Now that I'm published I could say that Lucy Springer Gets Even and What Kate did Next were easy to write and easy to get published, but I would be lying!

For both books, there were too many drafts to count, many tears and many times I wanted to give up. Writing is a solitary pursuit and when no-one is encouraging you or interested in what you're writing it's easy to feel despondent/suicidal/angry or insulted, depending on your mood.

For years, I'd send manuscripts or partials (three chapters and a synopsis) to publishers and receive generic rejection letters back, along the lines of ‘thanks but no thanks.' I think I've been rejected by every mainstream Australian publisher and several North American ones too.

After each rejection, I'd stomp around the house and tell myself to give up. ‘Why bother?' This was especially true when my children would tell their friends and their friend's parents, I loved my computer more than them. (And that's not true ninety-six percent of the time.)

But after a day or two of feeling sorry for myself, I'd turn on the computer and either rework a manuscript or start something new.

My best rejection letter? The one that started with ‘brilliant first line, but it's all downhill from there.'

But I figure I'm in good company. Here are a few other rejection letter excerpts:

The Diary of Anne Frank: "The girl doesn't, it seems to me, have a special perception or feeling which would lift that book above the 'curiosity' level."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kipling, but you just don't know how to use the English language." Editor of the San Francisco Examiner to Rudyard Kipling.

Classic writer Colette was told in a letter of rejection: "I wouldn't be able to sell 10 copies."

H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds: "An endless nightmare. I do not believe it would "take"...I think the verdict would be 'Oh don't read that horrid book'."

The Spy who Came in from the Cold: by John le Carré. "You're welcome to le Carré - he hasn't got any future."

The Deer Park by Norman Mailer. "This will set publishing back 25 years."

 Stephen King's Carrie:  "We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell."

So, what's the best rejection line you've received from a publisher?