Comp Me

Every Wednesday, YA Highway asks  their readership a simple question to answer on your blog. Once you  answer, you link your blog in the comments for other readers to hop on  board. This is Road Trip Wednesday.

Today's question: Who are your comp titles/authors?

For the record, I'm full of dislike on this question. Why? For the following reasons:

1. I always feel inadequate reading things that are similar. I'm sure there's medication this problem.
2. Thinking this hard makes my head hurt. Literally.
3. I'm afraid no one will agree with my comparisons.

I know I'm not alone in this. Scanning through the rest of the entries today, a lot of people are saying this is the hardest RTW to date*. The purpose of comp titles is two-fold: it's so the agent/ editor can see where you envision your book and it's also pure marketing. The best example of the latter comes from Erinn's blog today where she describes her book New York Karma which is Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist for the 20-something set.

Falling to Normal is about a fifteen-year-old girl's transition from juvie into the "real world." A lot of things happen, but this is now the meat of the story. When talking it over with Erinn, she suggested Monster by Walter Dean Myers, so that's now on my TBR list**.

The good news about comp titles is that not every agent wants them. They might ask once you get past the query stage, but initially you can pass go and collect $200.

It is easier to comp other books than your own. Like, The Dark Tower blends the Spaghetti Western style of The Dollars Trilogy with the epicness*** found in Lord of the Rings.

Tell me, how would you describe a book you read recently?


* In case you couldn't tell, I'm in full agreement.
** Hint to family and friends in The Lurkdom: Christmas and my birthday are right around the corner.
*** Epicness IS key.
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Last.fm hit of the day: Allergic to You by Trashlight Vision