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Episode 48: Craft, Comps, and Market Clarity with Story Deep Dive
Welcome to Story Deep Dive!
In this episode, Dana and Rachel dive into how to choose and use comps (comparable titles) as a powerful tool for both story craft and market positioning.
Whether you’re a writer, storyteller, or author building a career, you’ll gain valuable insights on what kinds of comps you need, how to read them intentionally, and how they help you understand your genre, your shelf, and your brand.
You can also watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube!
Estimate Timestamps
00:00 – Shenanigans, Bonus Month & Episode Setup
Dana and Rachel kick off with their usual playful banter about teaspoons vs. tablespoons of shenanigans and reintroduce Story Deep Dive as a podcast for writers who want to study books like craft labs, not just as readers. They explain that this is a bonus episode in a five-week month: instead of continuing their Twisted Love discussion, they’re zooming out to talk about comps—what they are, why they matter, and how they use them in their editing and coaching work.
04:30 – Year-End Chaos & ProWritingAid “What’s Next” Talks
Rachel shares how wild the end of the year feels—wrapping up projects, holidays, and speaking gigs. She talks about ProWritingAid’s October Preptober sessions and announces her December 8 “Drafting in Stages: Part 2” workshop, which focuses on how to approach and iterate on a second draft after NaNoWriMo. She’ll help writers avoid trying to fix everything at once and instead tackle revisions in layers and stages.
Dana follows with her own year-end update: juggling writing deadlines, planning 2025 workshops, and processing feedback from recent summits. She announces her December 10 ProWritingAid talk, “Series That Sell,” a follow-up to her wildly attended “Plot Accordion” workshop. Dana explains why one book isn’t enough for most careers and how series give readers a world to settle into—and writers a path to profitability.
14:55 – Boundaries, Rest, and Structuring the End of the Year
Dana shares how she structured her calendar so that her ProWritingAid talk will be her last Zoom event and client commitment of the year, including finishing all 2025 developmental edits and personal book obligations early. She explains how this prevents “bleed over” into her planned time off and models sustainable business practices. Rachel responds with admiration and talks about her own goal of building in similar buffers, joking about how easy it is for “two weeks off” to quietly shrink to one and a half when boundaries aren’t enforced.
20:00 – Why Comps Matter: From Vague Advice to Practical Strategy
Transitioning into the main topic, they frame comps as vital tools, not just query-letter window dressing. Dana notes that both she and Rachel have systematic comp processes they use with clients and that these systems have stabilized over the last couple of years. They emphasize that while this episode offers general guidance, the best comp strategy is highly specific to the individual writer, genre, and goals. Comps, they argue, are how you turn vague advice like “read more” into targeted, practical study.
22:10 – Rachel’s Four Types of Comps: Style, Plot, Genre, Problem-Specific
Rachel breaks down comps into four key categories so writers know exactly what each comp is meant to teach them:
Style Comps: Books you study for their line-level writing—voice, sentence rhythm, and density. She contrasts Leigh Bardugo’s lush, layered prose with Gillian Flynn’s sharp, efficient style to show how different styles can be equally powerful, and how a writer can decide what kind of prose they aspire to.
Plot Comps: Stories with a similar plot shape—heists, chosen one journeys, journalist-investigations, magical outsider stories, etc. These comps help you study pacing, complications, and how a four-act (or similar) structure plays out for your type of story.
Genre Comps: Books that clarify your category and subgenre—urban vs. high fantasy, cozy vs. thriller, dark romance vs. rom-com, etc. Genre comps reveal conventions, reader expectations, and standard “must-haves” for your lane.
Problem-Specific Comps: Targeted books you choose to solve a particular challenge—dual timelines, big casts, continuity, information management, character depth, or magic systems. These don’t have to be in your genre; you’re studying execution, not copying.
Rachel emphasizes that knowing what you’re looking for in a comp gives you clarity and purpose, whether you’re reading for inspiration, structure, or troubleshooting.
32:05 – Dana’s Why: Shelf, Genre Flow, Market Fit, and Brand
Dana zooms out to explain why comps matter beyond craft:
Know Your Shelf: She uses the old “walk into a bookstore and see who’s to your left and right” analogy. Comps help you figure out which authors you sit beside and which tropes, themes, and archetypes are standard in that space.
Know Your Genre Flow: Even if you and another author both use a four-act structure, the emotional rhythm and beat expression can be wildly different in romance vs. fantasy vs. crime. Comps show you how your genre moves, not just what it contains.
Know Where You Fit in the Market: Comps help you articulate where your work lands—soft vs. hard magic, steam level, tone, stakes, cast size, and setting. This is how you figure out “I’m like X and Y, but with Z twist.”
