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SLUSHBUCKET STUDIO / AUTHOR HELP

Run your ARC campaign step by step

Create the campaign first, recruit readers, and attach the finished manuscript only when you are ready to deliver it.

1. Create your Author account and campaign

  1. Choose an Author membership on the public Authors page.
  2. Create your Author account or sign in to ARC Manager.
  3. Open Campaign Planning and choose a title and optional review deadline.
  4. Campaigns are created privately after sign-in and are never sent to SlushBucket for approval.
  5. Keep the manuscript status as pending while you recruit readers.

2. Screen, add, and invite readers

  1. Optional: add up to six screening questions in the campaign. Mark any question required, then save before sharing the link.
  2. Copy the campaign join link and share it in your newsletter, website, or private community. Readers submit an application from that link.
  3. Review applications in the campaign's Applications section and approve or decline each one. Approved readers return to the same link to sign in or create an account and join.
  4. You can also add a reader manually with their name and email; manual additions are already author-approved. Adding a reader alone does not send email.

3. Attach the finished book

  1. Choose Attach finished manuscript from the campaign.
  2. Upload a PDF or EPUB no larger than 20 MB.
  3. Check the manuscript version and review deadline before confirming.

4. Preview and send a watermarked copy

  1. Open the watermark preview to review the reader-specific notice.
  2. When ready, choose a reader who has accepted the invitation.
  3. Write your custom subject and message, then send the ARC. Delivery is queued so complex files do not hold the page open; the host worker completes watermarking and email.
The watermark contains the reader name, reader email, campaign name, issue date, and delivery ID. PDFs receive a readable footer; EPUBs receive an opening watermark page. Keep the footer clear of important manuscript content and review a sample before launch.

4a. Send to a Kobo eReader

  1. Use an EPUB manuscript and choose Kobo eReader (Kobo EPUB) in the Send ARC dialog.
  2. The server watermarks the EPUB first, then converts it to Kobo’s .kepub.epub format.
  3. The reader downloads the file, connects the Kobo to a computer, taps Connect, copies the file to the KOBOeReader drive, ejects, and unplugs.
Kobo delivery requires the server administrator to install kepubify and set KEPUBIFY_BIN in server/config.php. If it is not installed, the delivery stops safely and standard EPUB/PDF delivery remains available.

5. Follow up and close the campaign

  1. Track delivery, feedback, and public review links in ARC Manager.
  2. Use reminders respectfully and never require a positive review.
  3. When the book goes live, record its go-live date in the campaign. The campaign and its private ARC files are automatically deleted 120 days later.
  4. Before deletion, export anything you need to keep and revoke delivered copies if needed.

Need assistance?

For payment, SMTP, privacy, rights, or takedown questions, contact SlushBucket before sending unpublished material.

Contact supportARC privacy and copyright