Coming up with the dreaded comp titles for your query letter or elevator pitch doesn’t have to be a chore. Here’s why you need them and how to make looking for them (a little) more fun.

“What’s your book about?” It’s the question that every writer dreads. Honestly, how do you summarize your life’s work in a few sentences? 

If you’re like me, you take a big breath and then after a few hems-and-haws, you spiral into describing subplots, secondary characters, and how much chocolate you ate while finishing up that last draft. And the worst part is seeing the person’s eyes glaze over, wishing they had just asked about the weather instead.

This is fine if you’re talking with your friends, family, or critique partners, but not okay if you’re querying an agent or pitching your story to industry experts at a conference (which we’ll hopefully do in-person again soon).

Comp titles to the rescue! Comparison titles, if you want to be formal.

WHY YOU NEED COMP TITLES 

Published or not, you’ll need comp titles no matter where you are on your writing journey. Well-chosen comp titles will make it easy for agents, editors, publishers, booksellers, and readers to quickly understand the content and tone of your story. In particular, publishing teams rely heavily on comp titles to help with marketing and sales projections. Before your agent or editor asks, have your comps ready.

WHEN AND WHERE TO USE COMP TITLES

Your query letter will be stronger if you use comp titles. You’ll show an agent that you’re a well-read writer and know your genre. Even though your story is unique, you’re proving that there’s a place in the market for your story, and that’s important for an editor to know before they acquire your manuscript. And, don’t forget about those pitch-fests when the clock is ticking, using comp titles can quickly explain the essence of your story. The SCBWI is a great resource for writers and had this to say about preparing for online pitch contests.

HOW TO PICK YOUR COMP TITLES

This is the fun part. Well, mostly fun. It can be stressful, because you need to pick your comp titles wisely. Think of it as doing detective work and use both online and offline resources to sleuth out your comp titles.

Search for books that have an obvious connection or similarity to your story in one or more of the following areas: theme, tone, style, voice, subject. You want books that have been published within the last five years and are commercially successful, but not major bestsellers. You can use a classic, but it’s best for stories that are retellings or adaptations. Stay away from super trendy books or you’ll just look like a copycat.

Nothing beats talking about books in-person, or over Zoom, so ask your critique partners and well-read friends for suggestions. Don’t forget to make friends with your local booksellers and librarians. They’re always willing to talk books and usually have strong opinions on where a book should be shelved. 

Goodreads and Amazon are excellent places to research titles online plus they both have helpful algorithms that will provide you with a list of others to dig into for comparison. 

On Goodreads, create a bookshelf for your story. Then, on the left menu, click on “Recommendations,” and Goodreads will do the work for you. Also, when you view any book, on the right side they’ll show you “Readers also enjoyed.”

For Amazon, you can use the “Advanced Search” that has a large selection of sorting fields for you to narrow down your list. A good place to start is with Keywords, Subject, Reader Age, and Published Date. Of course, Amazon has an overwhelming amount of information and you could easily go into data overload. Amazon lets an author put their book in up to three categories, so first confirm a potential comp title’s category. Next you can read the publisher’s synopsis, editorial reviews and reader reviews. And for more comp ideas, at the bottom of the page Amazon has their “Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought” feature to see what other books have a similar readership. 

FORMAT OF COMP TITLES

There are three formats that are used for comps.

“It’s X meets Y” – This is best for a high concept story, and uses two unexpected titles but the combination makes your concept immediately understandable.

“It’s X but with Y” – This works when you have only one comp title but with a twist. The “but” is the game changer for your story. A classic title works well with this format.

 “If you like X, you'll like Y” – This works best for quieter stories and explains who’s your target audience. 

SUMMARY

No surprise here, but the best way to find comp titles is to read, read, read. Read widely in your genre so you know the market and know where your story fits best. Personally, I keep a list of potential comps for my current work-in-progress so I’m ready when it’s time to write my query. It’s never too early to be on the lookout for a good comp title.

Ready to put your submission to the test? We run our StorySnobs pitch contest for a $5 entry fee and a chance to win a FREE submission editing package. Check out our Workshops page to register for the next one!