct format) 

You can click on THIS LINK, then make a copy of the document for your own records!

You’ll import a CSV where each puzzle has a title and 25 words. Use this exact pattern when prompting ChatGPT:

Required format (repeat for all puzzles):

Important formatting notes

• Line 1: Puzzle title followed by the specific theme in parentheses.

• Line 2: Exactly 25 comma-separated words (no extra spaces at the ends).

• Line 3: Blank line before the next puzzle block.

• Avoid words shorter than 3 letters or longer than 20 letters (Book Bolt flags these).

• Keep words A–Z only (no accents/punctuation).

ChatGPT prompt starter

“Create 200 themed word searches. For each puzzle, output a title with the theme in parentheses on the first line, then 25 comma-separated words on the next line, then a blank line. Only use words 3–20 letters, A–Z. No extra titles between puzzles.”

When you have all puzzles, copy them into a spreadsheet with columns like:

Where words is the single comma-separated line for that puzzle.

5) Export your list to CSV

• Spreadsheet → File → Export → CSV.

• Name it something like wordsearch_200puzzles_25words.csv.

6) Add word searches in Book Bolt (puzzle generator)

1. In your project, go to Puzzle → Word Search → choose Standard.

2. Page range: Start after your front matter (e.g., 3 to 202 if pages 1–2 are title/credits).

3. Clues/words per puzzle: 25.

4. Allow diagonals and reverse if desired.

5. Columns for word list: 4 (fits 25 words neatly on 8.5×11).

6. Solutions:

   • After all puzzles (not on the back of each puzzle page)

   • 4 solutions per page

   • No clue lists on the solution page (keeps 4-up readable)

7. Title rule: “Use first line as title” and center it.

8. Font: Open Sans (regular) is fine.

9. Upload CSV → Preview.

7) Fix validation errors (very common)

Book Bolt will flag issues. Typical fixes:

• Words too short/long → replace in your CSV and re-upload.

• Misformated rows → ensure title on line 1, words on line 2, blank line after.

• Missing puzzles (ChatGPT stopped at #N) → prompt “continue” and append.

Re-preview until every puzzle and all solution pages render cleanly.

8) Check layout & gutter

• Page preview shows green margin lines and wider inner margins (gutter) so letters don’t vanish into the crease.

• Make sure the puzzle grid and word lists sit comfortably inside the margins.

9) Design the cover (inside Book Bolt)

• Add a solid background; optionally overlay a faint word-search grid for texture (screenshot a puzzle and desaturate/opacity).

• Use BIG, bold title words (e.g., MEGA + “5,000 Words”) with a high-contrast subtitle like “Large Print Word Search Book”.

• Consider a series look (same layout, different accent colors) to build brand recognition.

10) Add front matter & copyright

• Page 1: Title / subtitle / short promise (e.g., “Relax & Sharpen Your Mind”).

• Page 2: Credits/copyright.

• Interior is grayscale, so convert any color elements.

11) Download print-ready files

• Export PDF for the interior and the cover from Book Bolt.

• Double-check that your interior matches No Bleed (or Bleed) setting to avoid rejections.

12) Publish on Amazon KDP

1. Paperback → Enter Title & Subtitle (these are hard to change later—choose carefully).

2. Description: Include the promise (large print, puzzle count, solution format), audience, and keywords naturally.

3. Categories:

   • Humor & Entertainment → Puzzles & Games → (General)

   • Add relevant BISAC/keyword categories like Word Games, Word Search, Puzzles.

4. Keywords: Pull from Book Bolt’s keyword tool (most-searched terms).

5. Print options: B/W interior, 8.5×11, No Bleed (unless you used edge frames), Matte cover (popular for puzzle books).

6. Upload manuscript (interior PDF) and cover PDF.

7. AI disclosure: If you used AI to help generate word lists, answer accordingly.

8. Previewer: Fix any bleed/margin warnings (e.g., nothing can extend past the trim on a no-bleed book).

9. Pricing: Choose a price that balances earnings and competitiveness.

10. Publish.

Common Mistakes (and easy fixes)

• One puzzle per page + tons of pages → printing cost rises → price must rise.

  • Fix: Reduce page count (e.g., 2 puzzles/page) or minimize solution pages (QR download, if allowed by your strategy and customer expectations).

• Bad word lengths (2 letters / 21+ letters) cause import failures.

  • Fix: Filter in ChatGPT prompt and spot-check flagged puzzles.

• Wrong bleed setting.

  • Fix: If any element touches the edge, set Bleed and design with safety margins.

• Titles auto-added between puzzles by ChatGPT.

  • Fix: In your prompt, explicitly say no extra headings/titles between puzzles.

Copy-Ready CSV Starter (sample)

Use this to test Book Bolt’s import. Replace with your own themes/words later.

If you prefer, I can generate all 200 puzzles × 25 words in this exact structure for you.

Should you print solutions or use a QR code?

• Printed solutions: Reader-friendly, increases page count.

• QR download: Smaller, cheaper book; a few customers may prefer printed solutions.
  Choose what fits your brand and pricing strategy.

Final Thoughts

Staying inside Book Bolt streamlines everything: research, interior build, cover, and keyword planning. The biggest wins come from:

• Clean, consistent formatting for puzzle import

• Smart page-count management

• Clear, bold cover design that reads well in thumbnail