Here’s the deal. As you start to work on finding an agent for your novel, you will need to find published novels that are comparable to yours. Agents will expect you to produce a list of 6 – 10 RECENT published works, NOT including outliers (i.e. Fifty Shades of Grey) to which you can compare your manuscript.
Here’s some questions, asked and answered, on this task:
#1 Comparable how?
You can compare your work to works of others by genre, character, theme, plot, setting.
Rachelle Gardner, an agent, succinctly narrows it down. She suggests writers ask two questions:
- Who are my readers?
- What are they reading?
I like thinking about my future readers. First, it keeps me motivated (As in, they won’t be able to actually read this novel if I don’t finish revising it for them). And, second, it’s good to picture the life you want (me, published, and the reader, reading my novel).
So, picture your reader making a trip to her local bookstore to stock up for her summer reading. Sure, your novel is in the pile, but what else does she pick up?
#2 Why? (Whining…) Why do prospective agents want a comparable titles list?
*It helps them know if your novel is a good fit for their list
*It shows you’ve done your homework, and that you know where your work will fit in the current marketplace
*It shows you’re knowledgeable about this business (which, it is, and which you are, right?)
*It shows what kind of author brand you’re working toward.
#3 When do you share a comparable titles list?
Initially, you’ll use the list when pitching or querying a prospective agent. Then, it helps your agent sell your work. Finally, it will help publishers and book sellers actually sell the book to readers.
#4 What was that? You can’t find any comparable titles because you’re so original?
That’s precious. Don’t be that writer.
In Season 7 of the Real Housewives of NYC, one of the cast members, Sonja Morgan, was developing a new clothing line and was asked what other brands her clothing line could be compared to. She was literally unable to provide a comparison. It was just impossible. It didn’t make her clothing line sound original. Instead, it sounded unrealistic and portrayed a woman who was hard to work with.
#5 How to find the comparable titles?
Go to a bookstore and find your genre section. Talk to a book seller or librarian and tell them about your characters, plot, or setting.
Without leaving your home, you can check out the lists available on Goodreads. Use the Amazon search engine. It will provide ample suggestions.
A beta reader can often make a connection that will lead you to a fine comparable title.
And finally, remember what inspired you to write the book in the first place.
#6 How to organize this list of 6-10 comparative titles?
Same way you do for any of your writing – in a way that works best for you. I like separate composition books for each part of my writing life. I have one entitled Comps. (And one for this blog. And one for each conference. And…)
Or a spread sheet. Or a word document.
#7 What details to include on the list?
Author, title, date of publication, publisher, how you found the book, the type of similarity, agent, editor.
You won’t need every detail for every step of the way. But as your baby book grows up into a full grown novel, you can access this information as you proceed down your publishing path.
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