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 or full query, your synopsis, a brief bio, and your comp ideas. I will confirm receipt and send you an invoice. After I receive payment, I will send you an email with a date when you can expect your list. You will get approximately five titles from me. This service doesn't include a meeting. Just the comps. If you want to talk further, send me a note.
Comprehensive Comps – $150
You send me your full query or synopsis, a brief bio, and your comp ideas. I will confirm receipt and send you an invoice. After I receive payment I will send you a date when you can expect your list. You will get approximately eight titles. After you have the comps, please set up a 45-minute brainstorming session (via the Contact page).
Comp confusion? Don’t worry, it’s very common.
Send me an email and let me know which comp service you want. If you are not sure which service would benefit you most, make an appointment for a 30-minute consult here. You can also the a consult if you want to inquire about other services, like a query edit, a publication strategy consult, Punk Rock Publicity, or the Gut Check (sign up for the Gut Check directly here).
Please do not inquire about where your comps are until two working days after the date I told you to expect them.
TESTIMONIALS: KILLER COMPS
"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
Finding comps for your book can be a complex, frustrating task, but Lisa demystified the process and helped me discern the heart of my novel for comparative purposes. She brought her wealth of knowledge of both literature and the business to help find some recent, relevant titles. Recommend!
Christine Fischer Guy
I expected Lisa’s help with comp titles. I didn’t anticipate how well this narrow focus would help me clarify how to position my book—a tricky one—in the market. My conversation with Lisa has blown up my query letter in the best way. The emphasis has changed, sharpened. Even my title and subtitle. Who knew that such tectonic shifts could happen if you start out with comps. And Lisa. I recommend starting with Lisa.
Lea Page
I can't recommend Lisa's Killer Comps services enough, especially for the price. I felt like I was spending a lot of time guessing on comps until we spoke. Lisa helped me whittle down my list of titles and tighten language, and she recommended a category of book I hadn't thought to include. She also sharpened my query letter since we had extra time. I secured an agent in three-ish months, and he only asked me to add one comp to my proposal.
Caroline Hatchett