Advance Review Copies

Where to Find ARC Readers

Author Learning Center — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 14:29:53 GMT

Current Revision posted to Advance Review Copies by Author Learning Center on 11/7/2018 2:29:53 PM

Using an advance review copy (ARC) in your marketing plan is a smart way to encourage book reviews, get endorsements or testimonials, and build excitement for your book's release. An advance review copy is a free, promotional copy of a book that's yet to be released.

There are many options on how to self-publish an ARC. For printed ARCs, you can use a short-run printer or a self-publishing platform such as IngramSpark. For digital ARCs, you can use Kindle Direct Publishing or create your own PDF, ePub, or Mobi file.

Finding ARC readers for your book

Once you have your ARC, you need readers willing to read and review your ARC. Make sure to target your niche audience in order to reach the right market. Here are a few ways to reach potential readers:

Mailing list: You can collect the email addresses of interested readers through your website or at events. This is the perfect group of people to ask to read and review your ARC, because they have already expressed an interest in your work.

Website: Advertise your ARC on your website. Your website is the hub of what's going on with you and your work—put it front and center.

Social media: Use your social media platform to announce the availability of your ARC. Consider hyping the ARC further by using printed copies as prizes for a giveaway or contest.

Goodreads: You can use Goodreads Giveaways for a printed ARC or Kindle Direct Publishing e-book. This program offers powerful marketing value to reach new readers in your target audience.

Publications: When you're looking for reviews from reputable sources, you might consider some of these options: Foreword Reviews, Kirkus Indie, San Francisco Book Review, or Midwest Book Review.

Bloggers: Book review bloggers love the chance to be the first to read and review a highly-anticipated book. Find bloggers who specialize in your book's genre.

By finding the right readers and reviewers for your ARC, you ensure your extra effort creating an ARC is time well spent. Just make sure to allow enough lead time for your readers and reviewers to post a review before your book is released. With the right readers, you can spark a word-of-mouth wild fire about your upcoming release by gaining precious reviews from general readers and reputable publications.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

What Is an Advance Review Copy and How Is It Useful for Authors? - article

Author Learning Center — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 16:57:55 GMT

Current Revision posted to Advance Review Copies by Author Learning Center on 11/6/2018 4:57:55 PM

The publishing industry is rife with terminology. For new authors, it can be tough to keep it all straight. One term you may have heard is advance review copy, or ARC. And to keep things interesting, there are many variations of the term, such as advance reading copy, advanced reader's copy, reader's edition, or pre-press copy.

Understanding what an advance review copy is and why it's important can help you be successful as an author. So, let's first define the term (and we'll look at how it's a little different from a galley), and then we'll consider how it is used by authors and publishers to improve and promote a book.

What is an advance review copy (ARC)?

An advance review copy is a free, promotional copy of a book that’s in the process of being published, but has yet to be released. It may be printed and bound or in electronic format. The ARC usually includes cover artwork, although it might not be the final version. A disclaimer is printed on the cover that identifies the book as an ARC. This notifies readers that the book isn't in its final version yet, so it could differ from the published version. The disclaimer also lets readers know that the ARC is not for resale (although some people do illegally sell ARCs).

ARC vs. Galley

Galley is another term used in publishing that you might have heard. Advance review copies are similar to galleys; however, they differ in a few ways. The galley usually lacks the cover and fancy text formatting. It typically contains more typos and errors because it hasn't been proofread yet. While both ARCs and galleys are unfinished versions of a book, a galley is used for proofreading within a publishing department or by the author, instead of intended for promotional review. That doesn't mean that a galley isn't sometimes used as an ARC, but these days, it's more common that a purpose-made ARC is produced.

How ARCs are used by authors and publishers

Advance review copies are used by self-published authors and publishers in a number of ways:

Acquire book reviews

One of the best ways to receive word-of-mouth promotion and establish credibility for your book is to get people to read your book and post a review online or in a publication. By sending key influential reviewers ARCs, you can ensure that reviews of your book will be published in time for your book's release. In order to allow enough time, make sure to research the publications that you are targeting—they may have specific guidelines. The lead time to distribute ARCs traditionally is three to six months, but with the advent of electronic ARCs and online media, the lead time can be much shorter—as little as six weeks for some reviewers.

