Editors and agents all say the same thing. Giving us comps (comparable books) in your query letters will help us get a better picture of what your book is about. After reading some submission in the last couple of days I have to say, too many of you are missing the mark on this one.
Almost all writers have heard the same advice about their stories - SHOW DON'T TELL. However, it seems that when you start writing that query letter, you throw all of that advice out the window. Maybe you believe that this is just a quick business letter and you want to keep it to the facts. Maybe you believe there is no space in the letter to provide that additional material. Or, maybe you believe since we are in publishing, you don't have to spell it out to us.
No.
Please SHOW, DON'T TELL.
If you tell me your story is similar to an author and his/her book, don't just give us the author and the title. Explain in a sentence or two what that similarity is. Telling us "My novel is has the quirkiness and steam similar to Alien Vampire Bunnies" tells us nothing. Focus on the voice. Focus on the themes. Give us a three-dimensional picture.
Along the same lines, if you give us 2 or 3 comps, make sure that these are similar. Telling me your story is similar to Harry Potter and The Shining is not going to work either.
Finally, although editors and agents do a lot of reading, don't go and pick these obscure authors and novels that few people would read. Keep it to things the general public would read.
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