Your section on defining audience is right on. It’s a struggle for many authors to segment their target audience, even harder to be exclusionary. It feels counterintuitive for writers - but it is critical for positioning!
Yes! You nailed it. It feels so counterintuitive to indirectly say, “This might not be for this type of reader.” It goes against everything your rational brain feels when you’re trying to market and sell.
Question: I’ve taken so long to write my manuscript that my best comp is now more than 5 years old. I’m struggling to find a replacement that works as well. What’s better: having one of my comp titles be 6-7 years old, or choosing one that doesn’t fit quite as well but is more recent? (My second comp title is comfortably in the 2-3 year old range).
Great question. I’m actually working with another author on this exact issue. In my experience, having an excellent comp match that is slightly older is preferable to a more recent one that isn’t as good of a fit. As long as your second comp is more recent and both comps clearly define your book’s marketability, readership demand, and shelf placement, you’re good to go.
I've always been pretty clear about my book. They're coming-of-age romantasy novels featuring queer and transgender characters. The books feature a roller-coaster of emotions as the characters learn about growing up, relationships, while dealing with occasional homophobia and public scrutiny.
The only slight change from my theme is the current book I’m working on here on Substack. A Penny For Your Thoughts is an adult sapphic romance. While it doesn’t feature a coming-of-age arc, it does feature a coming-of-self as Penny discovers a new world she never knew existed. It’s still Romantacy, so I’ve not changed the theme there.
All the chapters are under this subgroup on my site. It could be that chapter 1 has been archived and dropped to paid, though.
Edit: it had been archived to paid. I removed the paywall for the first chapter, but the other chapters more than 30 days old will likely require a subscription.
Well the goal I guess is traditional publishing. Great. Now I have to find some comparable MG?YA fantasy series.... or I guess maybe to narrow it down to the ones that work best.
Ugh. Why can't I just write and let someone else do the rest?
(sorry. I'm done whining now. I'll put on my big boy pants and try to figure it out)
Absolutely. I’m sort of in the middle of editing book one… and about 4/5 through book two actually. It was originally going to be just one book, but it got a bit, what’s the word…long… so I found a great stopping point and lopped it in half.
Yes, ok, I remember we chatted about this a few months ago when I posted an essay about novel endings (I think). You have to reframe your mind in several ways when you split a longer book into two pieces. Well, keep me posted - you know where to find me when questions come to mind. :)
I don't feel like I fit in anywhere as an author yet I am always drawn to Umberto Eco and authors who write fiction with a philosophical slant in their writing. Currently, reading the Divine Comedy by Dante and the wheels are turning for my own Divine Comedy. Loneliness, isolation and finding God through AI.
Those themes resonate with so many people. When our external world is in turmoil, we turn inward to examine our own beliefs - how we see ourselves, how we relate (or not) to others, and how we experience this reality.
my doppelgänger :)
Don't be for everyone is such a valuable message to share, Allison Ink. Thank you.
My pleasure 🤍
Your section on defining audience is right on. It’s a struggle for many authors to segment their target audience, even harder to be exclusionary. It feels counterintuitive for writers - but it is critical for positioning!
Yes! You nailed it. It feels so counterintuitive to indirectly say, “This might not be for this type of reader.” It goes against everything your rational brain feels when you’re trying to market and sell.
Wherever I fit in, it must be in the past 🤓.
I feel this way a lot.
Question: I’ve taken so long to write my manuscript that my best comp is now more than 5 years old. I’m struggling to find a replacement that works as well. What’s better: having one of my comp titles be 6-7 years old, or choosing one that doesn’t fit quite as well but is more recent? (My second comp title is comfortably in the 2-3 year old range).
Great question. I’m actually working with another author on this exact issue. In my experience, having an excellent comp match that is slightly older is preferable to a more recent one that isn’t as good of a fit. As long as your second comp is more recent and both comps clearly define your book’s marketability, readership demand, and shelf placement, you’re good to go.
Amazing. Thank you! Wow the weight that just took off my brain. 🤣
Good!! 🤍🤍
Such important conversations! You always bring us so much to think about!!
Thank so much! I appreciate you. :)
Important considerations. Thank you. Love, Virg
Thanks for being here! :)
I've always been pretty clear about my book. They're coming-of-age romantasy novels featuring queer and transgender characters. The books feature a roller-coaster of emotions as the characters learn about growing up, relationships, while dealing with occasional homophobia and public scrutiny.
That’s awesome. I’m going to check it out.
That’s fantastic that you’ve been so clear about your writing, themes, and target audience. It helps readers feel seen.
The only slight change from my theme is the current book I’m working on here on Substack. A Penny For Your Thoughts is an adult sapphic romance. While it doesn’t feature a coming-of-age arc, it does feature a coming-of-self as Penny discovers a new world she never knew existed. It’s still Romantacy, so I’ve not changed the theme there.
Can you send me the link to chapter 1? I’m not seeing it in your list of posts. I know you’re many chapters in now, so maybe it’s hidden?
All the chapters are under this subgroup on my site. It could be that chapter 1 has been archived and dropped to paid, though.
Edit: it had been archived to paid. I removed the paywall for the first chapter, but the other chapters more than 30 days old will likely require a subscription.
https://dranemra.substack.com/s/a-penny-for-your-thoughts
I think I'm clear on my genre, but what's also clear is that I have a ton still to learn about all of this.
More and more I'm convinced that the easy part is writing the book and the hard part is, well, all the rest.
Comps? Honestly that never even occurred to me until right now.
Yep - agreed! “All the rest” is a lot, and it’s usually something you have to teach yourself through trial and error.
If you’re going trad, comps will be key. They are also used in self-publishing to help readers better understand the book, but it’s less formal.
Well the goal I guess is traditional publishing. Great. Now I have to find some comparable MG?YA fantasy series.... or I guess maybe to narrow it down to the ones that work best.
Ugh. Why can't I just write and let someone else do the rest?
(sorry. I'm done whining now. I'll put on my big boy pants and try to figure it out)
I feel ya! These parts of the process can be really challenging. And it helps other writers to know they’re not alone in feeling like this.
Let me know if you want more guidance, specifically for your MS, when you get to that phase.
Absolutely. I’m sort of in the middle of editing book one… and about 4/5 through book two actually. It was originally going to be just one book, but it got a bit, what’s the word…long… so I found a great stopping point and lopped it in half.
Yes, ok, I remember we chatted about this a few months ago when I posted an essay about novel endings (I think). You have to reframe your mind in several ways when you split a longer book into two pieces. Well, keep me posted - you know where to find me when questions come to mind. :)
Thank you!
It’s an evolving process.
Absolutely.
I don't feel like I fit in anywhere as an author yet I am always drawn to Umberto Eco and authors who write fiction with a philosophical slant in their writing. Currently, reading the Divine Comedy by Dante and the wheels are turning for my own Divine Comedy. Loneliness, isolation and finding God through AI.
Those themes resonate with so many people. When our external world is in turmoil, we turn inward to examine our own beliefs - how we see ourselves, how we relate (or not) to others, and how we experience this reality.