Advance ARCs
To build buzz for a forthcoming book, publishers often release a number of Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) to book reviewers and booksellers. ARCs are trade sized paperbacks of the novel, usually containing a letter from the editor sharing their thoughts on the book. They also are often filled with grammatical errors that will be corrected for final release. For the most part, however, they are pretty close to what will be published and sold at bookstores.
ARCs serve a pretty important purpose—the more buzz that is generated pre-release the more sales the publisher and author could possibly get.
But I am using them for a far different purpose. Since I have not heard definitive word about my book from those I have sent it to professionally, I am still in that position of not knowing if my work is any good. I think it is, but what I like and what others like can be very different at times.
So I created these:
When I finished Song of the Fell Hammer, I created three of these—bound copies of my book with a title page. I gave one to my mother (who loves Terry Brooks), one to my brother (who still hasn't read it after 9 months), and one to one of my best friends (who is a former and recovering Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan reader).
My mother loved it and said it was like reading Terry Brooks (but she is biased), my brother still hasn't read it (jerk haha), and my friend is about to finish it and thinks it needs to be tightened up (spot on). Well, I shipped my book off to agents who eventually told me to rewrite different aspects of the book and once that rewriting was finished I produced seven more of these Advance ARCs—the new copies containing the map I drew.
So by my count, there are 10 copies of my book out there. I produced three more of the revised editions a few days ago, just in case someone asked for one. And I thought to myself, "I should take some pictures of these so people can see an Advance ARC." So here you go. It is a vanity to see my book in print, but it has served a good purpose as I have gotten great feedback from those who have read it. No matter if a publisher decides to buy my trilogy and produce real ARCs of their own for publicity purposes, these 10 copies I produced will always have a place in my heart.
They are, after all, copies I produced with my own blood, sweat, and tears.
ARCs serve a pretty important purpose—the more buzz that is generated pre-release the more sales the publisher and author could possibly get.
But I am using them for a far different purpose. Since I have not heard definitive word about my book from those I have sent it to professionally, I am still in that position of not knowing if my work is any good. I think it is, but what I like and what others like can be very different at times.
So I created these:
When I finished Song of the Fell Hammer, I created three of these—bound copies of my book with a title page. I gave one to my mother (who loves Terry Brooks), one to my brother (who still hasn't read it after 9 months), and one to one of my best friends (who is a former and recovering Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan reader).
My mother loved it and said it was like reading Terry Brooks (but she is biased), my brother still hasn't read it (jerk haha), and my friend is about to finish it and thinks it needs to be tightened up (spot on). Well, I shipped my book off to agents who eventually told me to rewrite different aspects of the book and once that rewriting was finished I produced seven more of these Advance ARCs—the new copies containing the map I drew.
So by my count, there are 10 copies of my book out there. I produced three more of the revised editions a few days ago, just in case someone asked for one. And I thought to myself, "I should take some pictures of these so people can see an Advance ARC." So here you go. It is a vanity to see my book in print, but it has served a good purpose as I have gotten great feedback from those who have read it. No matter if a publisher decides to buy my trilogy and produce real ARCs of their own for publicity purposes, these 10 copies I produced will always have a place in my heart.
They are, after all, copies I produced with my own blood, sweat, and tears.
posted by Shawn C. Speakman | 10:30 PM
12 Comments:
Best of luck with your book. I'd love to read it when it comes out (which it will; keep at it). :)
Shawn, that's a lot of hard work you put in there. I can't believe your brother hasn't read the darn thing yet. Is he mental?
These manuscrpits might now be "official" RACs, but they do look real nice. Now, if I could just get my hands on one....
Keep up the good work, Shawn!!
Jared
ditto on the brother, what a jerk, lol. When I wrote my book my whole family read and most of them even pretended to like it
sean
Thank you, Skye! I need all the encouragement I can get! Going in through the out door in the publishing world is a difficult thing to do and still maintain hope. It's people out there I don't even know that keep me going.
Jared, it was 10 months of hard work. The rest of it—the formatting of the ARCs—was pretty easy. The image of the hammer on the cover is something I drew by hand, and the rest of the title page was done in Photoshop. The map I hand drew and that's the second page of the ARC. The rest is the book in Times New Roman 1 1/2 line space, and a whole lot of black words on white pages. You aren't the only person to ask for a copy of it, which warms me, and I'd make them available to everyone if they didn't cost so much to make! haha
And Sean, my brother and I are very much alike, more than we both are willing to admit at times. To call him a jerk calls me a jerk. hehe In all seriousness, he is every much as busy as I am and has a career while trying to juggle billiards play—his particular hobby and one he is very good at.
Shawn,
Great chatting with you at the Barnes and Noble event on the 28th... you should have brought me one of these, I would have had you sign it! (lol)(Subliminal: Send me a copy of the ARP)
Hey man, I'm with everyone here, keep at it. I know I've only read the excerpts but I think you have a good thing going.(Subliminal: Send me a copy of the ARP)
Anyway, you better keep us posted to news of the fate of this book (like you wouldn't) and keep your head up! (Subliminal: Send me a copy of the ARP). ;)
Peace out
Mark (IncubusJax)
I just wanted to come in and chuckle at how many different ways "ARC" was spelled!
Looking good, Shawn. Mine still hasn't arrived in the mail, though!
~Aidan
A Dribble of Ink
Mark, it was great talking to you too that night. I always love talking to Terry's fans. Just like Terry, they are usually very nice and open and warm and love to talk fantasy. My kind of people.
And you weren't the only one that night who asked to read my book. It's a good thing I didn't bring an AARC (Advanced Advance Reading Copy) because I would have had to put people up to fight for it—or at least let the highest bidder get it. hehe
Plus, I think it is important to note, I have had three people offer to read Song of the Fell Hammer and pay for its printing and shipping. That's $60, none of which goes in my pocket. So that's pretty cool people are wanting to read it early based on the excerpts.
Aidan, you already have yours. As a matter of fact, you should do a mini-review of Song of the Fell Hammer and post it on your blog. haha
And the next copy you get will be a real ARC... I hope.
Shawn,
I'd be happy to do a review on my blog. If you'd prefer me to wait for an actual review, I'd be happy to. If you think it would help your cause for me to review it now, I'd be happy to do that, as well.
~Aidan
A Dribble of Ink
Given that
i enjoy hopping around sites and reading chapter excerpts from various authors, tasting thier stylistic differences, I have found that supply now nearing exhaustion. Obviously writers/professionals are very busy and are doing good to post once a week or so, but this leaves ardent fans like myself waiting, waiting, and waiting. Have you ever considered putting a section on your website where amatuer fantasy writers could post excerpt chapters to help satiate eachothers desires to read more. or is there a place like this already out there (I googled, pointed and clicked for a few hourse before deciding if it was out there i couldn't find it.) I personally don't have anything to post being a reader and not a writer, but I would sure love to get a feel for what undiscovered treasure are lurking.
Aidan, don't worry about the review. You haven't even read the revised version yet, which is superior to the one you have. I'd rather you read a copy that was closer to what I imagine it to be. But if you'd like to write something up, by all means...
And Anonymous, there must be a ton of writing websites out there that accept excerpt posts for critique. That sounds like what you are looking for. You can also visit the Terry Brooks website at www.terrybrooks.net, visit the Forum, and check out the Writing section. There are a couple dozen people who post their work there to be read by anyone. Happy Reading!
they're beautiful ;)
Shawn,
As you should know, I'd also be happy to pay the $60 for your ARC. I can't wait to read it.
Cheeps
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