Comp Titles: How To Find Them And Use Them To Sell Your Book

You may have seen agents or publishers ask for “comp titles” in their submission guidelines.  Comp title is just short for “comparable title.”  It’s an already published book that has something in common with your unpublished manuscript, and including it in your query or cover letter helps the agent or editor understand where your book would sit on the shelves of a bookstore, or what readers would be likely to purchase your book.  

What makes a good comp title?

Generally speaking, comps should be:

• The same genre as your manuscript

• Published in the last 5 years 

• Books that have sold relatively well

• Books that aren't so popular that they're over-comped (Agents and editors tend to roll their eyes when someone says they've written the next Harry Potter.)

You should try to include two comp titles in your query or cover letter.

How to utilize comp titles in a query letter

It’s not enough to just list the comp titles in your query or cover letter.  The whole point is to use the titles to convey a specific selling point of your book to the agent or editor and show them that you understand the market and where your book fits into it.

So instead of this: 

Some comp titles for my book would be I Love You Like No Otter by Rose Rossner and On The First Day of Kindergarten by Tish Rabe.  

Say this: 

My manuscript combines the sweet and silly puns of I Love You Like No Otter, by Rose Rossner, with the excitement and anticipation of the first day of school captured by Tish Rabe’s On The First Day of Kindergarten. 

Notice how the second version highlights the specific feature of each title that is similar to my manuscript, and gives the reader a clear idea of what to expect when they read it.

Do self-publishers need comp titles?

You might think that comp titles are only important for traditional publishing.  After all, if you are self-publishing, there aren’t going to be any agents or publishers asking you for comp titles…so why bother finding them?  

But, comp titles can be critical to a self-publisher’s success!  

First, knowing the market and making sure your book isn’t something that’s already been done is one of the first steps of the self-publishing process.  Researching and reading lots of comp titles can help you make sure your story is unique, and fills a true gap in the market.  

And second, when and if you get to the point where you want to run Amazon ads for your self-published book, knowing what titles are similar to yours can help you direct your ad spend to the right places.

Comp titles are important…but annoying

As a veteran author and author coach, I totally get the purpose of comp titles, but boy do I hate coming up with them!  I read a lot of picture books, and even I still draw a blank every time I have to come up with comp titles for a new manuscript. (And yes, you’ll still need to research comps even after you have an agent!)   

So, in an effort to help us both out, I've put together a list of tips.

5 Tips for Finding Comp Titles

1. First, remember that the comp titles don’t have to be EXACTLY the same as your manuscript.  In fact, that would be a bad thing!  So instead of looking for a funny book about a grumpy grandpa who is befriended by a stray dog…look for comp titles that have one major similarity to your book.  For example, maybe you can find a book with a similar theme.  Or a similar voice.  Or structure.  Even if the other elements of the book don’t match…that title can still tell an agent or editor something important about your story. 

2. Read a lot of newly released picture books regularly. As I said above, this isn’t a sure fire solution…you’ll still likely struggle to think of a great comp title right off the bat.  But, the more you expose yourself to newly released children’s books, the more likely you are to remember one that is similar to yours.  Make a habit of visiting the library or bookstore on a regular basis just to read a few new releases.  It’s a fun and relaxing thing to do, and it will also help you become a comp title expert!

3. Search Goodreads and Amazon to look for “similar titles.”  Both Goodreads and Amazon have this handy feature.  Search for your manuscript’s general topic or theme.  When you find a book that’s sort of close, scroll down and explore the “similar titles” section.  Following this rabbit hole can lead to better and better comps that you can  use to write a killer query letter. 

4. Watch read alouds on YouTube so you don’t have to buy the books. Once you’ve found a potential comp title, another challenge can be actually getting ahold of a copy to read.  You can always request it at your local library, or buy a copy - and those are great ways to support a fellow author!  But if you’re in a hurry or on a budget, YouTube can be a great resource!  I’ve found that many children’s books are featured on various read aloud channels.  Simply search YouTube for the title of the book you want to read + read aloud and see what pops up.  (And be sure to like and subscribe to the channel that helped you out!)  

5. Ask children’s librarians, teachers, critique partners, author groups, etc.  When all else fails, don’t hesitate to ask for help!  The people listed above are often experts in what’s new in the book world, and more than happy to lend a hand.  You don’t have to make them read your whole manuscript.  Just share your pitch (this is a great opportunity to write one!) and ask if they know of anything similar.  

The Bottom Line

In the end, my best advice when it comes to comp titles is…don’t stress!  Comps aren't likely to make or break your chances of snagging a publishing deal. They're just one small part of the query or cover letter, and honestly, you never know if that particular agent or editor will even have heard of the book you’re citing.  

But, in the highly competitive world of children's publishing, every little bit helps! And some great comp titles can give your submission that little something extra it needs to survive the slush pile.

Want a community of fellow children's book writers to cheer you on your publishing journey...and maybe help you find those pesky comps? Come join our Profitable Picture Books Community!