Most writers focus on what they want to write — the genre and topics for which they feel a particular affinity. The aspiring romance novelist writes about romance, and the aspiring domestic diva writes about the home. These are passionate projects, the ones that motivate us to sit down at the computer or typewriter and pour our souls onto the page.

Beginning writers often get discouraged when they find that agents and editors don't share their passion for their projects. Rejection slips and even constructive criticism make many would-be writers feel at best pessimistic about their prospects of realizing their dreams. One aspiring writer, wounded by a critique that accompanied a rejection of his first novel, lamented, “If I can't write this (genre), what am I supposed to do?”

The answer, echoed by virtually every professional author, is “Keep trying.” The subject or genre you feel passionate about may not sell today or even this year, but its time may come next year or the year after. While you're waiting for the market to catch up to your vision, you can study your craft, hone your skills, and look for other opportunities to help you realize your writing ambitions.

Look for ideas that can cross over between books and magazines. Is there a chapter in your nonfiction book that could be adapted for a magazine article? Can you condense a subplot from your romance novel to write a new short story? Finding different ways to use the same material saves you time and energy, and cross-marketing your work like this can help boost your career.