What is an ARC (advance reader copy)?

An advance reader copy (ARC), sometimes called an advance review copy or galley, is a version of the book distributed before publication. Traditional publishers send ARCs to booksellers, librarians, journalists and reviewers. Self-publishers mainly use them to build early reviews, so the book has social proof when it goes on sale.

Self-published ARCs are usually eBooks — an EPUB or PDF sent directly or through an ARC delivery service — though some authors send printed copies. The ARC is normally the edited, near-final text; it may be marked as an uncorrected proof so readers know small errors may remain.

Build an ARC team from readers who already like your genre: newsletter subscribers, social media followers, readers of your earlier books and genre reviewers. Send the copy a few weeks before launch, give a clear date, and make it easy to post a review. Give the ARC freely, with no requirement that the review be positive.

Follow store review policies carefully. Amazon, for example, does not allow reviews in exchange for payment or other compensation, restricts reviews from people with close personal ties to the author, and expects reviewers to disclose that they received a free copy. Check each store's current review guidelines and your local advertising rules. If your eBook is enrolled in KDP Select, check whether distributing ARCs is consistent with the exclusivity terms.