Uploaded June 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
I'm currently querying my YA superhero book Powerless, and I recently realised that I don't have any good comps (comparison titles) to include in my query letter.
This is not a good sign - comps tell an agent or publisher how much of a market there is for a certain type of book, and I can't find anything published in 2020 or 2021 which is a good fit, which doesn't give me much confidence about the current market.
So now I'm trying to figure out what to do now - should I keep querying? Put the book on hold? Self-publish instead?
QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENTS:
- What would you do in this situation - keep querying, put the book on hold until the market/your success as an author changes, or self-publish?
- If you're a hybrid author, did you find that your self-publishing experience helped or hindered your ability to find a traditional book deal?
- How do you get past the 'is it good enough' concern when self-publishing?
FIND ME ONLINE:
Instagram: instagram.com/jp.writes
Website: jpwrites.co
Nanowrimo: nanowrimo.org/participants/jpwrites
#querytrenches #authortube #writer
I'm currently querying my YA superhero book Powerless, and I recently realised that I don't have any good comps (comparison titles) to include in my query letter.
This is not a good sign - comps tell an agent or publisher how much of a market there is for a certain type of book, and I can't find anything published in 2020 or 2021 which is a good fit, which doesn't give me much confidence about the current market.
So now I'm trying to figure out what to do now - should I keep querying? Put the book on hold? Self-publish instead?
QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENTS:
- What would you do in this situation - keep querying, put the book on hold until the market/your success as an author changes, or self-publish?
- If you're a hybrid author, did you find that your self-publishing experience helped or hindered your ability to find a traditional book deal?
- How do you get past the 'is it good enough' concern when self-publishing?
FIND ME ONLINE:
Instagram: instagram.com/jp.writes
Website: jpwrites.co
Nanowrimo: nanowrimo.org/participants/jpwrites
#querytrenches #authortube #writer
