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How to Publish a Book in China

Publishing a book in China offers a new and potentially large audience for interested authors. According to information from the Frankfurt Book Fair, China's 578 publishing houses put out 248,283 titles in 2007. A big chunk of those books are textbooks. But there are challenges to publishing in China that are completely different than the ones American authors face. Specifically, China puts political constraints on publishing books that may force authors to make difficult decisions.

Instructions

    • 1

      Decide what type of book to write. Content will play an important part in whether or not you're published in China. Chinese law requires publishing businesses to "adhere to the guidance of Marxism, Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory."

    • 2

      Find a government-licensed publisher interested in your book. China does not encourage individuals to self-publish books. In order to self-publish, you'd need to set up your own publishing "unit," something difficult for a non-Chinese citizen to do.

    • 3

      Revise the book depending on editorial and political concerns. The publishing house may not want to submit the manuscript to government censors until all possible damaging material is removed. Revisions may be extensive.

    • 4

      Get approval from the General Administration for Press and Publication so that the book can be printed.

    • 5

      Find a licensed publishing unit to distribute the books.

Book Publishing

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