Publishing a Novel

For most of us who are interested in writing a novel, we dream of the day our work is published. Seeing our words on paper is very fulfilling.  However, that is not always an easy step.  Many times we can send in a submission and then receive the dreaded rejection letter. So what can we do to keep enduring? Should we make changes to our novel? Or do we start over again?
First it is important to remember that not all publishing companies will be interested in your work. But that does not mean that you should give up. Try to keep a positive outlook and keep trying with different companies. For example, maybe the company is currently looking for romance fiction and science fiction; so your novel simply may not fit into their desired genre.  If you feel like everything is a dead end then consider online options. You could post a few chapters on a website catering to new authors and see if you get positive feedback from the comments section. Many people are going to online reading thus opening the way to worldwide viewers and interest. It is common for different countries to have different interests so possibly your story will connect with readers on the other side of the world. In addition, some of those websites allow free books to be posted, and readers can read online for free also.  It's good exposure.
If the an agent gives you feedback, can you look at it positively and see if those changes are beneficial to your story. Or is the agent trying to make your work completely off from your original purpose. Maybe you want to write romance fiction and the agent is trying to turn it into erotica fiction.  Know your limits, and as a writer; know what you want from your own story.  Criticism can be hard to take but it can also be very helpful. If we don't take our writing too seriously we can become better writers by listening to advice. If the agent just didn't like your work then really that is personal taste and doesn't reflect that you are not qualified or that your novel is no good.
If you have shared your work with a qualified person and they give you input - don't be too sensitive because these suggestions can make your novel better. There are programs or workshops that help writers develop their stories and give advice to make your novel better as well. These groups can really help you hone your novel and once you have made needed changes submitting it to a publishing company can be very rewarding when they see that you took the time to make your novel better.
What if you feel like you can't move forward and make the needed changes or you at a loss for what to change? Do you scrap the entire novel? That could be a little extreme especially if you have worked hard hours, days, months even years to write it. Possibly you need to table the novel for a moment and take a breather. Give yourself some time to think about other things. Coming back to it with a fresh outlook can truly be beneficial.