How to Publish a Book as an Ordinary Person?
The cost of self-publishing is typically ¥30,000–50,000 RMB; you can directly negotiate with a publisher yourself.
Is publishing profitable? If it’s a flat-fee arrangement, you receive a one-time payment of a few thousand to tens of thousands of yuan, and subsequent copyright and sales have nothing to do with you. Under a royalty model, it’s much better: you can earn a share of sales (7–20%) for up to five years. The initial print run is usually 10,000 copies, and this royalty comes directly to you.
For most people, the easiest way to get invited by a publisher is to build a vertical niche on social media with over 10,000 followers and produce a few breakout original pieces.
Every industry runs on networks, and publishing is no exception. Here are ways to break into the circle: referrals from friends who’ve published books, connections in the publishing world, referrals from bookstore staff, introductions by book bloggers or book-community leaders, following publishers’ or publishing houses’ social-media accounts, and the submission email addresses listed on book covers, among others.
Publishing a book involves ten steps: planning, outline and sample chapters (about 10,000 words), editorial review meeting, signing the contract, writing, three rounds of editing and proofreading, obtaining an ISBN, post-production packaging, printing, and going on sale.