Galleys in the Publishing Industry
Galleys, or ARCs (Advanced Readers Copies) are uncorrected proofs of a book sent out to specific readers prior to the release date of the book. For example, a Spring 2019 book may be printed Summer 2018. The Publishing company will only print about 200-300 copies, which is way less than the normal amount of first printings. These books are then sent to reviewers, authors, editors, proofreaders, and bookstores. These readers will then read the book while simultaneously looking for errors. They notify the publisher of any possible errors and then review the book right before publication in order to create a hype so that more people buy that book. Advanced readers receive the book in exchange for an honest review. Because these books are exclusive, they are not allowed to be resold due to the fact that the author does not profit from the sales of these books, and because the book has yet to be published. Since they are printed in such small qualities, they are actually more expensive to print and cost publishers quite a bit of money. Galleys are an important part of the publishing process, and the following information supports these claims.
ETYMOLOGY
Galley proofs or galleys are named because in the 1650’s print workers had to hand-set letterpress printing. A printer would set the page into a galley. Galleys were the metal trays in which type was laid. The lettering was then mechanically rolled onto a page. Since this was all done by hand, only a limited number of copies were printed for proofreading. Galley proofs historically named after galleys printed on a proof press.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The word Proof, within the perimeters of typography, dates back to the 1600s. The main goal of proofing is to create a device for verification that a job is accurate. Proofing usually consists of checking formatting, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. All of the necessary or optional suggested changes are marked on paper proofs. Proofs are edited or annotated the author, editor, and proofreaders. The printer or typesetter then makes note of the edits re-arranges and corrects the issues with the pages and arranges for the press workers to print the final or published copies.
GALLEYS AND ARCS
For all intents and purposes, galleys and ARCs are the same thing. Galleys were used to print one or two copies of a book for proofreading. Galleys tend to have more typos, but since galleys have become more digital, they aren’t usually printed at that stage of publication and therefore those types of edits are reviewed using’s ARCs. A galley comes after a manuscript in the publication process, but before ARCs. ARCs have, for the most part, replaced galleys as pre-publication review copies. ARCs are made specifically to send out to reviewers before the book’s publication. They may have some typos, and the interior design might not be completely done. They also sometimes have alternative covers.
PROOFREADERS VS. COPYEDITORS VS. READER REVIEWS
Within the proofreading process different types of people review a galley. A Proofreader checks a piece of work for grammatical errors such as punctuation, spelling, and formatting. A proofreader submits corrections to press workers for final copies. This is different from a copy editor. Copyeditors edit manuscripts to meet publication standards for accuracy and formatting. Copyeditors usually finalize layout before final printings but after proofreader corrections. In contrast, reader reviews have almost no bearing on the publication process. When specific reviewers or chosen for advanced readings, they are simply asked to report any errors found in the book, and for an honest review about their thoughts on the book. While this doesn’t directly affect the publication process, these reviews are important in creating publicity and effectively selling books.
PUBLICATION PROCESS
1. Manuscript
2. Galley Proof
3. ARC
4. Final Copy
COST ANALYSIS
The cost of Printing ARCs has many factors. First and foremost those factors are:
• Number of Pages
• Formatting
o Margins
o Line Spacing
o Font
o Titles & Headers
• Cover
• Graphics & Illustrations
• Certain Number of Minimum Orders
In theory, it is actually more costly to print ARCs then actual final copies of books due to the fact that you are printing a smaller amount and therefore the individual cost per item is much higher. Other factors that matter are whether you print in-house, or third party, and the cost of distribution of ARCs. Mailing Books to proofreaders and reviewers is not cheap. With media mail, shipping a single book costs about $3.50 within the U.S. Also, since ARC’s have no selling value, publishers don’t directly receive monetary gain. The one redeeming cost factor of distributing ARCs is the publicity gained from shared book reviews. Publishing companies recuperate funds spent on ARCs by hopefully selling more copies of the book after publication due to the influx in popularity from freely dispensing ARCs.
LEGAL MINUTIAE
The selling of ARCs for monetary gain is fundamentally illegal. While people have yet to be convicted of this crime, a person committing this act is essentially profiting from someone else’s work without their consent. In a sense, it’s piracy. But for the most part, it protects publishers from losing money and prevents large corporations like BooksAMillion or Barnes and Noble from profiting off of unfinished works.
GLOBAL EFFECT
More commonly now, digital copies of books can be created and reproduced, thus electronical copies are more easily distributed. With the advancements of technology, digital copies can be annotated right from tablets, computers, or smart devices. This makes ARCs more easily shared and dispersed around the world. It also cuts down own cost of printing and postal fees, which means they are more accessible globally.
GALLEYS IN THE MEDIA
Galleys and ARCs have become very mainstream in the writing and publishing community. Both authors and publisher receive invaluable feedback through the distribution of the uncorrected proofs. Large communities of readers and writers have grouped together on social media. One such community is the self-proclaimed “#Bookstagram” which uses Instagram and Twitter to share images of their book community. This social tag uses galleys and ARCs to share popular books. Within this community ARCs are treated as collectors’ items in which they are traded and shared. This group recognizes the importance of galleys in the publishing industry, and wants help publishers, readers, and authors by acknowledging the role that galleys play in the publication process.
Whether for reading or editing galleys have become a very important part of the writing and publishing industry. This tool, while initially very costly to produce has substantial social and monetary value in determining the worth of a published book. Authors, agent, proofreaders, copyeditors, press workers, and readers all play a very important role in creating a final copy of a novel, and galleys help with this process.
Work Cited
“Meaning of ‘Galley Proof’ in the English Dictionary.” GALLEY PROOF – Definition and Synonyms of Galley Proof in the English Dictionary, educalingo.com/en/dic-en/galley-proof.
Parker, William. “Case Study: Printing ARC Copies of Your Book.” Softpress Publishing, 9 Aug. 2018, softpresspublishing.com/case-study-printing-arcs/.
Staff, Writer's Relief. “Basic Vocabulary And Terms For The Publishing Industry.” Writer's Relief, Inc., 19 June 2018, writersrelief.com/blog/2010/03/basic-vocabulary-and-terms-for-the-publishing-industry/.
Sullivan, Kate. “Pre-Publication Copies: Galleys vs. ARCs and Why You Should Care.” TCK Publishing, TCK Publishing, 24 Aug. 2018, www.tckpublishing.com/advance-review-copies/.