Hey Reader,

Longtime readers might remember when I used to do the 3@3. New readers, welcome to the explanation: a few years back, I used to go live once a week at 3pm and answer 3 questions that had been pre-submitted. It was all live, no editing, just raw talk. Turns out, I've got a pile of those clips sitting around, and honestly, most of the advice hasn't aged a day. Would I add some information or say it a bit different? Maybe. But these are still so solid, I decided to resurrect them and share them with you again!

The question this time:

How do I find the best comp titles for my book when I'm getting ready to query? Are comp titles important to include?

First thing I want to say, before anything else: if you genuinely cannot think of a comp title, do not let that stop you from querying. Not having one isn't going to sink your chances. Don't sit on a finished manuscript because you're stuck on this one line of the query letter.

That said, comp titles are useful when you have them. They give an agent a fast mental shortcut for where your book lands in the market, something like "Soul Food meets Practical Magic." The trick is keeping them current, generally within the last three to five years, unless you're reaching for something so massively well known it works regardless of age (Harry Potter, Jane Austen, that tier). An obscure book from ten years ago won't do the job, because the whole point of a comp is instant recognition.

Movies can work too, but they're better suited to a hook or pitch line than an actual comp title, since agents and editors are usually thinking in book comps for the sales pitch itself. And whatever you choose, make sure the comparison is actually doing something, tone, theme, audience, not just one coincidental detail your book happens to share with it.

Break time! I talk about comp titles right here in this video.

If you're deep in query prep and want to talk this through with other writers doing the same thing, my Just Keep Writing author community is free, has members writing, editing, querying, and publishing, and is open 24/7.

And still asking: would you want live 3@3 back, or something like it, so you could bring your own questions?

Happy writing!

~Angela
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