Seanan is a good example of an extremely assertive self-marketer. I've watched her go from a shy young woman hiding in the back of a filk band to a multi-talented Force Of Nature during the past dozen or so years. Most of us don't have the drive, energy, spare cycles and perseverance she has shown, and that's pretty much why we're not published. Jay Lake is another good example, as is John Scalzi.

And of course a significant chunk of it is luck.

If it's any consolation, you *are* world famous. At Conflikt 2009 "classic filk" circle I announced I was going to sing a song by Zander. There was a lot of "ooh" and "aah" in response to that. When I got to the chorus of Sam's Song, it sounded like everyone was singing along.