Brand new to Substack - figuring it out and have read a handful of your posts now. They’re absolutely fantastic - honestly- and such a HUGE help to aspiring authors. What a brilliant resource - thank you!
Thanks Phoebe. Do you believe it matters how old the comp title is? I used an older comp which is well-known and I was referring to the magic + mother/daughter relationship.
A while ago I was having a discussion with an agent in a feedback session and she said pick something from the last 3 years, so it's relevant and current in terms of the sales/market.
Hello! No I don’t think this is something I’ve come across very often. It’s worth staying up to date and knowing what’s in the current market but it takes a while for books to become well-known and agents and editors often use comps older than 5 years. If something has done very well and is recent then yes that works but I wouldn’t say this is a hard and fast rule at all. Hope that’s helpful! Only my view and in my experience x
Thank you for another valuable insight into the industry. Coming up with comp titles is one of the things I've found the hardest in the past, just because it always felt dishonest or "not quite right". This explanation completely demystifies the concept of comp titles.
Thanks again for these insights. You add the 'comps' alongside the 'hook' and who is the 'author'. Can you give some examples or more info about the 'author' part of this? And which of those example agent emails did you get excited by...
I offered on the last three! But that was due to a variety of factors to be honest - the hook, quality of writing, space on my list - not just the comps. Re the author - we just want to know who the writer is, what their ambitions are, where they are based, previous publishing history or debut, etc. Hope that helps!
Eliza Clark one would have grabbed me. Just finished Boy Parts. Thrilling, original, honest and sticking the boot in a bit on 'class'. Penance is on the list.
A quick question on comps: at a recent presentation by a US agent, they said comps had to be books published in the last three years. Their exception: an older title revived by a recent TV or film adaptation (so Shardlake would qualify, but not Cadfael in historical crime, for example)>
Thoughts? It seemed a touch absolute, but understandable. Perhaps it is a US-specific thing.
Hi! I’ve never really heard this to be honest, we often use comps that are from further back if they’re well-known and successful. It’s good to have one that is current and relevant if possible but it still has to be recognisable. Thanks for reading!
Fascinating & useful to read that film or telly titles can also be added in.Thanks.
Brand new to Substack - figuring it out and have read a handful of your posts now. They’re absolutely fantastic - honestly- and such a HUGE help to aspiring authors. What a brilliant resource - thank you!
Ah thank you! I am glad to hear :)
Thanks Phoebe. Do you believe it matters how old the comp title is? I used an older comp which is well-known and I was referring to the magic + mother/daughter relationship.
A while ago I was having a discussion with an agent in a feedback session and she said pick something from the last 3 years, so it's relevant and current in terms of the sales/market.
Hello! No I don’t think this is something I’ve come across very often. It’s worth staying up to date and knowing what’s in the current market but it takes a while for books to become well-known and agents and editors often use comps older than 5 years. If something has done very well and is recent then yes that works but I wouldn’t say this is a hard and fast rule at all. Hope that’s helpful! Only my view and in my experience x
thank you, that makes me feel better. I just won’t pitch to that agent :-)
Another great piece Phoebe. I sometimes use comps in my Prima reviews so readers would have a clear idea of storyline or style.
Ooh that’s good to know too x
Thank you for this. Amazing and insightful as always and very much appreciated.
"don’t go too niche" That's for sure. Don't forget the goal for everyone you're pitching is making money.
True - and reaching readers
Yes Phoebe that's everything
Thank you for another valuable insight into the industry. Coming up with comp titles is one of the things I've found the hardest in the past, just because it always felt dishonest or "not quite right". This explanation completely demystifies the concept of comp titles.
I’m so glad it is helpful!
'Love this post! Here's my comps title phrase: “A chaste *Pretty Woman* in a Mennonite Mitford."
https://open.substack.com/pub/phoebelied/p/phoebe-lied?r=epkdn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you for reading!
I'd love to come up with one of these in the form of 'X meets Y and runs screaming in the opposite direction'!
Haha! Thanks for reading :)
Thanks again for these insights. You add the 'comps' alongside the 'hook' and who is the 'author'. Can you give some examples or more info about the 'author' part of this? And which of those example agent emails did you get excited by...
I offered on the last three! But that was due to a variety of factors to be honest - the hook, quality of writing, space on my list - not just the comps. Re the author - we just want to know who the writer is, what their ambitions are, where they are based, previous publishing history or debut, etc. Hope that helps!
Eliza Clark one would have grabbed me. Just finished Boy Parts. Thrilling, original, honest and sticking the boot in a bit on 'class'. Penance is on the list.
A quick question on comps: at a recent presentation by a US agent, they said comps had to be books published in the last three years. Their exception: an older title revived by a recent TV or film adaptation (so Shardlake would qualify, but not Cadfael in historical crime, for example)>
Thoughts? It seemed a touch absolute, but understandable. Perhaps it is a US-specific thing.
Yes it might be more US specific and it is good to look at recent comps but I don’t think that is a hard rule.
I've heard this as well. Or at the very most five years.
Hi! I’ve never really heard this to be honest, we often use comps that are from further back if they’re well-known and successful. It’s good to have one that is current and relevant if possible but it still has to be recognisable. Thanks for reading!
Interesting! It must be a U.S.-specific thing, then.