How do I work comp titles into a query?
- Comps belong in one concise sentence, not a paragraph.
- Use recent, same-category titles at a realistic scale.
- Comps signal genre, audience, and market position.
- Phrasing like "X meets Y" or "for readers of X" works well.
- Avoid mega-bestsellers and decades-old titles as direct comps.
Work comps into a query with a single natural sentence that places your book: "a [genre] novel that will appeal to readers of [Comp A] and [Comp B]," or a "[Comp A] meets [Comp B]" framing. Choose one or two recent, same-category, realistically scaled titles. The sentence tells the agent your genre, your audience, and where you sit in the market — its job is positioning, not flattery.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Comps in a query do a lot of work in a little space: they prove you know your category, signal the readership, and help the agent picture how to sell the book. Done badly — naming a mega-bestseller, an ancient classic, or no comps at all — they undercut you. A clean comp sentence with the right titles tells an agent in seconds that you understand the market your book competes in.
Chapter ii·What to include
- One or two comps, in a single sentence.
- Recent, same-category, realistically scaled titles.
- A natural framing ("for readers of," "X meets Y").
- Placement near the pitch, not buried in bio.
- Avoidance of outliers and dated classics.
- A position the comps actually establish.
Chapter iii·Example
A query reads: "Complete at 82,000 words, THE TIDE HOUSE is a domestic thriller that will appeal to readers of Lisa Jewell and Ruth Ware." One sentence, two recent same-genre comps at a believable scale — and the agent immediately knows the category, the audience, and the shelf.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom's Pitch studio keeps your verified comps beside your query, so positioning your book is a sentence away.
See the Pitch studio