Publishing glossary

Advance reader copy

An advance reader copy (ARC), also called an advance review copy or a galley, is a copy of a book handed out before publication so that reviewers, readers, booksellers and librarians can read it early. In traditional publishing, ARCs are often uncorrected proofs. For indie authors, an ARC is usually the finished ebook, sent a few weeks before launch to a team of readers who have agreed to read it and, if they choose, post an honest review.

Why it matters for indie authors

Reviews help new readers decide, and a book with none at launch is a harder sell. An ARC team gives readers time to finish the book so their reviews can appear around launch. On Amazon, readers can generally post a review only once the book is available, so ask your ARC readers to post during launch week.

Amazon allows authors to give free copies of books to readers who may review them, as long as a review isn’t required in exchange and the author doesn’t try to influence it. Reviews from close friends and family may be removed. It’s good practice for reviewers to mention that they received a free copy.

Example

Six weeks before launch, a fantasy author invites her newsletter subscribers to join an ARC team. Forty sign up. She sends each one an EPUB through an ebook delivery service, with a note: “This copy is yours whether or not you review it. If you do, an honest review during launch week helps.” On release day she sends a reminder with direct links to the book in each store.

In AIBookWriter, the Distribution step drafts review requests from your book, and the free Review Request Templates tool writes honest review asks for ARC readers, subscribers and bloggers.

Common mistakes

  • Asking for positive reviews, or offering anything in exchange for a review. Ask for honest ones, with no conditions.
  • Sending ARCs too late. Give readers several weeks to finish.
  • Recruiting outside your genre. Readers who don’t enjoy the genre can’t tell its fans much.
  • Sending a file readers can’t open. EPUB works with most reading apps, and Kindle owners can load it through Send to Kindle; MOBI files can no longer be sent that way.
  • No follow-up. A launch-day reminder with direct links makes reviewing easy.

Related terms

Further reading

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