Mandatory Rules On: Requesting ARCs

If you've seen my Stacking the Shelves posts or my Monthly Recaps, you'll know that it takes a full UPS truck to deliver me my packages. Why is this? It's a simple answer, really. It's because I'm just so fabulous. And sorry honey, that kind of fabulousness is a birthright.

1. Sneak into the head office at night.
   I live in a fun place called Toronto where most of the big Canadian divisions are located. It's like the New York of Canada or something, but better obviously. Do you guys have a film festival and poutine? But back to my point. If you plan a trip to sneak into the head office at night and leave your business card all over the place, you're bound to get some ARCs!


2. Beg Demand from the author.
   Um, remember? Fabulous book bloggers don't beg. It's unbecoming and really pathetic. So what you do is you know that the author owes you because duh, isn't that how the authorxblogger relationship works? Demand ARCs from them on twitter or email and you'll be piling with ARCs!


3. Request [pretty much] the entire catalog in your email.
   You want it all! And no one should look at you weirdly. You deserve all those ARCs. So go ahead and list three pages of ARCs you want from a pub.


4. Request from divisions outside your country.
   Sometimes the Canadians are a let down, *sigh* So, desperate times call for desperate measures! Email the Americans or the UK or even Australia! Their editions are totally prettier, anyway.


5. Lie Bend the truth about your stats in your email.
   What happens when publishers want 3k pageviews a month and you only have 2.5? Well, 2.5 rounded up is 3k! Boom! That's how you get what you want: lie.
[Please see bottom for this point.]


6. Kidnap the head of the publisher's daughter or son.
   You've seen the movies! Why not do a ransom note? "I want all your highly anticipated ARCs or you'll never see your child again!" Mwahahahaha!


7. Make a bunch of random emails to request the same book more than once.
   Let's face it: sometimes the publisher is just jealous of you! It's totally normal but you have to be above the hate. Stay strong, my fabulous bloggers. So what you do is when you get a decline, get a new address and email address and request again. Keep doing this until you get the ARC you want.


8. Mooch off Demand from another blog
   This is for all the newbies *ugh* in the house. Remember that to climb to the top, you're going to have to step on a few people. Why not buddy up with some popular bloggers and get them to send their highly coveted ARCs to you? Especially 'cause they're so snobby and probably need a lesson in sharing.


9. Kind of an insane thought: be genuine and honest with your request and hope that you can get the ARC. If you can't, appreciate the ARCs you do have.
   I'm sorry guys. This is such a stupid point, I know. I'm totally giving you the wrong info here. Feel free to ignore this one. It's because I ran out of ideas. Let's just talk crazy, now, shall we?

Requesting ARCs is actually something that I initially found challenging. I actually have a format that I use when I send an email. It's the same layout every time. However, call it selfishness or my own originality, but I don't share it. I've been asked before to share it and I'm like, "dude, no. Make your own!" because I don't want someone copying my request. I think that it's all in the request and the you present your info. Once I started doing that, I started getting ARCs.

#5 - Do not do this. This is a dick move. I've heard of people doing this and just NO. Be honest and proud of your stats. Don't lie to get ARCs.

#8 - HOLY SHIZZLES. I felt like I needed to say this. I'm so glad I've never met anyone who does this but if your sole goal in blogging is for ARCs, I don't know if we can get along. People who go ARC crazy tend to annoy me because I feel like they don't even care about the blogging part. They just want the advanced reads.
Also, popular bloggers are NOT a device to get where you want. I love all my friends, populars and newbies and I treat them equally. You wouldn't try to steal an ARC off a newbie, don't do the same for an experienced blogger.
Big bloggers/experienced bloggers are not snobs. If you think this, you need to rethink your judgment skills.

#9 - I would never tell anyone how to run their blog, but 9 is what I strive to do. I don't want to feel ARC envy and I don't... usually. Because if you think about it, getting ONE ARC is privilege enough.