Identifying comp (comparable) titles helps writers even before they start to query, demonstrating genre conventions and pointing out titles that are having success in a particular market. Comps are also an essential element of any pitch or query letter.

However, reading widely in a genre to find appropriate comps can feel like an impossible task. Knowing how to use those comps before the query process starts can be confusing as well, so what’s a writer to do?

Join Allegory Editing Developmental Editor Christine Pinto to learn how to pick the best comps for your project. We’ll cover what comps are, why you need them, and how to use them throughout writing, querying, and marketing any book.

Presenter Bio: As a developmental editor, Christine draws on her experience as a fiction writer and writing instructor. She holds a Certificate in Writing for Children and a Certificate in Editing from the University of Washington. Over a decade of experience teaching writing to children and adults, she has gained a deep understanding of the craft of writing and strong communication skills for sharing that knowledge with writers. Christine’s own journey as a writer informs her editing work with deep empathy for writers preparing a manuscript for publication. Her interests include historical and contemporary fiction, memoir, romance, fantasy, non-fiction, technical, business writing and writing for children.

Accessibility: Live, auto-transcription will be available. For ASL interpretation or other accommodation requests, please email andrea@allegoryediting.com

Contact the host of Writing Workshop: Comp Titles—Queries and Beyond