Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Using comparison titles: an author's perspective

I am interrupting my Finding Happiness as a Writer series to bring you these feelings about comparison titles. Why? Because I want to, and it seems like many of you have strong feelings.

Disclaimer: These are my thoughts. They are in no way the thoughts of my publishers and I have no behind-the-scenes knowledge of book marketing or promotion. TBH, I don't even know the difference between the marketing and promotion and publicity and sales departments and who does what. I might use those terms incorrectly in this post--please feel free to correct me if you know more about any of this. It's all the Department of Mysteries as far as I'm concerned.

I'm writing this partially because I answered a question on GR that was like: "Is Liars, Inc. like Pretty Little Liars because I hate that book and one of the reviews said it was and now, I don't know if I want to read it..." [paraphrased]. In hindsight I realize this probably wasn't a question for me and by answering it I might've come across like a crazy-eyed authorzilla and scared the question-asker even farther away from my book. But I'm the only one who has read the shiny finished copy of Liars, Inc. and sometimes no one answers those questions and *nibbles on nails* *mumbles to self* Anyway, sorry if anyone thinks my response was out of line. I'll try to exercise more self-restraint in the future ;-)

But the whole thing got me thinking about how comparison titles can be helpful or harmful, which got me thinking about how outraged some people get when they find a comparison doesn't work for them. Here's what I think: using comparison titles appropriately is an efficient and effective way to market and promote a book. For the most part, comp titles are used to position a new book in a very crowded market, not to trick you into reading something you don't want to read. Note: I have fallen prey to flap copy fraud and cover fraud, so I'm not saying no publisher ever tries to trick you into reading something you don't want to read. But in general, I give them the benefit of the doubt.

The first thing you should know is there's a difference between catalog copy and flap copy. Catalog copy is usually written by sales/marketing. Flap copy is usually written by editor/author. What ends up on Goodreads, Amazon etc. might be either one or a blend of both. Here's the catalog copy for LIARS:




Here's my flap copy, what many people (including myself every once in a while) incorrectly refer to as a blurb.


Things to note:

  • The catalog copy is shorter.
  • The catalog copy contains the comparison titles.
  • The catalog copy even has a different author bio.

My understanding [again, correct me if I'm wrong] is the catalog copy, which is also what is on Edelweiss/NG/the ARC/in the physical and digital publisher catalog, is geared toward sales reps, corporate buyers, booksellers, and librarians--not bloggers. Reps, buyers, booksellers, and librarians see hundreds of titles every month. They often have to make decisions about buying and promoting books without reading them, so comp titles are invaluable. Bloggers are an important part of the industry, but my understanding is bloggers don't often recommend books they haven't already read.

It makes sense that the catalog copy is shorter, because the people mentioned above have to make decisions about hundreds of books in addition to a lot of other job responsibilities, so publishers try to appeal to them quickly. Also, catalog copy has to fit in a physical catalog where space is limited. Comparison titles are a good way to get across a lot of information in a few words.

But why do publishers insist on using the same famous books and authors over and over? 
The whole idea of a comparison title is: [New book] is for fans of [something most people have read/seen.] Something different like [New book] is for fans of [underperforming midlist title] and [obscure 1990s TV show] helps no one. Neither Harper nor I are trying to say I am every bit as good as Gillian Flynn or that my book deserves a movie, etc. [Although I think a movie would rock :D] But if Harper said "In the same vein as [well-written mystery book that only sold 400 hardcovers nationwide], bookstore buyers might look up those sales numbers and be like "Yeah...we'll take a pass on this one."

So when you see "For fans of The Hunger Games...", please do not assume the author or publisher are delusional narcissists who are shopping for yachts. This is simply a business decision, much like a cover. You can't expect publishers to be like "For fans of The Hunger Games...who don't mind a more confusing plot and not quite as well-developed characters." If they don't sell books, they don't make a profit. When in doubt, remember that publishing is a business, and if you like having lots of books to choose from, publishers need to be able to sell them and make money.

