Hardcover Lover Confessions (5)

Hey there, everyone! By now, I hope that you've become a little more acquainted with my new every-once-in-a-while feature, Hardcover Lover Confessions. This is my fifth HCL Confessions post, and I've found that people seem to be enjoying them.

If you're new to The Hardcover Lover or just missed the first few posts, I'll fill you in. HCL Confessions are my discussion posts. Every few weeks, I'll post my thoughts on something going on in the book blogging world or just general bookish thoughts.

I'm encouraging all of my followers to join in and discuss your thoughts on each topic with me and with the other bloggers/people who leave comments. It's all about kindly expressing ourselves and making connections with other bloggers and readers while forming blogging friendships.  Don't be afraid to reply to a comment made by someone you've never spoken to! I can promise you that all of my followers are kind and outgoing.

HCL Confession on ARC Envy:

ARCs - (n.) advance reader/review copies; galley copies of books that are soon to be published that are sent to reviewers and bloggers for review purposes

related terms - eARCs, galley

Recently, people have been asking me a lot of crazy questions about my blog. Most of them are about ARCs and how I get them. Unfortunately, a few people have admitted to me that they are  jealous that certain bloggers are sent physical ARCs. A few people just want to start blogs for the ARCs. I understand feeling jealous sometimes, but I do not understand starting a blog just for free books. It's absurd, and that's not why book bloggers do what they do. We're here because we all share a love for reading.

I'm sure that many of you are familiar with the Twitter discussions on ARC Envy because it's literally been a huge issue within the book blogosphere. So what is ARC Envy? Well it's pretty simple. People get jealous of bloggers who have been granted access to digital galleys or sent physical ARCs. Things have been getting out of hand. People are extremely angry that some bloggers are able to obtain ARCs - so mad that they have pretty much thought that just because they also blog, they deserve these books. Here's the thing: ARCs are a privilege, not a right.

I'm sure that many of you already know that you just won't be sent ARCs because you already have a book review blog. Some people unfortunately don't know that. Being sent ARCs is a tricky business, and it all depends on the books and publishers. I won't speak for publishing houses, but all of them have their own preferences. They might send one blogger one ARC but another blogger might not be sent it. Why? They want to make sure that they are sending these ARCs to people who will read and review them, and most of the time, it's to bloggers who they trust.

Trust me. I don't get all of the ARCs that I request. It's all about waiting and doing your time. But the ARC Envy needs to stop. There are ways that you can prevent this:

1. Do not create a blog just for the ARCs - Mostly everyone who has a book blog keeps one because they love reading and sharing their thoughts with others. Many people do not wake up and create a book blog because they know that ARCs will be involved because that's not the case. Book bloggers are here for the community.
2. Only request ARCs that you want to read - When you've reached a certain point (usually around six months of active blogging), you can start to request ARCs. You should only request books that you want to read. If you get an ARC and decide not to read it, you're essentially taking it away from a reviewer who would have read and reviewed it. Advance reviews generate buzz, so it's best to pass on a book if you won't read and review it before it's published.
3. Sign up for an ARC tour - There are certain groups and authors that send out ARCs through snail mail. You don't get to keep the ARC, but you will be allotted a certain time to read it before sending it to another person. 
4. Enter giveaways - Goodreads always has giveaways, and many of these books are ARCs. This is how I got my first few ARCs, and it's nice, especially if you are just starting your blog.
5. Don't ask someone you don't know to send you their ARCs - I've had this happen. It's true that some bloggers (including me) will share their ARCs with other bloggers (if permitted by the publisher), but you can't just ask someone you don't really know to send you one. I'm all for sharing, but I share with the right people. I want to make sure that I get my ARCs back and that someone won't just steal them, so that's why I only share with my blogging friends or with trusted groups.
6. Do not engage in ARC drama - Too many times, I've heard about this happening. If you don't get an ARC, don't badmouth the author or publisher. It only makes you look bad, and it will probably cost you any ARCs in the future because you don't look professional.
7. Do not buy ARCs from other bloggers - This is something new I've noticed on Twitter and Instagram. People are selling their ARCs after they are done with them. This is illegal! They say "NOT FOR SALE" on the cover for a reason. Do not purchase any ARCs from another blogger because they are breaking the law. You should really report them to the publisher of that book. 

Now I want to hear from you! How do you prevent ARC envy? Have you ever had a case of it? What did you do to prevent ARC envy? Do you have any other tips to share with other bloggers?

Feel free to leave comments and share your thoughts, but please be kind, courteous, and professional. I don't want to see anyone naming names or calling out other bloggers.