So You Need a Comp Book? Let’s Avoid Cringe and Find Your Book’s Literary BFF

Comparables

All right, aspiring J.K. Rowling or wannabe Hemingway. (I know they are both problematic, but who isn’t?) Let’s talk comp books. You know, those “comparables” that make agents nod like wise owls instead of side-eyeing your query letter like it’s a suspicious casserole at a potluck. Finding comps is like Tinder for your manuscript—swipe right on the wrong match, and suddenly your gritty noir thriller gets compared to Nancy Drew. Let’s not do that.

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Why Bother? (Your Book’s Ego Needs This).

Agents have the attention span of goldfish (with coffee). They’re busy. So busy. Saying your book is Crescent City meets War and Peace tells them you’ve done the homework. Bonus: It proves you’re not living in 2008.

Readers Are Picky Eaters.

Ever tried recommending sushi to a pizza purist? Comps are your “If you liked this, you’ll love my thing” magic. Example: “Fans of The Silent Patient who also enjoy knitting dramas.” (Niche, but own it).

Your Book Needs a Mirror.

Comps help you see if your “dark academia masterpiece” accidentally became Riverdale fanfic. It’s like holding your manuscript up to a literary funhouse mirror—distorted, but enlightening.

Your audience is waiting.

The audience that loved Pride and Prejudice may be jonesing for a similar book.

How did they market their book?

A writer is someone who pays attention to the world. An author uses that knowledge to sell their book.

How to Find Comps Without Crying in a Library.

Step 1: Diagnose Your Book’s Vibe

Is it a “cozy mystery where the cat solves crimes” or a “sci-fi epic where space dragons debate philosophy”? Be specific. “It’s, like, funny but sad” isn’t a genre. Neither is “It’s unique.” (Nothing’s unique. Shakespeare did it.)

Step 2: Stalk BookTok (For research)

Scour TikTok, Goodreads, and that one aunt who reads 300 books a year. Search keywords like “spicy Viking romance” or “sapphic haunted tractor lit.” Pro tip: Filter by “published in the last 5 years” unless you want to comp Moby-Dick. (Agents will assume you’re 163 years old.)

Step 3: Embrace the Algorithm

Amazon’s “Customers Also Bought” is your frenemy. Type your book’s soul into the search bar. Example: “YA fantasy with sarcastic mermaids.” If it suggests The Little Mermaid but with more angst, congrats—you’ve found a comp.

Step 4: Ask Humans (Scary, I Know)

Librarians: walking encyclopedias who’ve read everything. Beta readers: friends you’ve bribed with cookies. Ask them, “What does this remind you of?” If they say Twilight and your book’s about tax law, panic.

Step 5: Read. Yes, Actually Read It.

Skimming Wikipedia summaries won’t cut it. If you comp The Hunger Games, you better know if your protagonist is Katniss or just “hangry.” Read your comps. Take notes. Judge their covers. It’s research, not a hobby (actually it’s both).

Pitfalls to Avoid (Unless You Want Rejection).

- The Humblebrag Comp: “It’s Ulysses meets Harry Potter!” Cool. It’s also unmarketable.

- The Obsolete Comp: Comparing your book to The DaVinci Code in 2023.

- The Vague Comp: “It’s like Pride and Prejudice … but in SPACE!” (Okay, I’d read that. But still.)

The Golden Rule

Your comps should say: “I’m fresh, but I won’t scare the industry.” Think of it like a first date outfit—trendy enough to impress, familiar enough to say, “I won’t kidnap your cat.”

So go forth! Find those comps. And if all else fails, just say it’s Gilmore Girls vibes but with more murder.” Someone might buy it.

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WinWin

by Liz Dubelman

WinWin (a continuing story read here or read the summary below)

Summary:
Betty, a financially struggling 60-year-old woman, embarks on a series of unconventional ventures to rebuild her life after squandering her savings on a fleeting romance with a younger man. Her journey begins with failed attempts as a dog walker and house sitter, followed by a brief stint as a YouTube sensation sharing humorous senior-centric content. She pivots to selling homemade pickles at a farmer’s market, partnering with a kale-chip vendor to create a popular snack combo, which leads to a bar collaboration and a budding romantic interest.

