Finding comp titles for the novels or memoirs you are creating is important for a few reasons. First, seeking similar titles helps the writer actually see what has been published recently in their genre, on their topic. It shows the writer what’s selling and perhaps why.
However, you are not only reading a possible comp title to see how it is like your work-in-progress. You should be reading the title to see how your book fits into the literary landscape on the topic or in the genre. How is your book different from the titles that are already out there? It’s not that we want to write something that is exactly the same as what is already out there. We want to write on the same topic, or in the same genre, but handle the problem—or tension—in a unique way.
This is what makes writing so difficult. Creating a story with both internal and external tension is not cookie-cutter science. Yes, as writers we realize that certain plot points—I call them movements—need to happen at certain times in the story. I know particular genres need their “specifics” in stories, too.
But as far as I can see, it’s not the same old, same old—even in specific genres. In my YA adventures, I need more than just a different setting, a different national park. I need different external problems, different family situations, different characters who have specific internal troubles they are trying to overcome.
We read comp titles to see how our stories are similar just as much as to see how they are different.
Comp titles are also necessary for preparing a book proposal for traditional presses. Book publishing is a business. Gone are the days in which writers just sat and wrote.
Nuts! I was born too late. That’s what I like to do.
Now writers need to be marketers as well. That’s a whole other topic I’m just learning about. Please offer any tips you may have. Thanks!
However, I believe comp titles can help even small presses or self-publishers because comp titles show the writer what’s out there in that literary landscape. And knowing what’s out there will help the writer to market his or her books. Writers will know where to place their titles.
I’ve been looking for recent memoir titles to read dealing with education or personal experience in college. I’ve read Lab Girl by Hope Jahren, Educated by Tara Westover, and J.D. Vance’s memoir, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis. They all deal with the protagonist realizing he or she needed an education to move forward in life.
I may need to broaden my searches. I should consider inspirational works; the power of choices, of believing in yourself, of finding or beginning a dream and seeing it through with perseverance. I think there are different genres for memoir. I think there is one called “Life Experience.” I should go to Amazon and take a look at life experience memoirs.
*Please offer any recent memoir titles you’ve read that deal with life experiences; trying to better yourself or learning to believe in oneself, so I can add them to my reading list and see if they could be used as comp titles for my college memoir. I truly appreciate all your comments. They help me to move forward with my work.*
So how do you look for comp titles for your books? Please share any insight you may have here at Adventures in Writing.
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I've only read a couple memoirs and none of them dealt with that issue.
Never considered comp titles although I have made sure my titles were unique. Something new to think about!
Authors also sometimes use comp titles when writing their blurb for outlets like Amazon. I loved Tara Westover's memoir. I am Malala is also a memoir relating to education, but I'm not sure it's exactly what you're looking for. 🙂
I’m very familiar with this topic, Victoria, as I composed my memoir book proposal last year and have revised it (updated it) a couple of times since. The landscape changes quickly, but my favorite comp titles for my book are still popular ones. Yet, some publishers request researching and offering up comp titles that are up to four years old! Most request 4-8 comparative/competitive titles.
I did not read all the comp titles I came up with for my memoir. I wish I could, but it’s all taking so much time already and this memoir project of mine has been dragging enough.
Yes, it’s important to look for (and read) comp titles for the reasons you mention. The way I approached the books I didn’t read was by browsing the “look inside” part on Amazon, read the blurb, and read some of the reviews. That gave me a pretty good feel for the content and the voice of the writer, plus what appears similar and different to my manuscript.
Be careful to branch out too much with the topics/genres or you’ll never be done. I stuck to checking sailing memoirs, even though general travel memoirs might have a bigger audience.
Comp titles are also great for marketing. You can look at the covers to make sure your cover fits the genre. You can target the readers of the comp title for marketing or use the author as a target in Facebook marketing. Oh gosh, is there any time left to write?
Hi Victoria – really interesting … yet more work – but I'm sure whatever comes out will help one's book to sell more … Liesbet seems to add to your thoughts. I'd never heard of a 'comp title' before now!
Cheers Hilary
What D.E. Haggerty said. They are great for marketing, too. I've seen several writers do this on Twitter. This is a really great post full of valuable information. TY for sharing!
Don't feel bad, Victoria. There are more inspiring books than you and I have time to read. Hopefully, they'll fall into our laps when we need them. My titles are unusual, and I'm not yet sure it that's a good thing or a bad thing. Time will tell.
Looking for comp titles can be daunting, especially when your work falls into a specific genre for a niche audience. Thank you for this.
Great info. I learned a lot.
Excellent post! I've recently created a list of (new!) comp titles which I'll have to read to stay up to date 🙂
Ronel catching up for Feb Author Toolbox day Adding BookBub to Your Author Toolbox
Definitely something new to think about, Alex. Making sure our titles are unique is very important. However, it is always good to know where they fit on the larger book shelf, be it digital or real.
Thank you so much for your comment here at Adventures in Writing. Enjoy your week!
I Am Malala is on my to read list, Raimey. Thanks for mentioning it. Tara's memoir worried me. I guess it is because I'm a mother of daughters. It's scary how some parents can be obsessive in their beliefs.
It's always a pleasure seeing you here at Adventures in Writing. Thanks so much for your note. Have a great week!
Yikes! This is scary news, Liesbet. I knew you would know about this topic. Thank you so much for sharing your insight about comp titles here at Adventures in Writing. You are absolutely right. Sometimes I feel as though I'll never finish this manuscript or this process. Keep it contained, Vic, keep it contained. Again, thanks for all these tips!
It's always a pleasure seeing you here at Adventures in Writing. Thanks so much for your note. Have a great week!
This is so true, D.E. And no! Sometimes I feel there is never any time left to write. Thank you so much for sharing your insight about comp titles here at Adventures in Writing. It's truly appreciated. All best to you!
Liesbet is in the process of pitching her book to agents and publishers. She's prepared her book proposal.
Work! Work! You are right, Hilary! I'm hoping all this hard work will pay off. Thank you so much for your comment here at Adventures in Writing. It's truly appreciated. All best to you, my dear!
Hello and welcome to Adventures in Writing Maggie! Yes, I've heard Twitter helps with the pitching process as well.
Thank you so much for sharing your insight with Adventures in Writing followers. Enjoy your weekend!
This is so true, Joylene! We can only do so much. We definitely need to think positive or we will never finish, as Liesbet pointed out.
Thank you so much for your comment here at Adventures in Writing. Enjoy your week!
Searching for comp titles is extremely daunting, Dawn. However, I think it is a good thing for your work to fall into a "specific genre for a niche audience."
All the luck with your work in progress. Thanks so much for your note here at Adventures in Writing. All best to you!
Thank you for your kind words, Juneta. I truly appreciate your comment here at Adventures in Writing. All best to you!
Thank you for your kind words, Ronel. I truly appreciate them. Sometimes it seems impossible to "stay up to date" with my readings.
And thanks for your comment here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great week!
It's a little ironic that I'd never thought of looking for comp novels, since a good chuck of my day job involves comp properties. Thanks for the notion.
Hello and welcome to Adventures in Writing! I'm so glad you stopped by. It seems like you have an interesting day job.
Thank you so much for sharing here at Adventures in Writing. Enjoy your week!