Know Your Brand: As you study comps, patterns emerge—what you always bring to the page, what kind of emotional payoff you deliver, and what readers can expect when they pick up one of your books. That clarity fuels both your creative decisions and your marketing.
Dana compares the process to an optometrist flipping lenses—“one or two?”—until your story and brand come into focus.
43:40 – How Writers Actually Use Comps Across Drafts and Skill Levels
Rachel explains how she adapts comp work to each writer. Newer writers often start with plot and genre comps to understand basic structure and expectations. More experienced writers may jump more quickly into problem-specific comps once they know what they’re trying to achieve. Style comps often become most relevant in second draft territory, when an author can see how their natural voice is landing and what they want to refine.
They also talk about the emotional and time investment of comp research. Rachel shares that she often spends hours digging through Amazon lists, reviews, Reddit threads, and recommendation chains to find the right study text for a client. The first book you pick is almost never perfect. Still, even the “misses” add to your repertoire and teach you what you do—and don’t—want to do.
57:30 – Red Flags, Frustration, and Why This Work is Worth It
Dana addresses a frequent issue: writers feeling frustrated when they can’t find a comp that does exactly what they want to do. Sometimes that’s a sign that what they’re trying to write hasn’t sold before—or hasn’t been market-viable. She encourages writers to remain flexible, realistic, and patient, and to see comp selection as a long game.
They both reinforce that you shouldn’t settle on one comp. You need at least three to five to distinguish genre norms from outliers and personal quirks. Reading books you dislike is not a waste; it reveals pitfalls and helps you refine your taste. Comp work, they insist, is lifelong if you want to keep improving and building a sustainable career.
01:07:00 – Comps, Queries, and Long-Term Career Strategy
Rachel loops back to remind writers seeking traditional publishing that the same comp work you do for your craft and positioning can powerfully inform your query letter comps. Agents want to know where you fit on the shelf, what books you’re in conversation with, and how you’re similar and different from successful titles.
Dana highlights that even for self-publishers, this is crucial. Understanding comps helps you talk clearly about what your book is, who it’s for, and why readers will care, which is the foundation of all effective marketing. She suggests thinking of comp reading as creating a personal curriculum—you might study magic systems one season, antiheroes the next, then deep-dive into romance tropes or layered character arcs.
01:14:25 – January Pick, December Episodes & Closing
As they wrap up, Dana invites listeners to share questions and thoughts at storydeepdive.com and to tell them if they’d like more episodes on comps and market positioning. They announce their January book selection: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, prompting Rachel to show off her beloved (and too-warm-for-the-Gulf-Coast) Mistborn Christmas sweater.
They tease upcoming December “Best Of” recap episodes, shorter but packed with craft takeaways to help writers close the year strong and step into the new one with purpose. Dana and Rachel sign off by reminding listeners to like, subscribe, review, and—of course—keep writing.
Book Selection
He has a heart of ice...but for her, he’d burn the world.
Alex Volkov is a devil blessed with the face of an angel and cursed with a past he can’t escape.
Driven by a tragedy that has haunted him for most of his life, his ruthless pursuits for success and vengeance leave little room for matters of the heart.
But when he’s forced to look after his best friend’s sister, he starts to feel something in his chest:
A crack.
A melt.
A fire that could end his world as he knew it.
***
Ava Chen is a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can’t remember.
But despite her broken past, she’s never stopped seeing the beauty in the world…including the heart beneath the icy exterior of a man she shouldn’t want.
Her brother’s best friend.
Her neighbor.
Her savior and her downfall.
Theirs is a love that was never supposed to happen—but when it does, it unleashes secrets that could destroy them both…and everything they hold dear.
Where to Find the Book
Twisted Love by Ana Huang is available in several formats. It’s also widely available in libraries and online retailers. Details on her website.
Next Episode:
In the next episode, Dana and Rachel will kick off their December “Best Of” series, recapping the year’s reads and pulling out the most powerful craft lessons on story structure, characters, and plot. These shorter episodes are designed to help you reflect on your own stories, identify growth edges, and set yourself up for a stronger writing year ahead. Be sure to tune in!
Join the Conversation:
Like what you heard?
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a writer friend who’s wrestling with comps.
Follow Story Deep Dive on your favorite podcast app and visit storydeepdive.com to:
Suggest future topics or books
Ask questions about comps, structure, or genre
Connect with Dana Pittman and Rachel Arsenault and stay in the loop on workshops, talks, and new episodes
Thanks for listening—and as Dana says, happy writing!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storydeepdive.substack.com
View all episodes
By Story Deep DiveWelcome to Story Deep Dive!
