When talking with agents, editors, and even other writers, you often hear the question: What are your comps? Comparison (comp) titles are books that are similar to your manuscript. These comps help the other person quickly identify the type of book you have written. Comps can be very important for landing an agent for your book or gaining the attention of a reader. So, today I want to give some tips for selecting the best comp titles to make your book get the attention it deserves.
What Comps To Pick
When picking comp titles, you need to find works in your genre that are similar in tone, style, plot, theme, or characters. Please note, I said “or” in that list. Comps are not about finding a book exactly like yours (or else why would you write it?). You need to find just one aspect that draws a connecting line between the comp and your manuscript.
Now, comp titles need to follow a few guidelines. At least one (more if possible) needs to be released in the last three years. You also need at least two comps, but no more than three. The titles you pick should be bestsellers but not breakout novels. If you compare yourself to J.K. Rowling, James Patterson, or Brandon Sanderson, you will probably be laughed at and then dismissed.
Remember though, you can also use other media venues as comps. If there is a TV show, a video game, a legend, or a trending topic that ties great with your manuscript, feel free to use it as a comp. Just make sure you also reference a book for comparison as well. The main questions your comp titles are supposed to answer are:
- What is your book about?
- Who is your intended audience?
- How does it relate to what’s hot in your genre right now?
As long as your comp titles talk to one or more of these questions, then you have a good comparison to give to agents or readers. These questions help agents know where and how to sell your manuscript to publishers. Comp titles also help indie authors though, as it’s an easy way to get readers interested in buying your book. I once bought a book on the sole claim that it was “like Jack Frost but with autumn powers.” If you have a good comp that gives the reader a clear image of what to expect, you will sell books.
How To Present Comps
There are several ways to present your comps, but I’ve found three majors ways to go about it.
The (Qualifier) Of X With The (Qualifier) Of Y
When you list your comps, you need to specify what part of the book relates to yours. If I said my book was like Ender’s Game, every person may think of that differently. Would they think it’s a middle grade novel, a battle school novel, or an alien novel? But, if I say that my book follows a young genius like Ender’s Game, then you have a clear understanding of why I referenced Olson Scott Card’s novel.
Another example would be: A magical military school like Fourth Wing meets the mind games of The Atlas Six in the prose style of The Night Circus. I referenced three romance fantasy novels and gave a reason that each compares to the manuscript. Anyone familiar with the genre would have a good feel for the manuscript’s plot, tone, and intended audience.
For The Fans Of X and Y
Another way to use comps is to focus on the intended audience of your book. You can do this by listing specific authors or books. For instance, your manuscript could be for the romance fans of Karen Kingsbury and Tracie Peterson. Or, for the fans of The Land of Stories and Keeper of the Lost Cities. When doing this kind of comps though, you need to make sure there is a consistent theme between the two comparisons. That way there is no mistaking why you are referencing them.
It’s X But With Y Twist
The last common way to present your comp titles is to strongly associate with one comp while putting a twist on it. This is a great way to present a fairy tale retelling or any twists on classics. For example, the manuscript is Pocahontas but in space. Or, Die Hard but told in the style of Jane Austen. This kind of comp presentation is basically you saying that you’re taking a tried-and-true concept or trope and putting a spin on it.
Where To Find Comps
You’re probably saying, “That’s great, Liz, but where do I find my comps?” Great question! The answer: research. I know, nobody wants to hear that. But it takes hard work to find good comps. You have to discover them, read them, and see if anything clicks with your manuscript. Below are a few places you can search for books in your genre to find good comps.
Bookstores
One way to approach finding comps is to look at your genre section in bookstores. You can do this both in person or online. If you have a book you love but is too old to use as a comp, you can see what else is related to it. For instance, if you search for books on Amazon, there is a “more like this” or “products related to this item” where you can see similar books. These are usually based on popularity and what books the store is pushing at the moment. So, it’s not the most reliable place to search, but it can be a starting point.
Libraries
If you’re not good at research or need some help, you can go into your local library for help. If you tell the librarians about your book, they might be able to point you toward similar books. Librarians are so knowledgeable and tend to have great research skills. So, if the idea of searching for comp titles intimidates you, just as your friendly librarian for a little assistance.
Goodreads
Goodreads is a great resource for finding new books to read. If you search a novel you love, you can look at the “readers also enjoyed” section to see more like that book. This website doesn’t push titles as much since they aren’t a store, and they are reader-based so you can find trending books. However, the books with the most stars are usually the mega-sellers or older books. You’ll have to search the publication date for each to see when they were released.
Literature-map
Literature-map is a website where you can search for similar authors. You type in a name, and the results show a visual display of authors similar to that one. This is a good way to find new authors in a similar vein. You’ll have to search each author to see what they have out recently and if they match what you need, but it’s a great place to look for new voices in your genre.
NoveList
My absolute favorite place to find comps is Ebsco’s NoveList Plus website. This is a service purchased by libraries to help their readers find books they’ll love based on what they already like. You will have to reach out to your library to see if they have a way for you to access it, but it has been wonderful for comp title searches.
You search a title you love, and then the site will tell you about it and give you nine other titles similar to that book. The best part is the website dissects the books for you. When you click on a title, it lists the description, genre (including if it’s by a debut author!), themes, story line style, pace, tone, character types, and writing style. I’ve never found a more accurate and easy way to find a book that fits a specific type. You still obviously need to read the books to see if they will make a good comp, but I’ve very rarely been disappointed by the books I picked through NoveList.
Final Thoughts
Comp titles can be intimidating to find, but the good news is the search is just doing what you love—reading books! I’ve given you some great places to start, and, once you find your comps, it’s easy to create a snappy way to present them to your agent, editor, and readers. So get reading, and good luck!
Thanks for reading!
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