Make your Own ARCs

   

How to Make Your Own Advance Reading Copies (ARCs)

    

For some authors, some publishers will produce Advance Reading Copies (ARCs).  ARCs are uncorrected proofs of your manuscript which may or may not have your cover art on the cover.  

ARCs make a big impact on your publicity campaign six months ahead of your release date and again, two months prior to release date.

Six months or so before your release date, your publisher will send ARCs to key people, like Publisher’s Weekly and certain booksellers and reviewers who are most likely to start a buzz for your book through good press and advanced orders.  You will also get copies to send to key people, ie your favorite bookseller and other industry professionals with whom you have developed a relationship. 

Approximately two months before release date, when your book is available for advanced orders, ARCS in the hands of booksellers will drive orders and sales.  Booksellers will have an opportunity to read your book and can begin handselling to patrons who are anxious for a book just like yours to read.    

ARCs delivered at the right time, to the right people are responsible for books making the bestseller list.  (Bestsellers are determined by the first two weeks of sales immediately following release date.)

But not every author gets ARCs from their publisher—which doesn’t mean that you can’t take advantage of having ARCs.  You can make your own.
(This is not a tutorial on how to use Word or WordPerfect.  If you have questions about how to following the formatting guidelines, search the Help files.  The answers are in there—really.)

How to Make Your Own ARCs

  1. Put your manuscript into one file.
  2. Choose Book Antigua or Bookman Old Style in size 12 font.  Use 1.5 lines spacing.
  3. Choose 2 column format.  Include a line between the columns.
  4. Set your header to include your booktitle and name on the left side and your page number on the right side, i.e.,
    TAKING FLIGHT/Connie Cox               123
  5. Set margins at 1.0” top and bottom, 1.25” left margin, and 1.0” right margin.
  6. For the cover, put your back cover blurb on the left side and your bookcover.jpeg-- if available—on the right side.
  7. Optional:  Comb-bind on the left side.  (While many booksellers/reviewers prefer bound ARCs, many don’t have a preference.)

 

Now, who will print your ARCs?  You may print them yourself on your own printer or you may send them out to be printed.  When considering your options, consider the pros and cons of each.

Printing your own

Pros Cons
  • You can print as many or as few as needed.
  • Ink and paper may cost less than sending them out.
  • Feeding paper to your printer is time consuming
  • Ink for some printers is very expensive.
  • Some printers may not be of professional quality.

Sending out your ARCs for printing

Pros Cons
  • Quick—upload your files from your computer to the printer
  • Most printers will print and mail, more time savings
  • May be more expensive
  • Need to estimate how many ARCs needed before placing order for best cost estimate