In this episode, Dana and Rachel dive into how to choose and use comps (comparable titles) as a powerful tool for both story craft and market positioning.
Whether you’re a writer, storyteller, or author building a career, you’ll gain valuable insights on what kinds of comps you need, how to read them intentionally, and how they help you understand your genre, your shelf, and your brand.
You can also watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube!
Estimate Timestamps
00:00 – Shenanigans, Bonus Month & Episode Setup
Dana and Rachel kick off with their usual playful banter about teaspoons vs. tablespoons of shenanigans and reintroduce Story Deep Dive as a podcast for writers who want to study books like craft labs, not just as readers. They explain that this is a bonus episode in a five-week month: instead of continuing their Twisted Love discussion, they’re zooming out to talk about comps—what they are, why they matter, and how they use them in their editing and coaching work.
04:30 – Year-End Chaos & ProWritingAid “What’s Next” Talks
Rachel shares how wild the end of the year feels—wrapping up projects, holidays, and speaking gigs. She talks about ProWritingAid’s October Preptober sessions and announces her December 8 “Drafting in Stages: Part 2” workshop, which focuses on how to approach and iterate on a second draft after NaNoWriMo. She’ll help writers avoid trying to fix everything at once and instead tackle revisions in layers and stages.
Dana follows with her own year-end update: juggling writing deadlines, planning 2025 workshops, and processing feedback from recent summits. She announces her December 10 ProWritingAid talk, “Series That Sell,” a follow-up to her wildly attended “Plot Accordion” workshop. Dana explains why one book isn’t enough for most careers and how series give readers a world to settle into—and writers a path to profitability.
14:55 – Boundaries, Rest, and Structuring the End of the Year
Dana shares how she structured her calendar so that her ProWritingAid talk will be her last Zoom event and client commitment of the year, including finishing all 2025 developmental edits and personal book obligations early. She explains how this prevents “bleed over” into her planned time off and models sustainable business practices. Rachel responds with admiration and talks about her own goal of building in similar buffers, joking about how easy it is for “two weeks off” to quietly shrink to one and a half when boundaries aren’t enforced.
20:00 – Why Comps Matter: From Vague Advice to Practical Strategy
Transitioning into the main topic, they frame comps as vital tools, not just query-letter window dressing. Dana notes that both she and Rachel have systematic comp processes they use with clients and that these systems have stabilized over the last couple of years. They emphasize that while this episode offers general guidance, the best comp strategy is highly specific to the individual writer, genre, and goals. Comps, they argue, are how you turn vague advice like “read more” into targeted, practical study.
22:10 – Rachel’s Four Types of Comps: Style, Plot, Genre, Problem-Specific
Rachel breaks down comps into four key categories so writers know exactly what each comp is meant to teach them:
Style Comps: Books you study for their line-level writing—voice, sentence rhythm, and density. She contrasts Leigh Bardugo’s lush, layered prose with Gillian Flynn’s sharp, efficient style to show how different styles can be equally powerful, and how a writer can decide what kind of prose they aspire to.
Plot Comps: Stories with a similar plot shape—heists, chosen one journeys, journalist-investigations, magical outsider stories, etc. These comps help you study pacing, complications, and how a four-act (or similar) structure plays out for your type of story.
Genre Comps: Books that clarify your category and subgenre—urban vs. high fantasy, cozy vs. thriller, dark romance vs. rom-com, etc. Genre comps reveal conventions, reader expectations, and standard “must-haves” for your lane.
Problem-Specific Comps: Targeted books you choose to solve a particular challenge—dual timelines, big casts, continuity, information management, character depth, or magic systems. These don’t have to be in your genre; you’re studying execution, not copying.
Rachel emphasizes that knowing what you’re looking for in a comp gives you clarity and purpose, whether you’re reading for inspiration, structure, or troubleshooting.
32:05 – Dana’s Why: Shelf, Genre Flow, Market Fit, and Brand
Dana zooms out to explain why comps matter beyond craft:
Know Your Shelf: She uses the old “walk into a bookstore and see who’s to your left and right” analogy. Comps help you figure out which authors you sit beside and which tropes, themes, and archetypes are standard in that space.
Know Your Genre Flow: Even if you and another author both use a four-act structure, the emotional rhythm and beat expression can be wildly different in romance vs. fantasy vs. crime. Comps show you how your genre moves, not just what it contains.
Know Where You Fit in the Market: Comps help you articulate where your work lands—soft vs. hard magic, steam level, tone, stakes, cast size, and setting. This is how you figure out “I’m like X and Y, but with Z twist.”
