What are 'Comp' Titles & Why Do We Need Them?

Book Coach Corner

I just want to start with a big Thank You for being here and taking the time in your busy day to read or listen to my words. In a world full of ‘stuff’ to be doing and places to be … you are here and I don’t take it for granted.

This year I have been making a concerted effort to write and share something each week - It’s a little challenge I have set myself and I’m thrilled that you are here with me.

So far, I have shared snippets of my own story within a blend of outdoorsy and writerly linked analogies … But today I am venturing into book coach corner … a cosy place for writing specific chat.

I thought I’d start with comp titles because …

1. They are a useful, simple, and often fun way to help writers imagine where their book will sit on the bookshop shelf (and which titles they will be next to).

2. I’ve started looking at comp titles for my memoir-in-progress (Motherhood, Millie, and Me)

3. A few years ago, a friend tagged me on a Facebook ‘challenge’ to list my top favourite books. I never did it at the time … but better late than never I’m sharing some titles now … with a twist …

First off …

What is a ‘Comp’ Title?

Well, the ‘comp’ part is an abbreviation … but exactly what it’s an abbreviation for varies depending on who you talk to or what you read.

The two most common versions are competitive or comparison, but I have also seen it referred to as complimentary titles.

Regardless of the full name, a ‘comp’ title simply refers to an already published book that YOUR book could be similar to or share a certain characteristic of.

Personally, I prefer the term ‘comparison’ title because it allows for both books to be read and support each other - whereas ‘competitive’ gives an either /or energy.

Why Do We Need Comp Titles?

Regardless of which publishing path you take (traditional, independent, and hybrid being typical routes) a comp title helps others see where the new book will fit into the grand scheme of things.

Who needs to know?

1. Traditional publishers and agents

2. YOU - The author or writer

When pitching a non-fiction book to an agent or publisher, it is usual to create a book proposal rather than actually writing the full book. Think of it like sharing a product idea with a manufacturer.

A book proposal has many sections including an overview of the book, a marketing plan, and yes … comp titles.

Publishers need to know where they can place a book in terms of genre and topic and what it will add to the books already out there.

Even if you publish independently (self-publishing) or through a hybrid publisher, knowing your market is super useful - and being clear on your comp titles is a big part of that.

What About Novels & Memoirs?

Novels don’t require book proposals, as such, because most agents and publishers want the full manuscript to be written before pitching.

Memoirs tend to span both camps and frequently require both a finished manuscript and a book proposal.

However, both fiction and non-fiction writers can share comp titles in their query letter. This helps an agent see the author’s vision easily and quickly.

My Favourite Way of Looking at Comp Titles

I like to imagine that a group of books are going out … maybe to a cafe, the pub, on an adventure, or even round to dinner at one of their houses.

Then I ask myself a few questions

1. Which books would ‘my’ book (or my writing client’s book) naturally sit with, talk to, walk next to?

2. What does my book add to the conversation?

3. How is it different?

4. How is it similar?

5. Which books would my book trust the most?

By answering these questions, we build up a meaningful picture of how we envisage our book (or books) showing up in the world.

It’s okay if the other books feel older or wiser, if they are shorter or longer, or if they wouldn’t all necessarily meet up in the same place at the same time.

The important thing is that your book … my book … can in some way relate to others in the ‘comp’ group.

Usually, this would be through topic, tone, or story, but it could also be based on structure or even a shared reader cohort.

To take it one step further imagine the authors there too

Who do you feel comfortable with? Who are you intimidated by? Who has been where you are now?

There are no right or wrong answers … and some authors or books might feel like a real stretch.

Having an initial long-list of 8 - 10 (or more) books means you can narrow down later to find the three or four which will make it into the proposal.

My Long-List Comp Titles for Motherhood, Millie, & Me

six of my long-listed ‘comp’ titles

On first ‘inspection’ my book-in-progress sits within a fairly niche market … women and men who have struggled with not becoming parents … often known as ‘childlessness'.

But it also covers personal transformation, redefining hope, purpose, adventure, belonging, and of course … becoming a dog-mum.

‘Childless’ is a term that challenges me because it feels like such a heavy energy, but referring to it does mean my book can more easily be placed into a category … and crucially that readers could find me.

In many ways, it’s all conjecture … as I don’t yet have a finished manuscript to pitch or market but I do know that my future book is bolder than me!

And one day, she (Motherhood, Millie, & Me) would love to sit next to the books that she looks up to and be read by the same readers.

My Long-List (so far)

If we set aside the feeling that I am punching above my weight, I have eight titles so far on my long list.

Because Motherhood, Millie, & Me centres around my journey to becoming a dog-mum, I have five comp titles that sit in the ‘mother energy’ realm and three where the dog-human connection is the main thrust of the story.

Books that look at Motherhood (from the perspective of not having had children)

• The Pursuit of Motherhood Jessica Hepburn

• Living the Life Unexpected: How to find hope, meaning and a fulfilling future without children Jody Day.

• 21 Miles: Swimming in Search of the Meaning of Motherhood: Jessica Hepburn

• Finding Joy Beyond Childlessness Lesley Pyne

• Instead: The Sometimes Complicated Choice of an Adventurous, Childfree Life Maria Coffey.

Books where a person and dog have formed an unconditional bond

• Max the Miracle Dog: The Heart-Warming Tale of a Life-Saving Friendship Kerry Irving

• Finding Hildasay: How One Man Walked the UK's Coastline and Found Hope and Happiness Christian Lewis

• Finding Gobi: The True Story of a Little Dog and an Incredible Journey Dion Leonard.

You can follow the writing and work of

Jessica Hepburn

and

Jody Day

here on Substack.

Final Thoughts on Comp Titles

Many of these titles are by authors who were already well-known in other ways before they wrote their books. But some were not …

Each author will have their own path to travel.

Millie-Dog and I aren’t exactly famous, nor do we have a big ‘platform’, so traditionally publishing may not be our way … it may not be yours either …

But knowing our comp titles is a start … and one day, I hope that Motherhood, Millie, and Me, will find the readers she needs to.

If you are in the early stages of writing your book, making a long-list, that you can add to and then whittle down from, is a fantastic mini-milestone to aim for.

Do share a title or two in the comments, if you would like to.

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That’s it … my first Book Coach Corner post … I hope it has been useful.

And if you have any suggestions of other titles that I can add to my long-list (particularly if they have been published in the last three years) I’d LOVE to know.

Please feel free to comment below or message me direct.

With lots of love and waggy tails

Jo & Millie-Dog x🐾x