Tools of The Trade Day 5: All About ARCs

What are ARCs? 
ARC stands for Advance Readers Copy. ARCs are copies of books that aren't yet released. Publishers typically use them as marketing tools.

What do you need to get ARCs?
Each publishing company has their own specific guidelines as to who they allow to get ARCs, but, in the blogging world, most publishers use the following as guidelines:
• The blog has been up and running for 6+ months
• The blog has a decent amount of followers and page views (500+ is preferred by most publishers, but remember that every publishing house has their own guidelines)
• Reviews are honest and informative
• There are comments on your posts

So, if you fulfill those requirements, how do you get ARCs? 
Netgalley and Edelweiss are two of the most common ways to get ARCs. You can browse through a catalog of books available on these sites, and request whichever interest you. If you're approved, you will be given a digital copy of the ARC to read and review.

If you want a physical copy of an ARC, typically you email the publishers with your request. Make sure to state your name, your shipping address, the ARC you're requesting, your blog statistics, and why you're interested in that particular book.

For your convince, I've compiled a list of some of the more popular publishers with the email you should contact them at for ARC requests.

• HarperCollins
• Macmillan -> Contact information is listed - by imprint - here.
• Simon & Shuster
• Scholastic 
• Bloomsbury 

If your book is published by a publisher not on this list, you can find the person you need to email your request to by going to that publisher's website, finding the "Contact Us" page, and looking for the "publicity contact."

What happens now? 
After you've sent a request to a publisher via email or requested a digital title via Netgalley / Edelweiss, one of three things will happen:
1). You'll get a reply saying your copy is on it's way. (Or, if you requested it digitally, you'll be approved.)
2). You'll get a reply saying you can't get a copy because there aren't any left / you don't have enough followers / etc. (Or, if you requested it digitally, you'll be declined).
3). You don't get any response at all.

If you get declined, don't give up! Work on making your blog better and keep trying. ARCs - both digital and physical - are not free to make, so publishers have to be relatively limited with who they allow to get them :)

Zoe is a talented young blogger who blogs on both The Infinite to-read Shelf and Deadly Darlings Death-Defying Reviews. She is passionate about reading and loves YA books and reading thought provoking books. Her favorite part about blogging is meeting other bloggers and people that share her love for reading so feel free to leave a link to your blog below!