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Writers! Can we talk about e-ARCs and the moves towards using them exclusively? How are we going to combat the lack of online interaction and promo this move has resulted in? Are you seeing a marked difference in the lead-up to release without physical ARCs?
What I'm seeing w a Jan. release: a lot more interaction in the UK (where I have physical ARCs) than in the US. I've seen one bookstagram post with the US digital ARC. I've got dozens of UK bookstagram posts with the UK physical ARC.
I want to stress: the move of some pubs/imprints towards exclusively e-ARC isn't really anyone's fault because: pandemic. But there are several things trade publishing is putting in motion (including the 4 part advance split) because of the pandemic that DEEPLY effects us.
And I want to talk about them here, because I don't really see them being talked about publicly. Mostly just in publishing groups and what-not. Though maybe I just don't follow the right people who are discussing!
I think my concern here is that we're going to end up further divided along lines and continue this "eating our own tail" cycle promo-wise. Meaning that the "big" books will get physical ARCs and everyone else will get eArcs and the promo divide will lengthen more.
The problem w/ relying on reader-generated promo in the marketing of a book is that publishing both relies on it AND also deeply devalues it. I'm worried that it's been mis-judged just how much reader-generated promo sustains a book, especially diverse ones.
I can tell you what I'm thinking in the future: creating visuals myself. I've done this a little for GIRLS on a project that will release in January. I use http://imageapothecary.com and http://bookbrush.com already for my indie stuff. Time to use it for trade, too.
I also will be thinking about creating short videos like my readers make (or rather, hiring someone, because lol, my skills only go so far). Vids that are less book trailer, more favorite quotes from the book over images. These sell queer books, that much I know.
