Help Please! Comparables I Don't Like

[BrianY]

As I'm continuing to work on my various projects, I keep coming across comparables that I didn't enjoy reading. Is this an issue? I'm not supposed to critique them, am I?

A zillion years ago, I was taught that the comparables section should praise every book mentioned, is this still the case? May I simply be diplomatic and without judgement?

 

[Sedayne]

Hi @BrianY

I'm interested to know the answer to this too.
The books I really love that I'd like to comp to in terms of style or voice are not necessarily where my book would fit for marketing. And I understand that it's the marketing hook that agents and publishers are after. So I end up comping to titles that I found okay but not wonderful for me as a reader.
I don't think I would want to comp to anything I really hated or didn't finish.

I don't think you need to critique your comps, but it might be helpful to add a reason for comparing e.g. it sits within the same area of interest as X or it's like Y in style and scope.

I don't know - I'm new to the querying biz.
It's a great question and I'm keen to know what others think.

 

[Rich.]

I remember @AgentPete once said that comps should be along the lines of "readers of X and Y will like my book." If that's the case, then it's all about marketing and where your book will sit in the bookshop; it's not about quality, per se, but rather sales.

And if that's the case, neither praise for nor criticism against the comps is necessary.

 

[AgentPete]

I remember @AgentPete once said that comps should be along the lines of "readers of X and Y will like my book." If that's the case, then it's all about marketing and where your book will sit in the bookshop; it's not about quality, per se, but rather sales.

And if that's the case, neither praise for nor criticism against the comps is necessary.

That’s exactly it, Brian.

If you want to refine this a bit, you might indicate how the market may have grown/developed/changed since the comp you’re referring to was published, and how your project meets that need. But I’d stop well short of criticizing the comp. For one thing, it’s quite likely that one of the publishers of that comp may be looking at your own proposal.

 

[BrianY]

I want to go on the record stating that I've never had a bad word for any title in one of my proposals! My plan was to leave it out if I had to compliment it.

This is looking good though. I believe I can create a very positive pitch using these sorts of phrases.