Billed as Canada’s “Queen of Comedy” by the Toronto Sun (Jan. 5, 2014), Melodie Campbell achieved a personal best when Library Digest compared her to Janet Evanovich.
Winner of nine awards, including the 2014 Derringer (US) and the 2014 Arthur Ellis (Canada) for The Goddaughter’s Revenge (Orca Books), Melodie has over 200 publications, including 100 comedy credits, 40 short stories, and seven novels.
Melodie got her start writing stand-up. In 1999, she opened the Canadian Humour Conference. These days, she is the Executive Director of Crime Writers of Canada.
HOW I GOT PUBLISHED
The Start Short and Build method
By Melodie Campbell
I got my start writing short stuff. Specifically, I wrote comedy (standup and a syndicated humour column.) From there I had some short stories published in small magazines. That led to short stories in bigger magazines that paid more (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and Star Magazine – yes, the supermarket tabloid!) I had 100 comedy credits and 30 short stories published before I wrote and sold my first novel.
What this did: it gave me credibility as a writer, and showed book publishers that I had the ability to be a ‘commercial’ writer. People had already paid me for my writing, and in some cases, quite a lot! Probably, my book would have the same commercial quality. Not only that, as a columnist, I had proved I could work to deadline.
This moved me to the top of the slush pile. Having a pile of other publications doesn’t automatically get you published: what it does is get you read by publishers. You still have to produce a damned fine book that they think will sell well.
I always recommend that my Crafting a Novel students at Sheridan College get a few short story publications under their belts, before they try to sell a novel. It gives you something credible to put on your query letter, AND it will hone your writing skills.
You can read more about Melodie on her web site and on Amazon.
Carol Balawyder 
Your posts are always so interesting to read, Carol.. Happy Weekend my friend
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Oh, how kind of you to say, Leyla. Thank you. Happy Weekend to you as well, friend.
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Hi Carol… Great feature and I truly enjoyed Melodie’ s article on The Start Short and Build method. Thanks for sharing and all the very best to you, Aquileana 😀
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Thanks, Aquilenana…Have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
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This is really interesting, Carol! I do enjoy learning how other authors have gone about it. And she’s got some good things to say.
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Thanks, Margot…I also like to learn how other writers have gone about getting published. There are many roads on this journey. 🙂
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I understand the value of publishing short stories, and yet I haven’t yet attempted it. I figure I want to devote the writing time I have to my novel-in-progress. But Ms. Campbell’s advice makes great sense.
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She does make a lot of sense…I like what she said: “Having a pile of other publications doesn’t automatically get you published: what it does is get you read by publishers. You still have to produce a damned fine book that they think will sell well.”
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It’s always good to hear how people published their work and I am starting to understand that laying good foundations is often how you begin! Thanks Carol for a great post.
Karen
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Your welcome. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend, Karen. 🙂
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I agree with Leyla, Carol, you write easily! And Melodie is a voracious writer, I would check out her books certainly! Have a peaceful weekend! 🙂
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Thanks, Leyla for stopping by and commenting. Melodie is certainly a voracious writer! Have a peaceful weekend as well. 🙂
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Sounds like Melodie has really built a platform. I am looking forward to learning about publishing via your new series, Carol!
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I hope that I’ll get a few responses from the authors I contacted. Have a great week. 🙂
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Great advice and looking forward to this new series Carol. Now, if we could only split ourselves with time to work on our books and short publications and self publish. 🙂
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Great advice from Melodie. A bit overwhelming to being writing books and short stories and self publishing. I am looking forward to this series Carol. 🙂
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Debby, I’ve tried several times to log into your blog to read your post on Arizona but I never could download the post. Did you have problems with your other readers? I haven’t had this problem with other readers.
Yes, it is very overwhelming to write books, short stories and self publishing. Not to mention that another life goes on around us! Happy Weekend. 🙂
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Wow, Carol, you can’t log in? No, I haven’t heard that from other readers that they can’t get in? The usual suspects have been around. 🙂 When is the last time you tried? I did have some trouble with my site last week but that has been rectified. Try the link http://dgkayewriter.com/hello/
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I got it all fixed…
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Great idea. I look forward to these.
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Thanks for recommending Melodie’s books, and for telling her story, Carol. I will chase them up. 🙂
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Hi Carol – Always interesting to hear other writers’ stories on how they got started. It’s especially inspiring in the case of someone as successful as Melodie!
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I didn’t read everyone’s story but I will have to remember to revisit your blog to do so. I like hearing the real stories behind the writing. I guess it is possible to have that luck just come but for the rest of us it really is a lot of time and work.
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I appreciate your comment and hope that you’ll enjoy the remainder of the series How I Got Published. 🙂 Thanks for reading. ❤
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