Five tips for being an ARC reader

As an author, I’ve discovered many things I never thought I’d need or do what I first set out to write a book. One of those things was to establish an Advanced Reader Copy team, (aka Street Teams or Launch Teams).

Call me naïve or just plain ignorant, but when I wrote my first book, THE EARTHSPARK, I just wanted to hit publish on Amazon and call it good. However, if you ever want anyone to read your book, this approach will not work. AT. ALL.

This is where your Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) team comes in. These people are the ones who help you get those early reviews. They post on social, spreading the word about your book. And some of them even will tell their own friends about it.

The best part for these folks is that they get a FREE book (generally ebook style), BEFORE it ever goes live. How cool is that?!

From the time I’ve published my first book until now, I’ve been an ARC reader for many authors, including:

to name a few. These books ranged from high epic fantasy to cozy mysteries to historical fiction to space fantasy (think star wars).

These teams, along with training from other professionals, have taught me what it takes to be considered for an ARC team. And today I’m going to share my top five tips with you.

Tip #1: Determine Your Level of Commitment

Every author runs their team a little different. But for me, I have three tiers of commitment that my ARC members can choose from.

• Tier 1: This is the highest level of engagement. At this level, you commit to reading the advanced copy of the book (which you get for free). After reading the book, you then craft an HONEST review within the first week that the book launches. You’ll post this review to Amazon; and if possible, other sites such as Goodreads, BookBub, and the author’s website (if they sell directly from their store). Finally, if able, you post to your social media about the book. This goes a long way in spreading the word about the new release. And, if you really enjoyed the book and want to go the extra mile, you can buy the ebook or print book to help boost visibility farther on retailer sites.
• Tier 2: This includes reading the ARC (free copy) of the book, and posting an HONEST review to Amazon or other sites within the first four weeks of launch. If you are able, you can post on social during the month as well.
• Tier 3: This is for those of you who aren’t able to commit to the other two tiers. Here, you purchase the ebook for $.99, OR post on social at some point during the launch at any time during the first four weeks of the launch.

Even if you can’t commit to anything, just sending a supportive note to your author goes a long way. The journey of self-publishing can be a very lonely one, and leave the author feeling discouraged at times. But with a little note from you, their day can completely turn around.

Tip #2: Be Willing to Post About it on Your Social Media

Even if you aren’t able to get the book finished before the book goes live, there are still many other things you can do to help the author out. One of those things is to post a picture of the book on your social feeds, helping to spread the word that the book is out. These can be pictures of the cover on your ereader, or they can be supplied images from the author for you to use. Both options are great.

Tip #3: If You Can’t or Don’t Want to Review, Buy the Ebook

I mentioned this one above, but it’s worth repeating. If you can’t or won’t commit to the full ARC experience, buying the Ebook when it goes live can go a long way. Sometimes things in life just won’t allow you to take part as a true ARC member. However, you can still help your author by simply purchasing the book the day (or the week or month) it comes out. Usually authors have the ebooks priced at $.99 or similar to get new readers to try it out or to help those ARC members who want to buy the book. Those sales really boost the book’s visibility on Amazon and other places, and it costs less than a cup of coffee.

Tip #4: Actually Read the Advanced Reader Copy

This might sound silly, but more often than not, ARC members wait until the book releases to read it. It could be because of time constraints, family obligations, or a myriad of other things, and we, as authors, get that.

However, the whole point of being on an ARC team is to help the author get early reviews and boost the exposure for their books when they first release. Plus, getting your review in early really helps when the author goes to book promotions on their work.

So what happens if you join an ARC and aren’t able to read the full book due to other obligations prior to release day?

Read the first 20% and the last 15% so you can have an idea of what happens in the book. This could be enough for you to write an honest review. It could also let you know the book is worth going back to read, and in which case you can always go back and update your review.

Or it could let you know that this book really wasn’t for you. If you find the book wasn’t your style, you can always reach out to the author and give them your feedback privately. I’ve appreciated any specific feedback received on my books because it helps me grow as an author.

Tip #5: Share the Book With Your Personal Friends

If you loved and ARC book you’ve read, tell your friends about it (given they love the genre of book)! I love it when my friends share their favorite books with me. Though it does add to the growing number of books sitting unfinished on my bookshelf. 😅

Bonus Tip: Have Fun and Connect With the Author

Book launches are a lot of work but can connect people in great ways. If you’ve got friends on the ARC team, make it a friendly competition on who can read it first and who can post their reviews the earliest.

You can also reach out to the author and share your favorite parts with them. Or if you’re an artist and want to share some fan art with them, do it! I know it makes my day when readers connect and share with me what they loved.

I hope these tips help you as you try your hand at being an ARC team member. And if you love epic fantasy with some thief and streetrat vibes, consider being part of the ARC team for my upcoming novel, THE FIRE DRAKE.

See you next week!