Also, comparison titles are meant to convey that two books are similar in plot, theme, prose style, pacing, etc., and therefore should have overlap in readership. Publishers aren't saying that YA Debut Book #234 is THE SAME as Divergent. Or that YA Debut Book #234 will appeal to EVERY fan of Divergent. Etc. Although, reality check, some people will decide that YA Debut Book #234 is a great readalike for Divergent. Some people will like it even better than Divergent. Just because YOU didn't, doesn't mean that publisher was a no good dirty bad publisher for using it as a comp title.


Comp titles to appeal to readers/bloggers:
Another thing to know: When you go into a big bookstore and see a display table of "For fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell" or similar, that placement is called "co-op" and is often paid for by publishers. Endcaps and table displays move copies, and bookstores are smart enough to know this limited space has financial value. Not always, mind you. If I were a bookseller I'd try to hook up the books I really liked. But again, publishing is a business, and before you clutch your chest at the unfairness of it all, realize that if things were done differently you might have fewer books to choose from.

But maybe you're thinking comp titles totally don't work. Let's do an informal test using my personal comps for my future titles/WIPs:

  • VICARIOUS DUOLOGY: for fans of All Our Yesterdays, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and the movie Inception
  • BAD LUCK CHARM:  for fans of The Art of Lainey and Since You've Been Gone
  • JACK OF HEARTS: for fans of Huntley Fitzpatrick and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
  • SECRET PARANORMAL WIP: Before I Fall meets the TV show Dead Like Me
  • SECRET NA WIP: For fans of Boomerang and [...I need to read more "fun" NA. Please recommend titles in the comments :D]
  • SECRET ADULT WIP: for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Orphan Black

Chances are, one of those descriptions made you go "Ooh." But if not, just because comp titles don't work for YOU doesn't mean they don't work. There are a million "pre-reviews" on GR likes this one:

Ocean's Eleven meets Game of Thrones . . . hmmm, let me think . . .



More thoughts from my muddled brain:

1. Rule Number One of book promotion is to have a solid product. If readers find merit in your story, if they feel your prose was crafted with care, then even if the comparison doesn't work for them, they can still enjoy your book. If your book is a "a rough draft hurriedly revised to capitalize on a hot trend" book that marketing has blinged out with a foil cover and is pimping as for fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, John Green, 50 Shades, The Bible, The Anarchist's Cookbook and carne asada fries [did I miss anyone?], readers will see through that.

2. Creating expectations with bestselling comp titles can be dangerous, but not as dangerous as promoting your book in a way where it doesn't get read. Bad reviews don't scare me (too much), but the idea of no reviews is terrifying.

3. But even bestselling comps should be chosen with care. If every contemp is compared to John Green and Rainbow Rowell and Sarah Dessen, and every dystopian to Divergent and The Hunger Games, it becomes totally meaningless.

4. But if Rule Number One is followed, I don't believe any marketing comparison is setting a book up to fail. First of all, those comps aren't usually printed on the finished book so they don't affect in-store sales. Second, the idea is to entice readers to read. And like I said, if the book is solid then even if the comparison is a reach, the reader should still enjoy the book.

5. If you're someone who sharpens up your snark and reads a book with the sheer intent to expose how fraudulent the marketing plan is...um, okay, that's your right. But try to remember books are written by actual people, not marketing departments. And then maybe go look at some kitty pictures or something.

Do you need a snuggle?

6. Then again, I do believe authors have a responsibility to advocate for their books and question uncomfortable comparison titles or flap copy/cover art that is misleading. I have a friend who asked her publisher to remove a reference to The Hunger Games because she felt it wasn't a legit comparison. They complied.

7. "But if your book is good then you shouldn't need to compare it to bigger books." I see this proposed a lot and it's kind of circular logic since no one will know how good your book is if they don't read it. Hundreds of books get published every month. Really awesome books sometimes fail just because not enough people find out about them. It would be great if every book got trailers and print ads and book tours and heavy promotion, but less than 5% of books get those things. And if you think publishers should give every book those things, then what you're saying is you want a lot fewer books to be published. Marketing money doesn't grow on trees.

