Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s writing takes readers behind the scenes of major moments in pop culture history and examines the lasting impact that our favorite TV shows, music, and movies have on our society and psyches. She investigates why pop culture matters deeply, from The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Seinfeld, to Sex and the City and Mean Girls, to Beyoncé, Taylor, Chappell, and Sabrina. She has written eight books, including the New York Times bestseller Seinfeldia, When Women Invented Television, Sex and the City and Us, and Parks and Rec. She also co-founded the Ministry of Pop Culture newsletter.

We are all fans these days, which makes us an expert in something. And that means we can turn that into a writing niche. It looks like a dream job to write about the stuff you like, and I’m here to tell you that it is a dream job, and it is possible. But there are ways to do it more professionally and reliably than others, which will make you stand out in what has become a very crowded landscape.

Fandom is more prevalent than ever, and fandoms are more voracious than ever, making them a prime niche for writers looking for a specialty. But they are a tough audience that will tell you if you’re wrong, and will call you out if they sense that you’re not as dedicated as they are.

The trick is to become a recognized expert in the object of your fandom—and, perhaps, eventually turn it into a paid writing career by launching a newsletter, writing for established publications, or publishing books. Many people have done this, including me. I’m a longtime pop culture journalist and a New York Times bestselling author of nine books about pop culture history, including Seinfeldia, Sex and the City and Us, and, most recently, Parks and Rec. I’ve written for BBC Culture, Billboard, and many other publications about things I love, like boy bands, Beyoncé, and Chappell Roan. I also started a Substack with two fellow pop culture writers called the Ministry of Pop Culture.

How do you get there, too? I’ve broken it down into a step-by-step plan that you can use to establish your own fandom niche, from choosing your fandom to finding the right platform and, finally, making it your writing specialty.

1. Collect your fandoms and choose one.

If one fandom is your leading identity, or there’s one that immediately popped into your head when you saw this piece, that’s probably the right one to choose. But most of us consider ourselves members of several fandoms. Make a list. Make it as long as you’d like. You should be truly passionate and knowledgeable about whatever you include, but don’t censor yourself too much at first. Survey what you love in books, comics, film, music, TV, stage, video games, or any other media you can think of. If I were doing this right now for subjects I haven’t written books on already, I might include Schitt’s Creek, Hamilton, Olivia Rodrigo, or the director Cameron Crowe, among other interests. Notice that these are old, new, and in-between. Fandom is forever.

When it comes time to choose, it isn’t just about which is your absolute favorite, though that’s a factor. Questions to consider include: How much material is there to mine? Do you have a unique perspective on the topic? Can you imagine spending years delving into it? Do others share your passion enough to build a community around it? Do you already know a ton about it? Are you the right person to be commenting on this? And how much competition might there be? (Competition isn’t necessarily bad, but it means you’ll have to carve out a unique sub-niche. Which leads us to …)

2. Research the landscape and figure out how to distinguish yourself.

Sure, you can Google your topic broadly to start out with, but make sure to also narrow your searches by seeking out fans of the topic, as well as existing newsletters, podcasts, books, and social media accounts addressing it. Make a list of everything that’s out there. And don’t let this part discourage you. It’s actually great if there’s a lot. It indicates strong interest. You might find there’s less out there on Severance, for one example, than there is on Taylor Swift. This presents different missions: You could launch a definitive newsletter, say, about Severance. For Taylor Swift, however, you might have to niche down. Maybe you’re a Baby Boomer who loves Swift’s similarities to musicians you loved in your youth like Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon. Maybe you’re a teen who’s listening to her for the first time. (I am a sucker for any social media account where people listen to my faves for the first time and react live.) Maybe you’re a music teacher who can analyze the music theory behind her work.

When my Sex and the City book came out, I got to know the guys behind The Bradshaw Boys, a group of straight guys who started a podcast about watching the show for the first time. That’s just one good example. The Every Outfit on Sex and the City Instagram started as exactly what it sounds like, then branched out to the show and its spinoff more broadly, publishing a book and starting a podcast in the process. Think about how you can distinguish yourself and make a list of a few options.

3. Decide on your form of fandom expression: newsletter, writing for publication, social media, podcasts, or books? (Possibly a combination of a few.)

Think about your strengths and personality. You should launch a newsletter if you work well on your own and you’re self-motivated. Write for publication if you have some experience doing so already and you don’t mind pitching stories to editors. Start a social media account if you already have an active social presence and a good feel for your platform of choice. Create a podcast if you’re a good talker and/or interviewer.

One of my favorite examples of a fandom empire is a website called Tough Pigs, which bills itself as for “Muppet fans who grew up” and has been around for more than 20 years now. In fact, I believe it was at coffee with its founder Joe Hennes that I first realized that he and I were both “professional fans.” Trekkie Girls talk about Star Trek from a female perspective and have consulted with major organizations about how to reach fans. The Buffering the Vampire Slayer podcast has since expanded into rewatches of other shows as well as a book, Slayers Every One of Us, and other ventures. The key is to find a medium you can excel in, then bring your unique perspective to it and expand from there.

4. Mix it up in stan culture.

You’ll have to be engaged, even immersed. But fandoms are (mostly) fun! Especially if you’ve chosen wisely. You have arrived at this point because you want to share what you love with other fans, and that makes the whole process organic. You should budget some quality time to engage with the fandom as official market research. Subscribe to newsletters, set a Google alert for your topic, follow social media accounts, listen to podcasts, and read books. Pay attention to what the fandom is really like: What are the shared values and norms? Is it inclusive and friendly? Is it a little combative (hopefully in a playful way)? Ar’ there unexplored niches that you could fill, or questions that keep coming up among fans? What unique contributions could you bring to the scene? It’s time to commit to a fandom, an angle, and your primary platforms and get to work.

5. Enjoy being a “professional fan.”

Being a fan first is great because it means you know the fandom, and other fans will appreciate that you’re genuine. But it’s also important to distinguish yourself, eventually, as a professional who stands out from other fans. You want to be a leader among them, the one they look to for analysis, news, or reaction. That’s how you become the person whom editors seek out to write a piece and how you become the right person to write a book on your topic.

You can do this in a few ways. One is to provide unique analysis that fans can’t get anywhere else, or to use your special skills to make videos, supercuts, song mashups, or whatever else your creativity allows. Another is to score some great interviews. This doesn’t have to be the biggest of big stars. It could be a writer on a show or movie, or a crew member like a set or costume designer. (Behind-the-scenes people are goldmines of little-known information!) You can start on the outskirts with easier gets and work your way toward the stars. I’ve scored some big interviews only after building a rapport with crew, something producers, directors, and stars respect.

Most of all, continue to hone your skills and treat it like a job, even if it’s just a side hustle. Fandom is a form of expertise. You just need to take the right steps to be recognized as an authority among fans. Your fellow fans are waiting for you.