ARCs are no fun

Whenever I mention how badly I want to read Throne of Glass, someone immediately points me to NetGalley to request an advance copy. But I don’t want an ARC. I’m more than happy to wait for the book to come out. 

Receiving ARCs feels like being part of a secret club. You get early access to exclusive content and you have to be “chosen” to receive them. Of course I was enamored with the idea when I first learned about it—who doesn’t like being special?  But after being in the club for a while, I found that ARCs aren’t as fun as I expected.

As a blogger:

ARCs are incredibly expensive to make and are part of the marketing and publicity plan of the book. When a publisher sends them out they are expecting something in return, an ROI so to speak. Maybe it’s because I’m in the industry. Maybe it’s because I have seen a profit and loss chart and a marketing budget. For whatever reason, I am really self-conscious about being a loss to the publisher. I’m not the book editor at a major magazine. Even by blogging standards my stats are negligible.  So whenever I get an ARC I try to go above and beyond to promote it. It’s exhausting and it’s a lot of (self-inflicted?) pressure. I tweet as much as I can, I share info about the author/publisher on Facebook, and write fun, unique reviews*.  Luckily, I have not read an ARC that I disliked. What a nightmare it would be if I did! I am fueled by passion so I usually only review books I love or hate. My review of a mediocre book would be awful: “I got this book for free. It was okay, I guess.  I give it 3 stars. Read it if you want.” 

My blog is supposed to be a hobby not a chore, a respite not a responsibility.  Sometimes the ARCs are more hassle than they’re worth, for both parties. Has anyone ever bought a book because of my blog posts? I’m not sure. I probably would be more useful to the publisher if I just bought the book.

*Some bloggers have an “I’m not obligated to review every book I receive” policy, but I don’t. I find it a bit disingenuous since (unless you’re a really big deal) free books don’t just show up on your doorstep without your approval. Not writing a review is akin to not holding up your end of the deal.

As a reader:

Reading ARCs is lonely. The problem with exclusive content is that it’s exclusive. What’s the fun in reading a great book if you no one else can gush over it with you? I can’t be the only one who likes to discuss the books I read. (If I were there would not be book clubs.) You can’t really do that with an ARC. All you can say is “You’re gonna love this!” Well, that’s not true. You can post small quotes out of contexts but publishers may not like that and it just confuses everyone who hasn’t read the book. You can also try to gush with the author (via Twitter or Facebook. Yay technology!) but they have a totally different relationship with the book so the fellowship is not the same. So in the end you’re left all alone, twiddling your thumbs, trying not to post spoilers, all while wanting scream, “I wanna share mah feels! Why haven’t you read this book yet?!” Oh yeah. It doesn’t come out for another six months. Womp womp womp.

When Throne of Glass is finally on sale, I will go to a bookstore and buy it. If I love it as much as I think I will, I’ll write a blog post about it. Not because I feel indebted to the publisher, but because I want to share my passion with others. Then I will go on Tumblr and Facebook and everywhere else that fans congregate and we’ll use caps and exclamation points to discuss the merits of the book. And it will be awesome. No ARCs involved.

Armchair BEA: Beyond the Blog

I’m not a writer in the strict sense. I’m a communicator; the written word just happens to be the way I choose to maximize my reach. I used to write for school publications, and in the future I may contribute an article to certain media outlets, but as a rule I only write for myself. I have so much to say and I don’t really want to spend time delivering someone else’s message.

So I have no intention to get “beyond the blog” so to speak. My blog is part of my brand; it helps me establish myself in the industry and stay relevant as a publishing professional. Hopefully this blog will become a resource for readers, writers, and other bookish people. 

What kind of info would you like to see an “industry insider” blog about? What else would you want to know about me? Let me know in the comments!

Armchair BEA: Introductions

While most of my co-workers are having fun at Book Expo America in New York City, I’ll be sitting at home. Most likely in bed, wearing pajamas  and surrounded by my computer, my Blackberry, and lots of books. 

I’m at Armchair BEA.

All this week, book bloggers from across the interwebs will have their own virtual convention. And it starts with introductions:

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

I’m not a book blogger. This isn’t even a book blog! I’m a young publishing professional in Toronto. I want to enable the dreams of writers. Right now I do that by editing. One day I’ll do that by agenting. (Or publishing… who knows?!) This blog is about 4 years old but its current purpose is to be a hub for my thoughts, adventures, and advice regarding the publishing industry.  Welcome!

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?

I’ve read some fabulous books so far but my top three would be Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan, The Headmaster’s Wager by Vincent Lam, and Salsa Nocturna by Daniel José Older. I’m currently reading manuscripts! But next on my pile is The Beauty of the Humanity Movement by Camilla Gibb.

Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read?

The re-launched version of this site is still very new but check out this post about my (current) favorite children’s book! 

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

This answer changes depending on which books I have read recently but I am always drawn to strong women. I’d love to break bread with Janie Crawford (Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston) and Aminata Diallo (The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill). Both of these women are remarkable in different ways and it would be a joy to learn from them.

What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?

So many choices! I think I’d visit Hogwarts in the springtime. It’d be gorgeous with everything in bloom and the air just a little crisp. I’d spend hours in the library and then bring as many books as I could carry out to the lawn.  I would definitely get lost (my sense of direction is bad enough without shifting staircases) but then I could just take wander and take in all the history and beauty of the castle. Yup. I’d go to Hogwarts.