Never give up, never give in ...

So, the world's disheartening meeting with one of the best agents in London. It is, according to her, the worst time in ten years to try and get a book published. The hope of writing full time drifts further away again. But, slap me sideways and call me Pollyanna I just can't believe this book won't make it to the shelves.

Rejection is part of the course for writers. Took me ages to get used to it, but as the director Vadim Jean once said, if you're going to write you had better zip up your rhino suit. If you want to see your work in print, whether your write articles, short stories or novels, determination is everything.

If you get tired waiting for your work to be picked up by an agent or publisher, why not market it yourself? Sites like Xlibris and Lulu.com have given writers the freedom to take their books straight to market. You can sell online through Amazon, or print on demand. For inspiration from an agent with a more positive spin on the current market, take a look at Nathan Bransford's blog - loads of fantastic, constructive posts about pitching your work. Whichever road you take, keep at it - at the end of the day, success I think often as much to do with perseverance as talent.