How Are Your Comps?

How are your comps? Be honest—most writers struggle with coming up with great comps. If you need help, you are in the right place.

What's a great comp? Something well-known that clearly resonates with your book. Ideally your comp is from the last two years, but within five years is okay. A comp can be a book, a TV show, a movie, or a cultural trend. It can use the "X crossed with Y" formulation, or "if X wrote Y" works too. But sometimes those seem trite, or too commercial, or not commercial enough. A straightforward comparison is the strongest expression of comps.

I’m glad you’re here. I can help.

Killer Comps

Comps are not about art. They are your strongest marketing tools. An agent or editor should immediately understand how to position your book based on comps. It's publishing shorthand, and it's vital to speak publishing when you enter the query/submission trenches.

There are two types of comps, primary and secondary. The primary comps are the most important, and the ones we all stress about. A primary comp should have something major in common with your book and must have demonstrated appeal to a wide audience. You can sprinkle secondary comps throughout your proposal. They should have an instructive relationship to your book: the subject, the style, the sensibility. A primary comp is sustenance. Secondary comps are seasoning.

How do you find the strongest comps? You ask your bookish friends. You fall into a research hole and end up on Amazon or Goodreads. You go to your local bookstore and say you liked book X, could they suggest something similar? You hope it's lying in wait on your bookshelves. Or you contact me.

Just the Comps – $75

You send me the elevator pitch and synopsis, a brief bio, and your comp ideas. After I receive payment, I will send you a list of possibilities. You will get at least five titles. This service doesn't include a meeting. Just the comps.

Comprehensive Comps – $150

You send me your full query if you have it, or you can send the synopsis, a bio, and your comp ideas. After I receive payment and have had time to review your materials, we set up a 45-minute brainstorming session (on the Contact page). You will get at least eight titles.

Comp confusion? Don’t worry, it’s very common. Send me an email and let me know which comp service you want. I will reply with payment information, what I’ll need from you, and a timeframe. It’s also fine to do this if you are not sure which service would benefit you most. We can discuss.

Comps services will generally take between one and two weeks. Please do not inquire about where your comps are until TWO WEEKS after the day you sent payment.

TESTIMONIALS

"Lisa’s comps service saved my query. She came up with titles and approaches I never could have found on my own. She also gave me sharp insight into the process." --Lisa Smith

“Lisa is infinitely knowledgeable about books, the marketplace, and how to locate your place in the literary landscape. Her attention to detail is only strengthened by her simultaneous ability to encourage writers to think big picture and at a macro level to understand how to describe their project. I’ve yet to debut my book yet, but working with Lisa has encouraged me to take the plunge and enter the query trenches. You won’t regret working with someone as insightful, thoughtful, and encouraging as her!” --Amanda Borquaye

"The comps recommended by Lisa Levy were spot-on, tapping into my manuscript’s themes and tone. I appreciate her analysis of the similarities and differences that qualify each as a great comp. I highly recommend her services as a go-to resource when crafting your book proposal and query." --Jess Simpson

"Lisa's comps were spot-on and pulled in so many titles I wouldn't have considered. Lisa's services saved me so much time, energy, and stress and made the comps process FUN!" --Emi Battaglia