Downloadable Worksheets:
Meeting Purpose
Discuss comp titles for book proposals and conduct research on comparable books.
Key Takeaways
- Comp titles demonstrate market viability and help position your book
- Aim for 5-7 recent (last 3 years) mid-level books similar to but distinct from yours
- Research comps on Amazon, looking at categories, reviews, and book details
- Use comp research to refine your book’s positioning and borrow effective elements
Topics
Comp Title Basics
- Include 5-7 titles published in last 3 years, plus maybe one older “backlist” title
- Avoid comparing to mega-bestsellers like Harry Potter – makes you seem naive
- For each comp: include book image, publisher details, sales numbers if available
- Write 1-2 paragraph assessment comparing/contrasting to your book
Researching Comps
- Amazon is very useful for finding related titles and categories
- Look at 1-2 star reviews for potential pitfalls to avoid
- Note book details like cover design, tone, structure to potentially borrow
- Check acknowledgements for agent/editor names
Using AI for Comp Research
- AI tools like ChatGPT can generate lists of relevant comps
- May take multiple prompts to refine results
- Ask AI to summarize/optimize your prompts for future use
Insights from Comp Research
- Helps clarify target audience and genre positioning
- Reveals trends and gaps in the market
- Provides ideas for cover design, tone, structure
Marketing and Platform Building
- Start generating buzz by sharing book ideas on social media
- Consider approaching local bookstores to stock your book
- Be willing to step out of comfort zone to promote your work