ARCs are fickle things. They’re promotional materials, and yet they are highly coveted by people who love to promote books. They’re cool! You get to read a book early. You’re helping the author and the publisher promote it. It’s amazing when a publisher allows you to read a book early. It’s awesome that they think you will help promote the book by sharing your thoughts. But, along with all this comes a lot of other things. Like, what are ARCs really used for? Who should get them? How are they distributed? I’ve had some thoughts on ARCs and some other discussions around them, so I thought I’d talk about it a bit!
Alright, this post came about when I saw a tweet by a publisher regarding a new ARC that was just printed. The caption was something along the lines of how cool it was that ARCs existed, but they’re not sharing yet. It kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I’ve seen a lot of people talk about how ARCs are publicity items. They cost money to make, but they have no inherent value. They’re early, not the best versions of the book. Wait for the final copy, it will be ten times better. They should be used to promote the book, that is what they are for.
But then I see tweets like that and I get frustrated. I personally feel like it’s sending a mixed message. I get jealously sells. People are likely to pre-order because they’re excited for a book and if they can’t get an ARC, that’s the next best thing. Though, if you want to send the message that ARCs are for publicity and not just for everybody, please just stick to that. When tweets like that exist, you’re making theme coveted items. You’re making them special and you’re making them cool and you’re making people want them desperately.
I kind of feels like the entire ARC system needs to be upended and rewritten. I know I’m extremely lucky to get the ARCs I do, and I am so extremely grateful. But I just wish publishers would send the same message, all the time. I get people that if people are excited about ARCs, they’ll pre-order. They’re freaking out about getting an ARC and their thoughts on it will sell pre-orders. I know people who don’t get ARCs, but see the thoughts of the people who do and their e excitement over it will pre-order. Just, I don’t love the back and forth. Either ARCs are super cool and have value in the bookish community or they’re publicity items and should be used as such.
Tweets like “we’re not sharing yet” creates value over ARCs. It feeds into people thinking they’re only cool and popular if they have they latest ARCs. And that is so not true.
Honestly, this is such a small issue in the grand scheme of things, but I just can’t help but get frustrated. Please just send more ARCs to OwnVoices readers and take a chance on a couple people with smaller platforms. I get why both sides are being said, because both have pros to them and they both help sales. Though, I can’t help but sit here and wonder what I’m supposed to think about ARCs when both messages are being said.
Thank you for reading!
theelvenwarrior.com 
Fascinating post, and your argument makes total sense. I especially agree with that bit you mentioned at the end about how publishers should send more ARCs to Ownvoices readers. I think that’s such an important concept. Ownvoices readers can speak to whether a depiction is fair or problematic, and they can help pitch that book to other members of their community. You better believe I would be talking up a storm about any book with good asexual representation in all the ace Facebook groups I’m in, but alas, I can count the number of those on one hand. There is a book coming out this fall with an ace protagonist, and I want to recommend it so badly, but the publisher declined my ARC request on NetGalley, and I really don’t want to promote it and then later find out it did a horrible job. So I completely agree with you on that, too.
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Aw, I’m so sorry you were declined! And the not wanting to recommend bad rep is something I didn’t even think of, but is such a great point. I hope you’re able to get all the ace books in the future cause you’d be such a great person to have them!
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Aww, thank you! Here’s hoping that there are more of them in the future at all, since they’re not too common to begin with, though they seem to be getting more common!
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This is such a great topic to discuss! I have reviewed probably 10-12 books on NetGalley and think I have received 3 physical ARCs.. and already the luster of them is fading to me. I don’t like the pressure to read & review books by a certain date, and I genuinely enjoy the anticipation of pre-ordering books that I’m extra excited for. I see the merit of ARCs in the online book community, but for me personally receiving them is not a priority!
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Thank you so much! 💛
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This is a great post!
As an international blogger who live in a country where ARC doesn’t exist, I always had the impression that ARCs are only “I can read this book early and for free!!!”, and when I saw people who receive dozens of ARCs every month, I always thought that I’m stupid because I spend money to buy my books. Also, seeing that ARCs are treated like gold on the trade market, makes me feel sad because I can’t trade books. Sometimes, here in my country, they send final copies of books, but only to selected blogger who have thousands of followers.
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Oh yeah, international bloggers have a much harder time getting ARCs. Reading final copies is just as good and you shouldn’t feel lesser because of it!
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