ARCs: what they actually do (and what they don't)

If you’ve ever seen a book drop on release day with 50 reviews already live, you were looking at an ARC team doing its job. ARC stands for Advanced Reader Copy (sometimes Advanced Review Copy) — a pre-release version of your book, sent free to readers in exchange for an honest review.But here’s what nobody tells you upfront: ARCs aren’t a launch-day magic button for every book, in every genre, at every stage of your career. Tara has run ARC teams across three cozy series and will tell you straight — they move the needle most for a first book in a series. By book nine, the math changes. And for LL, who’s launching into psychological suspense following historical noir, the calculus is different again.This week we break down the full picture: eARCs vs. physical ARCs (spoiler: the post office might actually kill you), where to distribute them — BookFunnel, NetGalley, Hidden Gems, Book Sirens — how long before launch to send them out, and the quiet tactic of releasing your paperback five to seven days early so reviews are already stacked when the ebook drops.What’s your ARC strategy right now — or what’s been holding you back from starting one? Drop it in the comments. Yes, we’re looking for ideas!Want to support the show? Thank you to the folks who’ve reached out and pledged to support our show. TBH, we haven’t event had the time to figure that out. That said, a great way to support us is through our books. Thank you for listening.Find Tara’s books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tara-Lush/author/B00O5M5T5GFind LL’s books: https://llkirchner.com/booksShow notesEpisodes referenced:* Episode 21: BookFunnel — [timestamp not confirmed; cross-reference master list]Platforms & tools discussed:* BookFunnel — bookfunnel.com* NetGalley — netgalley.com (co-op/rental option available for indie authors)* Hidden Gems — hiddengemsbooks.com* Book Sirens — booksirens.com* StoryOrigin — [mentioned as one Tara has not tried]* Canva — canva.com (used for ARC team social graphics)* Google Sheets — for ARC team tracking/sign-up formWhat we’re reading:* Tara: Everything Has Happened by T. Greenwood — literary suspense set in a small Vermont town; recommended for fans of slow-burn, evocative writing* LL: Lost in the Summer of 69 by Eliza Knight — three-generation mother/daughter/granddaughter story; LL is reading it ahead of a June 15 event with Eliza Knight at The Gilded Page Bookstore in Tarpon SpringsThanks for reading YOU SHOULD TOTALLY WRITE THAT! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youshouldtotallywritethat.substack.com