I think it’s very possible you’ve invented an incredible framework for thinking about comps, replacing all others! I would love to hear this from agents, too, but after listening to 8K episodes of The Sh*t No One Tells You About Writing, I will play faux expert for a minute and say that vibe and zeitgeist are incredibly useful for tone but also important for the way that books sell today (on Booktok, in competition with forms of entertainment, etc.). Thanks for breaking this down (loved your cover reveal/analysis too). I’m definitely going to be using your comp equation for querying my memoir.
I have heard the term "log line" but never before this "shout line" -- and the latter term has so much more, um, volume. Your fascinating breakdown of your shout line is as helpful as any workshop I've taken on writing query letters or prepping a novel. More cheers to you for wading into Canva to produce the Venn diagram. It could be a useful exercise to write a shout line first, I'm thinking — but it must be wondrous to be working with an editor who came up with that banger for your book (PS: thanks for linking to the "Bad Art Friend" story, which I'd somehow missed. Egads)!
Somehow “shout line” resonates more to me than “log line” ever did. Thank you! I spent a long time going through the shout lines on Amazon figuring this out 🤓
Brilliant breakdown! Never heard of a shout line, but it’s an interesting exercise to do for my own memoir. I never found comps but my publisher did eventually. I wonder if they’ll actually use them in the jacket copy.
Ooh, great post! I was writing this kind of copy for 15 years and never thought about it in these precise (and really accurate/effective) terms. Kind of a revelation, tbh. Your shout line is excellent and clearly you had really good instincts with the original query. Bravo to you and your editor 👏👏👏
I'm trying to come to a final 2 to 3 comps for the querying I'll do next month. I may not find an example of all three, but now I have a better feel for what I can look for. Thank you for this, very timely for me.
WOW, Laura, Your best post yet. That "zeitgeist comp" really has me thinking. I have been mixing it up on my queries with various comps, but the only one (yet) with a full request has what I thought was a risky comp -- a podcast that has the same vibe. I think you are on to something. Thanks for your excellent insights.
As a new author working on my third novel, though nothing published yet I’m reminded daily how much I still have to learn. While my writing has dramatically improved over the course of three books, I have a tremendous amount to learn about the business side of writing.
Please keep these posts coming. They are really helpful, especially the way you broke everything down and provided a clear explanation of each piece. Quite an education. Thank you!
I absolutely love your shout line, it's so compelling! I'm currently working on the query letter and comps for my second novel (as my first languishes in the query trenches), and this is an incredibly helpful way of breaking things down, so thank you! Also, I remain obsessed with the Bad Art Friend piece and still reference it often.
This is awesomely explained! My straightforward comp is Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn, my vibe comp is Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey, and my zeitgeist comp is I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue. All three of my comps kind of blend together to make my novel: a romantic comedy featuring an eccentric friend group, workplace drama, and Muppets. :)
I think it’s very possible you’ve invented an incredible framework for thinking about comps, replacing all others! I would love to hear this from agents, too, but after listening to 8K episodes of The Sh*t No One Tells You About Writing, I will play faux expert for a minute and say that vibe and zeitgeist are incredibly useful for tone but also important for the way that books sell today (on Booktok, in competition with forms of entertainment, etc.). Thanks for breaking this down (loved your cover reveal/analysis too). I’m definitely going to be using your comp equation for querying my memoir.
So so so true! Good luck! I want to know your comps ❤️
I have heard the term "log line" but never before this "shout line" -- and the latter term has so much more, um, volume. Your fascinating breakdown of your shout line is as helpful as any workshop I've taken on writing query letters or prepping a novel. More cheers to you for wading into Canva to produce the Venn diagram. It could be a useful exercise to write a shout line first, I'm thinking — but it must be wondrous to be working with an editor who came up with that banger for your book (PS: thanks for linking to the "Bad Art Friend" story, which I'd somehow missed. Egads)!
Somehow “shout line” resonates more to me than “log line” ever did. Thank you! I spent a long time going through the shout lines on Amazon figuring this out 🤓
Brilliant breakdown! Never heard of a shout line, but it’s an interesting exercise to do for my own memoir. I never found comps but my publisher did eventually. I wonder if they’ll actually use them in the jacket copy.
It’s good for marketing! I think 🧐
Ooh, great post! I was writing this kind of copy for 15 years and never thought about it in these precise (and really accurate/effective) terms. Kind of a revelation, tbh. Your shout line is excellent and clearly you had really good instincts with the original query. Bravo to you and your editor 👏👏👏
Thank you so much ---- this means a lot !!!!
I'm trying to come to a final 2 to 3 comps for the querying I'll do next month. I may not find an example of all three, but now I have a better feel for what I can look for. Thank you for this, very timely for me.
Thank you! I love hearing this. Good luck with the queries!
WOW, Laura, Your best post yet. That "zeitgeist comp" really has me thinking. I have been mixing it up on my queries with various comps, but the only one (yet) with a full request has what I thought was a risky comp -- a podcast that has the same vibe. I think you are on to something. Thanks for your excellent insights.
Thank you so much for this feedback! May I ask what comps you used? I am so interested in this--not only for querying but also for marketing!
Vibe comps! I'm going to be thinking about this for a while. Love your comps, btw.
Thank you!
I love this comp breakdown! The trifecta!
THE COMP TRIFECTA!
As a new author working on my third novel, though nothing published yet I’m reminded daily how much I still have to learn. While my writing has dramatically improved over the course of three books, I have a tremendous amount to learn about the business side of writing.
Please keep these posts coming. They are really helpful, especially the way you broke everything down and provided a clear explanation of each piece. Quite an education. Thank you!
Thank you for this! I felt the same way for years and years, which is why I wanted you to start this substack! There is always more to learn….
I absolutely love your shout line, it's so compelling! I'm currently working on the query letter and comps for my second novel (as my first languishes in the query trenches), and this is an incredibly helpful way of breaking things down, so thank you! Also, I remain obsessed with the Bad Art Friend piece and still reference it often.
Same too, so obsessed !
Love this Venn diagram for comps!
Sorry about the spelling error!!!
This is awesomely explained! My straightforward comp is Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn, my vibe comp is Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey, and my zeitgeist comp is I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue. All three of my comps kind of blend together to make my novel: a romantic comedy featuring an eccentric friend group, workplace drama, and Muppets. :)
Love this, Sara!! Thank you for sharing!