Very good piece in today's Guardian about the challenge of beating the slush and getting published – http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/sep/04/publishing.pressandpublishing

Some hilarious rejections noted here and interesting news – to me, anyway – about Tindal St and Five Dials.

Thanks for posting, very interesting, also a bit of a reality check!

Good piece, and evenly balanced, for a change. Thanks for posting that, Jago.

Emma

Thanks,Jago - that was interesting.

Very interesting. Thanks for the post.
Di2

Interesting Jago, but not very encouraging for unpublished authors with no contacts.

Sheila

Oddly enough, Sheila, I found a glimmer of encouragement there.

I think there's a feeling abroad that the traditional routes to publication have become so stacked against first timers (who aren't celebrities) that there's almost a guerrilla movement of small publishers and schemes springing up to find promising writers. That's what I'll be telling myself when the next rejection hits the mat, anyway.

Jago, just had a look at your website and looks as if you've no need for doubts. Congratulations on winning the competition.

Sheila

Belated thanks, Sheila (been away for a couple of weeks).

Iota, who are publishing my manuscript, are a tiny outfit and battling to establish themselves. I think they've got about 4-6 books out so far.

But still, it is a thrill to be picked by them. I think I start working with an editor on the book next month and it comes out October 2009.

And thanks for checking out the blog. That is also in its infancy.

Robin