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How to get ARCs?
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Mina
(new)
Sep 28, 2020 01:39PM
Hi! I’m new to this whole thing. What are publishers looking for to grant you an ARC? Do you need to have a lot of reviews, detailed reviews or a blog? I have seen people give shortish, not very detailed feedback on arcs they received so I am very unsure how this works. Oh, also I am from Europe, not sure if this changes anything.
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Yes it helps to show a regular history of reviewing. It helps more to showcase your reach. Whether it’s bookstagram, booktube, a blog or GoodReads- say how many friends/followers you have, page views, likes whatever. The more the better. Do you make purchasing decisions for your library or a book store?Think of it as a business transaction. The publisher will grant you an ARC in exchange for the publicity (good or bad) they receive on the book, which may translate into higher sales eventually. Some of the smaller presses and indie authors may be willing to grant you an ARC to hopefully get a review up on Amazon, but reach is the most important.
There are “Read Now” titles you can accept to get started reviewing and build up some of those things. Other publishers are sometimes kind enough to note who they will grant ARCs to on their approval page so I advise always checking those before you request.
Since you are new I would advise you not to go on a requesting spree. You might be surprised at how much you get approved and then you are overwhelmed with books, at which point the reading no longer feels fun, it feels like a chore. And with many of the titles you may have no idea what you are walking into if the book is poorly written, or the blurb is misleading. And you do not want to be holding the bag for a review on a bunch of books you discover you don’t actually like. (That’s just my two cents, I tend to picky).
How long the reviews are is of no consequence. It's what's contained in your review and how many people read it (see Sarah's post above).I do shorter reviews and have no issue getting approved for books on the regular.
I agree with Sarah in not requesting too many books at once. Start with just a few and get through them then accept more. Some publishers really do look at the 80% thing on NG, so try to start out there.
I always do short reviews as personally, I don’t read GR reviews which are more like 4 page book reports or filled with gifs. A couple of concise paragraphs are more than ample to get across a quick synopsis (no spoilers tho), what you liked & what you didn’t like (if anything). The first few reviews you write are the hardest but you soon get into the swing of things.
Nearly forgot - I don’t have a blog as yet but manage to get most of the arcs I request. Showing a history of reviewing on Amazon & Goodreads usually helps.
I have a few reviews up here but no blog or other social for books. The few titles I requested were things that interested me/were from my fave author but I got denied on all of them. :/
The only reason you being from Europe would change things is which site you use. There are 5 netgalley sites. The US, the UK, the Japanese, the German, and the French site. Due to territory right (I think that's the right word) issues sometimes publishers can't give arcs to people in certain countries. :)
Anna 'Bookbuyer' wrote: "The only reason you being from Europe would change things is which site you use. There are 5 netgalley sites. The US, the UK, the Japanese, the German, and the French site. Due to territory right (..."Well I am on Edelweiss plus, it says US and Europe?
Esther wrote: "Anna 'Bookbuyer' wrote: "The only reason you being from Europe would change things is which site you use. There are 5 netgalley sites. The US, the UK, the Japanese, the German, and the French site...."Edelweiss might include both but Anna is right- on NetGalley there are separate sites.
Esther wrote: "Anna 'Bookbuyer' wrote: "The only reason you being from Europe would change things is which site you use. There are 5 netgalley sites. The US, the UK, the Japanese, the German, and the French site...."As far as I know there is no separate site for Edelweiss by country. But territory rights are still an issue.
thanks yall i went to look at netgalley.co.uk and already got some books granted. i guess it is a bit more generous than edelweiss
I also concur on looking for the 'read now'-books. I have found some real pearls in that section, and it really helps getting books and good numbers (and so more reviews done on the platforms you use).