8. Bloggers are an invaluable but small segment of the reading public. In addition to marketing for booksellers and librarians, marketing departments create promotions for the "average reader." The average reader does not read 250 books a year and they don't write hundreds of critical reviews. They don't care as much about instalove or love triangles because they are not forced to deal with them multiple times a week. They are not as jaded when they see "For fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games" used in marketing materials.

9. "Well does a book NEED to be compared to other books?" a friend asked me earlier on Twitter. I say probably yes, for the aforementioned reasons that have to do with sales reps and librarians and booksellers. Also I asked a sales rep and she said yes too.

10. That said, I do think comp titles that are too broad, way off base, or that spoil the ending of a book are unfortunate. Compare something to We Were Liars and the savvy reader looks for twists. Compare something to The Fault in Our Stars and we look for, well, you know.

On a related note, I think a lot of readers have no idea just how few copies some books sell. This article cites that The Cuckoo's Calling had sold fewer than 500 copies in six months before JK Rowling was outed as the author. Here's Abby McDonald's blog about How Dangerous Girls sold less than 450 hardcovers in its first year. Those kind of sales figures generally don't make your publisher money. You write enough books that don't make your publisher money and you end up out of a job. Marketing books, selling books--these things are tough. If something like a comparison title can help a book/author find an audience, and success, isn't that a good thing?

What are your feelings on comparison titles? Discuss, but try not  to bash individual titles or authors. I'm not going to censor people, but please remember those are my friends and colleagues you're talking about.

9 comments:

  1. I agree that I find the comparisons with The Hunger Games are getting repetitive to me, because I see them way too often, but I agree that reading 200 books a year means I see many more books and their comparisons more than the average reader.

    But as you've said, some comparisons are really useful because I've checked books that I've loved because of those comparisons.

    As far as PLL comparisons with Liars? Well, the mystery and uncertainity feeling of it, hell yes! The drama and high school queen bees thing that I got tired of in PLL? Nope, not there! ;)

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    1. I think reviewers don't realize just how jaded some of you guys really are ;-) But I would be too if I read 100+ books a year and every other dystopian was compared to THG.

      Some comparisons definitely work for me. The comp I posted about SIX OF CROWS made me go "Ooh," because even though I generally don't read fantasy, I loved Oceans Eleven.

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  2. I completely understand! I don't mind some comparisons, but I'm definitely tired of seeing comparisons to only the iconic young adult novels. I call this phenomen of comparisons the Holden Caulfield Syndrome.

    http://stealingpages.com/2015/02/20/crabby-conversations-the-holden-caulfield-syndrome/

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    1. Thanks for the comment. I can safely say no one will ever compare my books to Catcher in the Rye, but I checked out your post and commented :)

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  3. Thank you for informing us about comparison titles Paula! For some strange reason, I thought that the people who wrote the comparison titles for books actually read the book before they came up with the comparison title.
    As for Bad Luck Charm and Jack of Hearts, GIMMEEEEEE. Please? ;D<3

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    1. Oh I think those people generally do read the books. But comp titles are FOR people who might not read but still need to be able to market and recommend.

      So when you go to the store and say "I want something fun and fluffy like Steph Perkins" someone can recommend you LAINEY :D

      Full disclosure--I'm always asked "Who do you think your book will appeal to?" on marketing surveys and I always offer a few comp titles myself, some of which Harper used

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  4. SO BLOGGER HAS A CHARACTER LIMIT ON COMMENTS O_O I didn't know this. So my comment is split into two parts.

    PART ONE:

    I FEEL TERRIBLE. I've had this page bookmarked since Tuesday, but I hadn't gotten around to even reading it until a few days. And I've had this comment drafted, but never quite finished it. I apologize! But here goes.

    (I've read through the entire post, so don't think I've carelessly missed something or am ignorant to one part or the other. Just being thorough!)