Advertise to bookstores and libraries

ARCs are used to entice bookstore and library representatives to stock a book on their shelves. Traditional publishing houses commonly distribute hundreds of ARCs for this purpose. Self-published authors can also follow this practice to try to get stocked in a store.

Build excitement from readers

Everyone loves free stuff, especially when no one else can buy it yet. That's exactly the kind of excitement that you build when you give away ARCs to readers in anticipation of your book's release. Publishers and self-published authors can use social media to launch giveaway contests to promote a book. Websites such as Goodreads makes it easy to run a giveaway. By giving away your ARCs to potential readers and fans, you can generate reviews, word-of-mouth marketing, and strengthen your connection with your audience.

Improve the book

Although the main purpose of ARCs is book promotion, another benefit is receiving feedback from readers before a book is released. This allows time for changes and improvements if reviews and feedback identify a major flaw in a story. By making critical changes identified by trustworthy sources, you can release the best version of your book that will be well accepted and loved by readers.

Now that you know what an advance review copy is and how it's used, you too can benefit from this powerful book marketing tool. Self-published and traditionally published authors alike can utilize ARCs to garner book reviews and build excitement for your book's release. To learn more about self-publishing an advance review copy, click here.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Self-Publish an ARC (Advance Review Copy)

Author Learning Center — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 16:55:23 GMT

Current Revision posted to Advance Review Copies by Author Learning Center on 11/6/2018 4:55:23 PM

An advance review copy or advance reading copy is a free, promotional copy of a book that's in the process of being published, but hasn't been released yet. As an author self-publishing, there are several benefits to using an ARC in your marketing plan. ARCs help you build excitement for your book's release, acquire reviews, advertise to bookstores and libraries, and collect feedback to improve your book.

With all of the benefits of ARCs and the prevalence of do-it-yourself publishing options, a growing number of indie authors are using ARCs. In this article, you will learn how to make an advance review copy, when to send out an ARC, and tips on how to self-publish an ARC for maximum impact.

How to make an advance review copy

As a self-published author, you have options when making an advance review copy. Your biggest choice is deciding between a digital or print ARC. There are pros and cons to each format, so choose the one that's best for you and your book.

Digital: Digital ARCs are cheaper to produce and quicker to send out. The downside is that it may restrict your audience, since some book review publications do not accept digital ARCs, and some readers may not read eBooks (however, this may not apply to your niche audience, so research your market).

You can create a digital ARC in PDF, ePub, or Mobi format and distribute the ARC by emailing it directly to your readers, or through a website like NetGalley, BookFunnel, or Instafreebie. Another option is using a publishing platform such as Kindle Direct Publishing to create your digital ARC—just don’t fully publish your book until you are ready.

Print: Printed ARCs are the standard—it's what the big publishers use and what big name reviewers expect. However, printed books come at a higher price tag and as an independent or self-published author, you foot the bill. Plus, you need to pad your timeline to allow time for printing and shipping the books.

You can print your ARC using a short-run printer or by using a print-on-demand self-publishing platform, such as IngramSpark or Kindle Direct Publishing. Which option you choose may depend on how much design support you need to create the print-ready file, or the format and length of your book (which affects print costs). You have the option of creating an ARC book file with these types of platforms, or, KDP allows authors to order Proof Copies.

When to send out an ARC

When to start working on your ARC depends on how you're creating it and where you're soliciting the reviews. Start early, and consider the following factors: printing, shipping from printer, shipping to readers and reviewers, and lead time (some publications require a long lead time, such as Foreword Reviews which asks for four months lead).

Tips to self-publish an ARC

Avoid media mail: Although it is tempting to use media mail to distribute your printed ARC since it is cheaper than first class mail, don't do it. It can take weeks for media mail to arrive. That time can be better spent allowing your ARC readers to review your book.

Produce a quality book: Don't skip editing and typesetting because it's an ARC. While an ARC is an "unfinished draft," reviewers won't forgive sloppy text that's full of errors or an unprofessional design. This is your first impression—make it count.

Include disclaimers: Place a disclaimer on the cover and within the book that identifies it as an ARC and that it's not available for retail sale. Make it obvious that this is an ARC. Some authors even place a disclaimer in the header of every page of the book.

Customize the cover: Your ARC's cover should be different than your published book's cover in these important ways:

- Include a disclaimer on the front cover identifying the book as an ARC.