Know Your Brand: As you study comps, patterns emerge—what you always bring to the page, what kind of emotional payoff you deliver, and what readers can expect when they pick up one of your books. That clarity fuels both your creative decisions and your marketing.
Dana compares the process to an optometrist flipping lenses—“one or two?”—until your story and brand come into focus.
43:40 – How Writers Actually Use Comps Across Drafts and Skill Levels
Rachel explains how she adapts comp work to each writer. Newer writers often start with plot and genre comps to understand basic structure and expectations. More experienced writers may jump more quickly into problem-specific comps once they know what they’re trying to achieve. Style comps often become most relevant in second draft territory, when an author can see how their natural voice is landing and what they want to refine.
They also talk about the emotional and time investment of comp research. Rachel shares that she often spends hours digging through Amazon lists, reviews, Reddit threads, and recommendation chains to find the right study text for a client. The first book you pick is almost never perfect. Still, even the “misses” add to your repertoire and teach you what you do—and don’t—want to do.
57:30 – Red Flags, Frustration, and Why This Work is Worth It
Dana addresses a frequent issue: writers feeling frustrated when they can’t find a comp that does exactly what they want to do. Sometimes that’s a sign that what they’re trying to write hasn’t sold before—or hasn’t been market-viable. She encourages writers to remain flexible, realistic, and patient, and to see comp selection as a long game.
They both reinforce that you shouldn’t settle on one comp. You need at least three to five to distinguish genre norms from outliers and personal quirks. Reading books you dislike is not a waste; it reveals pitfalls and helps you refine your taste. Comp work, they insist, is lifelong if you want to keep improving and building a sustainable career.
01:07:00 – Comps, Queries, and Long-Term Career Strategy
Rachel loops back to remind writers seeking traditional publishing that the same comp work you do for your craft and positioning can powerfully inform your query letter comps. Agents want to know where you fit on the shelf, what books you’re in conversation with, and how you’re similar and different from successful titles.
Dana highlights that even for self-publishers, this is crucial. Understanding comps helps you talk clearly about what your book is, who it’s for, and why readers will care, which is the foundation of all effective marketing. She suggests thinking of comp reading as creating a personal curriculum—you might study magic systems one season, antiheroes the next, then deep-dive into romance tropes or layered character arcs.
01:14:25 – January Pick, December Episodes & Closing
As they wrap up, Dana invites listeners to share questions and thoughts at storydeepdive.com and to tell them if they’d like more episodes on comps and market positioning. They announce their January book selection: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, prompting Rachel to show off her beloved (and too-warm-for-the-Gulf-Coast) Mistborn Christmas sweater.
They tease upcoming December “Best Of” recap episodes, shorter but packed with craft takeaways to help writers close the year strong and step into the new one with purpose. Dana and Rachel sign off by reminding listeners to like, subscribe, review, and—of course—keep writing.
Book Selection
He has a heart of ice...but for her, he’d burn the world.
Alex Volkov is a devil blessed with the face of an angel and cursed with a past he can’t escape.
Driven by a tragedy that has haunted him for most of his life, his ruthless pursuits for success and vengeance leave little room for matters of the heart.
But when he’s forced to look after his best friend’s sister, he starts to feel something in his chest:
A crack.
A melt.
A fire that could end his world as he knew it.
***
Ava Chen is a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can’t remember.
But despite her broken past, she’s never stopped seeing the beauty in the world…including the heart beneath the icy exterior of a man she shouldn’t want.
Her brother’s best friend.
Her neighbor.
Her savior and her downfall.
Theirs is a love that was never supposed to happen—but when it does, it unleashes secrets that could destroy them both…and everything they hold dear.
Where to Find the Book
Twisted Love by Ana Huang is available in several formats. It’s also widely available in libraries and online retailers. Details on her website.
Next Episode:
In the next episode, Dana and Rachel will kick off their December “Best Of” series, recapping the year’s reads and pulling out the most powerful craft lessons on story structure, characters, and plot. These shorter episodes are designed to help you reflect on your own stories, identify growth edges, and set yourself up for a stronger writing year ahead. Be sure to tune in!
Join the Conversation:
Like what you heard?
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a writer friend who’s wrestling with comps.
Follow Story Deep Dive on your favorite podcast app and visit storydeepdive.com to:
Suggest future topics or books
Ask questions about comps, structure, or genre
Connect with Dana Pittman and Rachel Arsenault and stay in the loop on workshops, talks, and new episodes
Thanks for listening—and as Dana says, happy writing!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storydeepdive.substack.com