Writing for Non-Fiction Genres

» Brian Tubbs - How do you GET "Famous"

Barbara, I've enjoyed your article and blog on the subject of platforms. Yours too, Laurie. The real question is -- "How do you get famous?" or "How do you become a celebrity?"

Robert (Bob) Bly wrote a pretty good book on this subject. I'll look up the exact title and post it as FYI. It was good, but rather discouraging actually.

It basically boils down to this...If you're not a celebrity, you have to become a well-known expert in a topic that's in-demand by the public.

I've thought about hiring a public relations firm (not that I can afford that - but I'm wondering if it'll pay off in the end) to increase my name recognition and profile.

But right now, I'm trying to wrestle through (stress over, really) what I should become a "well-known expert" in. I'm a pastor, but it's of a small church - and small church pastors are a dime a dozen. I have a website here at the Suite on Protestantism, but it gets too few hits to impress anybody.

I love American history and taught it for four years in high school, but private high school teachers are a dime a dozen as well.

I don't have any credentials that will turn heads, and hardly much to work with or go on - in terms of striking out on the speaking circuit.

So, I'm really kind of stuck. I have a number of book ideas that I think would do really well - IF I had a big name. But, alas, I don't. And this whole thing has been nerve-wracking and frustrating.