- List key book metadata and marketing info on the back cover. Here are some details to include: title, author, publisher, price, format, page count, ISBN, publication date, publicity contact information, and marketing plan.

- Remove or hide the ISBN barcode. This helps prevent your ARC from being sold in retail stores. If you cannot leave the ISBN barcode off due to printing requirements, you can place a sticker over the barcode before you distribute the ARCs.

Now that you know how to self-publish an advance review copy, you can create your own and benefit from this powerful book marketing tool. By planning ahead, you can use ARCs to garner book reviews and build excitement for your book's release.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Self-Publish an ARC (Advance Review Copy)

Author Learning Center — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 16:50:23 GMT

Revision 3 posted to Advance Review Copies by Author Learning Center on 11/6/2018 4:50:23 PM

How to make an advance review copy

You can create a digital ARC in PDF, ePub, or Mobi format and distribute the ARC by emailing it directly to your readers, or through a website like BookFunnel or Instafreebie. Another option is using a publishing platform such as Kindle Direct Publishing to create your digital ARC—just don’t fully publish your book until you are ready.

You can print your ARC using a short-run printer or by using a print-on-demand self-publishing platform, such as IngramSpark or Kindle Direct Publishing. Which option you choose may depend on how much design support you need to create the print-ready file, or the format and length of your book (which affects print costs). IngramSpark ....while KDP allows authors to order Proof Copies.

When to send out an ARC

Tips to self-publish an ARC

Customize the cover: Your ARC's cover should be different than your published book's cover in these important ways:

- Include a disclaimer on the front cover identifying the book as an ARC.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Self-Publish an ARC (Advance Review Copy)

Author Learning Center — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 16:46:00 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Advance Review Copies by Author Learning Center on 11/6/2018 4:46:00 PM

How to make an advance review copy

You can print your ARC using a short-run printer or by using a self-publishing platform, such as IngramSpark or Kindle Direct Publishing. Which option you choose may depend on how much design support you need to create the print-ready file, or the format and length of your book (which affects print costs). IngramSpark ....while KDP allows authors to order Proof Copies.

When to send out an ARC

Tips to self-publish an ARC

Customize the cover: Your ARC's cover should be different than your published book's cover in these important ways:

- Include a disclaimer on the front cover identifying the book as an ARC.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Where to Find ARC Readers

Author Learning Center — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 21:51:47 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Advance Review Copies by Author Learning Center on 7/12/2018 9:51:47 PM

There are many options on how to self-publish an ARC. For printed ARCs, you can use a short-run printer or a self-publishing platform such as IngramSpark or CreateSpace. For digital ARCs, you can use Kindle Direct Publishing or create your own PDF, ePub, or Mobi file.

Finding ARC readers for your book

Website: Advertise your ARC on your website. Your website is the hub of what's going on with you and your work—put it front and center.

Social media: Use your social media platform to announce the availability of your ARC. Consider hyping the ARC further by using printed copies as prizes for a giveaway or contest.

Goodreads: You can use Goodreads Giveaways for a printed ARC or Kindle Direct Publishing e-book. This program offers powerful marketing value to reach new readers in your target audience.

Publications: When you're looking for reviews from reputable sources, you might consider some of these options: Foreword Reviews, Kirkus Indie, San Francisco Book Review, or Midwest Book Review.

Bloggers: Book review bloggers love the chance to be the first to read and review a highly-anticipated book. Find bloggers who specialize in your book's genre.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Where to Find ARC Readers

Alice Clark-Platts — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 21:50:56 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Advance Review Copies by Alice Clark-Platts on 7/12/2018 9:50:56 PM

Finding ARC readers for your book

Website: Advertise your ARC on your website. Your website is the hub of what's going on with you and your work—put it front and center.

Social media: Use your social media platform to announce the availability of your ARC. Consider hyping the ARC further by using printed copies as prizes for a giveaway or contest.

Goodreads: You can use Goodreads Giveaways for a printed ARC or Kindle Direct Publishing e-book. This program offers powerful marketing value to reach new readers in your target audience.

Publications: When you're looking for reviews from reputable sources, you might consider some of these options: Foreword Reviews, Kirkus Indie, San Francisco Book Review, or Midwest Book Review.

