Querying and Comps


After sending out seven queries and hearing "no's" from two agents and nothing from the other five (hearing nothing if it's a "no" is the norm), I'm on to Step 2 of the query process--revising my letter and first five pages.

I hired a professional to give feedback on my query letter and just received her notes today. Her wordsmithing is fantastic and I'm super pumped about the helpful critique she sent.

But she also said one of my comps worked, but the other two don't. Ugh. I thought they were perfect.
Finding comps is SO HARD!

Amazing Grace Adams, about a mom who has a complicated relationship with her teenage daughter and has finally been pushed too far, was marketed as humorous; therefore, not a comp.
 
Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance was marketed as coming-of-age and romance; therefore, not a comp.

She did say "the voice of books by J. Courtney Sullivan" was spot-on. One out of three isn't great.

So, if you have suggestions of books, TV shows or movies that fit the following parameters...

1) a parent and teen are in conflict with one another,
OR a family is grieving;

AND

2) It's only been published in the last three years (two is better)

AND

3) It has at least 10,000 reviews on Goodreads but not more than 100,000
(can't be a best seller but needs to be a good seller),
THEN it can be considered a comp. 

If you've read anything along these lines, send me your suggestions.


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