    I think most of my annoyance with comparisons lies with your Point #3. I see big titles like The Hunger Games, Divergent, Twilight, Fangirl, The Fault in Our Stars (or just John Green) in waaayyyyy too many summaries. I hate seeing that. I liked Divergent (though I haven't read Allegiant - and won't). I thought The Hunger Games series was okay. Never read any John Green. But when I started reading other books that were compared to these big names, I get turned off. Maybe because I usually end up not liking the big-name books anyway. Maybe because I really DON'T want to read a "similar" book to those listed (because I've already read a really good "version", or because this "version" isn't as appealing, or whatever). For me, I think it's the fact that so many books are being compared to the big names. Also, sometimes, those comparisons just AREN'T ACCURATE, and then I get it in my head that the comparisons are worthless anyway; so even if I LIKED the books being compared to this new book, it doesn't matter because the comparisons won't be accurate?! (If that makes sense.)

    Take, for example, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (my review). The summary says "Graceling meets The Selection". In my review, I stated that I could see the comparison with The Selection, but not Graceling (I've read The Selection, and Graceling. Graceling is one of my favorites of all time, and I've re-read it countless times). I was totally confused by that comparison. Red Queen had very, very little elements in common with Graceling. None, really. Maybe the fact that they're both some sort of fantasy, but even that's a stretch. In the end, I loved Red Queen, but it irritated me to see this book compared to Graceling, when it was in no way/shape/form similar to Graceling (like, nothing).

    Another example - The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (my review). The summary says something about the world being as terrifying as that of The Hunger Games. Okay. Woah. That one blew my mind. To begin with, TEARLING is an adult fiction novel, and The Hunger Games is Young Adult. Totally different age levels/audiences. Not that that matters much. But then, I found that TEARLING was noooootttthhhhhhiiiinnnnngggg like The Hunger Games, in any way. The world of TEARLING was much more violent and bloody and gore-filled than that of The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is YA (and leaves out a lot of the graphic violence - or doesn't have as much to begin with). TEARLING has all of that good stuff. The Hunger Games pales next to TEARLING, in terms of its world (the summary of TEARLING says that TEARLING has "a world as fully imagined and terrifying as that of The Hunger Games". Ha!)

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    1. PART TWO:

      Anyway. Those are my evidence that just about anyone writes those ridiculous comparisons, because the books and their comparison books have NOTHING in common, in these two cases. Of course, they're just two cases of a billion and one.

      I totally understand your points about who the comparisons are for, and bloggers going through hundreds of books and seeing the same thing in many books. Totally makes sense. But it doesn't make me any less cynical to the idea comparisons in summaries. I couldn't tell you how many times I perked at seeing a new book, read its summary which had comparisons, and moved along. Not necessarily because of the books to which this new book was compared (though that's a huge factor), but because of the fact that the comparisons are usually so off (and, of course, the fact that the books are usually big-name, overused, totally over-hyped and popular books that everyone's heard of and everyone either OMG LOVES or OMG SO SICK OF THAT).

      Comparisons are a great marketing technique, I'm sure, but I don't really buy into them. At the end of the day, if the summary is interesting, or the genre is one I enjoy, or the author is familiar, or a friend really recommends the book, then I'll give it its fair shot. But my decisions to READ a book are rarely based on comparisons. My decisions NOT to read a book are sometimes based on comparisons. Not the majority, but enough for this decision-making process to stick out in my brain.

      Anyway. I could go on and on, to be honest. But that's enough from me. I hope this comment posts and Blogger won't eat it, because I will be seriously pissed if it doesn't show up! You know what, I'm copying this right now...

      Cheers! Have a great week :)

      Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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    2. These are great points, Alyssa. I also would never buy a book because of a comparison, the same way I'd never buy one based on author-blurbs. But I would stop and consider a book based on comparison titles, and that's kind of how I hope they're working for me.

      Like I'm the one who added "How to Get Away With Murder" as a comparison title, and since then a couple of people have said "oh, I wasn't going to read LIARS, but now I might because I like that show." (Also 3 different reviews have said it's a valid comparison, so I feel okay using it.)

      But I really appreciate your perspective and I do think there's a risk in using comp titles or any kind of comparison. For the longest time I didn't watch Firefly because people kept telling me it was a "space western." I don't like space stuff and I HATE westerns--so that was the ultimate fail for me. But then I was trapped in O'hare on a long layover and streamed it out of boredom. LOVED IT. One of my all-time fave shows.

      I guess in the end, we never really know what will work ;-)

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