Bloggers: Book review bloggers love the chance to be the first to read and review a highly-anticipated book. Find bloggers who specialize in your book's genre.

By finding the right readers and reviewers for your ARC, you ensure that your extra effort creating an ARC is time well spent. Just make sure to allow enough lead time for your readers and reviewers to post a review before your book is released. With the right readers, you can spark a word-of-mouth wild fire about your upcoming release by gaining precious reviews from general readers and reputable publications.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Self-Publish an ARC (Advance Review Copy)

Author Learning Center — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 19:22:19 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Advance Review Copies by Author Learning Center on 6/29/2018 7:22:19 PM

How to make an advance review copy

You can print your ARC using a short-run printer or by using a self-publishing platform, such as IngramSpark or CreateSpace. Which option you choose may depend on how much design support you need to create the print-ready file, or the format and length of your book (which affects print costs). For more details about self-publishing ARCs through CreateSpace or IngramSpark, you can browse the CreateSpace forum to learn from the experiences of other authors.

When to send out an ARC

Tips to self-publish an ARC

Customize the cover: Your ARC's cover should be different than your published book's cover in these important ways:

- Include a disclaimer on the front cover identifying the book as an ARC.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

What Is an Advance Review Copy and How Is It Useful for Authors? - article

Author Learning Center — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 18:43:41 GMT

Revision 3 posted to Advance Review Copies by Author Learning Center on 6/26/2018 6:43:41 PM

What is an advance review copy (ARC)?

ARC vs. Galley

How ARCs are used by authors and publishers

Advance review copies are used by self-published authors and publishers in a number of ways:

Acquire book reviews

Advertise to bookstores and libraries

Build excitement from readers

Improve the book

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

What Is an Advance Reading Copy and How Is It Useful for Authors? - article

Author Learning Center — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 19:30:48 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Advance Review Copies by Author Learning Center on 11/15/2017 7:30:48 PM

The publishing industry is rife with terminology. For new authors, it can be tough to keep it all straight. One term you may have heard is advance reading copy, or ARC. And to keep things interesting, there are many variations of the term, such as advance review copy, advanced reading copy, advanced reader's copy, reader's edition, or pre-press copy.

Understanding what an advance reading copy is and why it's important can help you be successful as an author. So, let's first define the term (and we'll look at how it's a little different from a galley), and then we'll consider how it is used by authors and publishers to improve and promote a book.

What is an advance reading copy (ARC)?

An advance reading copy is a free, promotional copy of a book that’s in the process of being published, but has yet to be released. It may be printed and bound or in electronic format. The ARC usually includes cover artwork, although it might not be the final version. A disclaimer is printed on the cover that identifies the book as an ARC. This notifies readers that the book isn't in its final version yet, so it could differ from the published version. The disclaimer also lets readers know that the ARC is not for resale (although some people do illegally sell ARCs).

ARC vs. Galley

Galley is another term used in publishing that you might have heard. Advance reader copies are similar to galleys; however, they differ in a few ways. The galley usually lacks the cover and fancy text formatting. It typically contains more typos and errors because it hasn't been proofread yet. While both ARCs and galleys are unfinished versions of a book, a galley is used for proofreading within a publishing department or by the author, instead of intended for promotional review. That doesn't mean that a galley isn't sometimes used as an ARC, but these days, it's more common that a purpose-made ARC is produced.

How ARCs are used by authors and publishers

Advance reading copies are used by self-published authors and publishers in a number of ways:

Acquire book reviews

Advertise to bookstores and libraries

Build excitement from readers

Improve the book

Now that you know what an advance reading copy is and how it's used, you too can benefit from this powerful book marketing tool. Self-published and traditionally published authors alike can utilize ARCs to garner book reviews and build excitement for your book's release.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

What Is an Advance Reading Copy and How Is It Useful for Authors? - article

Author Learning Center — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 19:27:19 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Advance Review Copies by Author Learning Center on 11/15/2017 7:27:19 PM

What is an advance reading copy (ARC)?

ARC vs. Galley

How ARCs are used by authors and publishers

Advance reading copies are used by self-published authors and publishers in a number of ways:

Acquire book reviews

Advertise to bookstores and libraries

Build excitement from readers

Everyone loves free stuff, especially when no one else can buy it yet. That's exactly the kind of excitement that you build when you give away ARCs to readers in anticipation of your book's release. Publishers and self-published authors can use social media to launch giveaway contests to promote a book. Websites such as Goodreads makes it easy to run a giveaway (link to Goodreads Giveaway article when posted!). By giving away your ARCs to potential readers and fans, you can generate reviews, word-of-mouth marketing, and strengthen your connection with your audience.