Betty’s most audacious venture is WinWin, a controversial app connecting terminally ill individuals with those seeking vigilante justice against corrupt figures. Despite ethical and legal backlash, the app gains viral traction, attracting investors and media frenzy. However, scrutiny from law enforcement and a high-profile scandal involving an undercover cop threaten to dismantle the project. Betty navigates public criticism, legal battles, and moral dilemmas with unyielding resolve, framing WinWin as a tool for societal accountability.

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DOJ vs. WinWin

Two weeks later, the DOJ’s case against WinWin moved faster than a vegan at a bacon festival. The investigation uncovered records of matches that “allegedly” resulted in “minor incidents”—like Kessler’s CEO-yeeting spree and a recent vendetta that ended with a corrupt lobbyist getting “accidentally” pushed into a shark tank at SeaWorld. Armed with PowerPoints titled “This App is Basically Death eBay,” the DOJ painted WinWin as a corporation that “monetized moral anarchy.”

In court, Betty swaggered to the stand wearing a blazer bedazzled with the slogan “Disrupt or Die.” The prosecutor, a man whose face screamed, “I audit fun for a living,” began his interrogation.

Prosecutor: “Ms. Greer, your app has been linked to seven deaths, including a CEO who was found duct-taped to a Ferris wheel with a manifesto stuffed in his pocket. How do you justify this?”

Betty: “First off, Ferris wheels are romantic. Second, WinWin doesn’t link people—we empower them. If Uber isn’t responsible for drunk hookups, and Twitter isn’t liable for crypto scams, why am I the villain here? We’re just… facilitating closure.”

Prosecutor (sputtering): “Closure? You’re running a murder marketplace!”

Betty (leaning forward, stage-whispering): “Sir, if I wanted to run a murder marketplace, I’d sell pitchforks on Etsy. WinWin is a philosophy. Think of it as Tinder for terminal altruism. Swipe left for mediocrity, swipe right for legacy.”

The courtroom erupted. A juror snorted so loudly they had to pause for recess.

The Reckoning

As the legal battle dragged on, internal emails leaked to the press—courtesy of Sheila, who’d accidentally CC’d TMZ on a rant about Betty’s “pyromaniac leadership.” The headlines wrote themselves:

“WinWin Staff Warned Founder: ‘This App is a Lawsuit Smoothie!’”

Leaked Email Reveals Betty’s Motto: ‘Ethics are Just Speed Bumps for Genius.’”

One email from Jamal, the anxiety-riddled coder, read: “Betty, the algorithm just matched a nun with a guy whose bio says, ‘Looking to yeet a tax evader into the sun.’ Should we maybe… not?”

Betty’s reply: “Jamal, sweetie, nuns have rage too. Let her cook. —B”

Another from Sheila: “Reminder: Our liability insurance covers ‘accidental arson,’ not ‘premeditated societal collapse.’ Just saying.”

The media frenzy hit peak absurdity when Fox & Friends debated whether WinWin violated the “Vigilante Clause” of the Constitution (there isn’t one) and a TikTok influencer live-streamed her attempt to “WinWin my ex.”

Betty’s “Motivational” Speech to the Team

Betty stormed into the office holding a stress ball shaped like a grenade. “Listen up, my little anarchists! The DOJ thinks we’re reckless? Good. Reckless built the Titanic! Reckless invented the cronut! And unlike the Titanic, we have lifeboats… probably!”

Sheila, sipping what was definitely vodka in a coffee mug, muttered, “Our lifeboat is a class-action lawsuit.”

Betty ignored her. A junior developer raised a hand. “But what if we’re actually, y’know, evil?”

Betty grinned. “Honey, ‘evil’ is a PR problem. Now, who’s ready to draft a ‘Sorry Not Sorry’ press release and trademark ‘Legacy™’?”

As Betty left court, a reporter shoved a mic in her face: “Ms. Greer! Any comment on rumors the DOJ’s lead prosecutor just matched with a terminally ill climate activist?”

Betty adjusted her sunglasses (pink lenses, naturally). “Let’s just say… karma’s got a fantastic user rating.”