Improve the book

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Utilizing an Advance Review Copy Program to Get Book Reviews - podcast

Matthew Ballard — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 19:52:07 GMT

Current Revision posted to Advance Review Copies by Matthew Ballard on 8/7/2017 7:52:07 PM

An ARC program (Advance Review Copy or Advance Reader Copy) can be a very effective way for an author to create awareness for his or her book, build an audience, and garner early reviews. As fantasy author Matthew Ballard has learned, reviews can be the lifeblood for any book. Providing fans and followers with a free advance copy of your book allows you to engage with them while also giving them the opportunity to preview your work. In exchange, they are providing an honest review. Ballard makes it easy for his followers to sign up for his ARC program through a mailing list that he has built up over time using social media and his website.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../Utilizing-an-ARC-Program-_2800_Advance-Review-Copy_2900_-to-Get-Book-Reviews.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, podcast

Utilizing an Advance Review Copy Program to Get Book Reviews - video

Matthew Ballard — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 19:52:04 GMT

Current Revision posted to Advance Review Copies by Matthew Ballard on 8/7/2017 7:52:04 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../Utilizing-an-ARC-Program-_2800_Advance-Review-Copy_2900_-to-Get-Book-Reviews.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

Advanced Review Copy - podcast

Cory Putman Oakes — Wed, 03 May 2017 13:43:47 GMT

Current Revision posted to Advance Review Copies by Cory Putman Oakes on 5/3/2017 1:43:47 PM

Advance review copies (ARCs) of your book can be a powerful tool to get your book marketing efforts started even before your book is published. ARCs are pre-production, often pre-edited, versions of manuscripts that you distribute to carefully chosen people in advance of publication. Cory Putman Oakes offers her insight into how ARCs can be used.www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../CoryPutmanOakesAdvancedReviewCopy.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, podcast

Advanced Review Copy - video

Cory Putman Oakes — Wed, 03 May 2017 13:43:44 GMT

Current Revision posted to Advance Review Copies by Cory Putman Oakes on 5/3/2017 1:43:44 PM

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Identifying a Fan Base to Garner Positive Book Reviews - podcast

Brian Jay Jones — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 13:10:48 GMT

Current Revision posted to Advance Review Copies by Brian Jay Jones on 4/7/2017 1:10:48 PM

It's important that authors take the lead on identifying your audience and building your readership early on in a book project. Working in advance can improve your chances of garnering positive book reviews ahead of release. Author and biographer Brian Jay Jones handled all of the advanced legwork to find the audience for his most recent biography, George Lucas: A Life. He researched the best readers for receiving an advanced copy of the book, and in turn, created a large network of followers and fans.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../Identifying-a-Fan-Base-to-Garner-Positive-Book-Reviews.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, podcast

Identifying a Fan Base to Garner Positive Book Reviews - video

Brian Jay Jones — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 13:10:38 GMT

Current Revision posted to Advance Review Copies by Brian Jay Jones on 4/7/2017 1:10:38 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../Identifying-a-Fan-Base-to-Garner-Positive-Book-Reviews.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Advanced Review Copy - video

Cory Putman Oakes — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Advance Review Copies by Cory Putman Oakes on 1/9/2017 12:00:00 AM

Advance review copies (ARCs) of your book can be a powerful tool to get your book marketing efforts started even before your book is pubished. ARCs are pre-production, often pre-edited, versions of manuscript that you distribute to carefully chosen people in advance of publication. Cory Putman Oakes offers her insight into how ARCs can be used.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../CoryPutmanOakesAdvancedReviewCopy.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Advanced Review Copy - podcast

Cory Putman Oakes — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Advance Review Copies by Cory Putman Oakes on 1/9/2017 12:00:00 AM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../CoryPutmanOakesAdvancedReviewCopy.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, podcast

Advance Review Copies

Author Learning Center — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 20:29:56 GMT

Current Revision posted to Advance Review Copies by Author Learning Center on 11/10/2016 8:29:56 PM