Podcast Summary: Coffee With Cole - Episode: 9 Proven Ways To Make $1,000,000 As a Writer in 2025 (FREE Masterclass)

Release Date: May 5, 2025

Introduction

In this comprehensive masterclass episode of Coffee With Cole: The Digital Writing Podcast, host Nicolas Cole delves deep into the multifaceted career paths available to writers in 2025. Aimed at both aspiring and established writers, Cole promises a value-packed session, steering clear of the typical non-informative webinars. His goal is clear: to equip listeners with actionable strategies to monetize their writing effectively.

“My promise to you is I'm going to aim to make this the most valuable free webinar you've ever attended in your life.” — Cole [00:00]

Overview of Nine Writer Career Paths

Cole introduces nine distinct career paths for writers, emphasizing the importance of understanding the unique business models and outcomes each path offers. He underscores that success often requires focusing on a single path rather than juggling multiple simultaneously.

“No one has really articulated it this way. And this is what I wish I would have known at the very beginning.” — Cole [05:30]

1. Literary Writer

• Definition: Focuses on crafting literature that emphasizes art over commercial success.
• Monetization: Primarily through book sales and potential IP development. However, income is often limited.
• Pros & Cons:
  • Pros: High artistic satisfaction, potential for long-term recognition.
  • Cons: Low financial rewards initially, high risk with minimal immediate returns.
• Key Insight: "In literature, you are getting paid in status first. You are not getting paid in money." — Cole [15:00]

Example Highlight: George Saunders

• Achieves literary acclaim but supplements income through teaching and non-fiction works that discuss literature.

2. Genre Fiction Writer

• Definition: Writes mainstream genres like romance, thrillers, fantasy, and sci-fi.
• Monetization: Higher financial potential through book sales, self-publishing, and adaptations into movies or TV shows.
• Pros & Cons:
  • Pros: Higher earning potential, large market, faster path to substantial income.
  • Cons: Extremely competitive, success often resembles a lottery outcome.
• Key Insight: "Genre fiction is actually the one career path with the highest earning potential." — Cole [18:45]

Example Highlight: Colleen Hoover

• Achieves multimillion-dollar revenues through prolific publishing and successful adaptations.

3. Nonfiction Writer

• Definition: Authors books that share insights, knowledge, or expertise on specific topics.
• Monetization: Primarily through book sales, speaking gigs, consulting, and additional products.
• Pros & Cons:
  • Pros: Faster monetization compared to literary writing, multiple revenue streams.
  • Cons: Requires building credibility and a "traffic engine" (audience or platform).

Example Highlight: Ryan Holiday

• Leverages book sales to fuel speaking engagements, consulting, and product sales like courses and merchandise.

“With nonfiction, if you are trying to write a nonfiction book or you are trying to write nonfiction books and you do not have a traffic engine about that topic, you have already lost.” — Cole [25:50]

4. Newsletter Writer

• Definition: Creates and monetizes regular newsletters, either through subscriptions or advertisements.
• Monetization: Subscriptions (paid newsletters) or advertising revenue.
• Pros & Cons:
  • Pros: High scalability, recurring revenue, and relatively low barrier to entry.
  • Cons: Requires consistency and a dedicated niche audience to achieve significant income.

Example Highlight: Ben Thompson

• Generates approximately $5 million annually from his paid newsletter, Stratecherry.

“Newsletter writer has a lower ceiling, but you can typically get there faster.” — Cole [22:10]

5. Content Writer

• Definition: Produces content for companies' blogs, often focusing on SEO and marketing.
• Monetization: Salaried positions, freelance contracts, or agency work.
• Pros & Cons:
  • Pros: Stable income, frequent demand.
  • Cons: Low status, vulnerable to AI advancements requiring writers to build leverage.

Example Insight: Steph Smith transitioned from content marketing to selling educational products, scaling her income through leverage.

“Content writing is the first career path to probably go away due to AI.” — Cole [20:35]

6. Ghostwriter

• Definition: Writes content on behalf of clients, often without public attribution.
• Monetization: High-paying contracts, typically ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 per client.
• Pros & Cons:
  • Pros: Rapid income growth, opportunity to work with high-profile clients.
  • Cons: Lack of public recognition, dependence on client relationships.

Example Highlight: Nicolas Cole’s Own Success

• Built a ghostwriting agency scaling to millions in revenue by working with top-tier clients.

“Ghostwriting is the single fastest path to ten grand a month.” — Cole [28:00]

7. Sales Copywriter

• Definition: Specializes in writing persuasive content aimed at driving sales.
• Monetization: Project-based fees, retainer agreements, or revenue-sharing models.
• Pros & Cons:
  • Pros: High earning potential with the right skills, direct impact on client revenue.
  • Cons: Highly competitive, requires advanced marketing understanding.

Example Highlight: Sales pages and funnels written by copywriters like Ivaldo have significantly boosted revenues for companies like Agora Financial.

“Sales copywriting is sales; ghostwriting is education.” — Cole [30:15]

8. Writerpreneur

• Definition: Combines writing with entrepreneurship, typically creating and selling digital products.
• Monetization: Digital products (courses, ebooks), subscriptions, and sometimes consulting.
• Pros & Cons:
  • Pros: Highly scalable, multiple income streams.
  • Cons: Requires diverse skill set beyond writing, such as marketing and product development.

Example Highlight: Justin Welch builds his brand by creating content around solopreneurship, driving audiences through newsletters and digital product sales.

“Ghostwriting will always make you more money faster. Digital products will probably make you more money over the long term.” — Cole [34:20]

9. Category Copywriter

• Definition: Engages in high-level strategic messaging and branding for businesses.
• Monetization: Consulting fees, equity stakes, or revenue-sharing agreements.
• Pros & Cons:
  • Pros: Potential for significant financial rewards, high impact on client success.
  • Cons: Extremely high risk, requires extensive experience and credibility.

Example Highlight: Cole’s own ventures into category copywriting involved equity deals with startups, though he notes the high risk of such arrangements.

“This is the most advanced career path. It is very high risk, but it is also very high reward.” — Cole [38:00]

Order of Operations: Strategic Career Pathing

Cole advises beginners to focus on one career path at a time to maximize effectiveness and financial growth. He outlines a strategic approach depending on the desired path:

For Fiction Writers:

1. Power Level Income through Ghostwriting

   • Enables writers to gain financial stability while honing their craft.

2. Reinvest in Genre Fiction

   • Utilize ghostwriting earnings to publish multiple genre fiction works rapidly.

3. Explore Literary Writing Later

   • After establishing a robust income and portfolio, delve into literary pursuits.

“If you listed more than one, you're already making a mistake.” — Cole [12:05]

For Nonfiction Writers:

1. Power Level Earnings with Ghostwriting

   • Similar to fiction writers, starting with ghostwriting provides financial and experiential foundations.

2. Build an Audience as a Writerpreneur

   • Develop a personal brand and audience through content creation on social platforms.

3. Launch Digital Products

   • Offer courses, ebooks, or other digital items to monetize the audience.

4. Start a Paid Newsletter

   • Establish a subscription-based revenue stream to complement other income sources.

5. Compile Newsletter Content into Books

   • Double monetize by turning recurring newsletter content into standalone books.

6. Explore Category Copywriting

   • Once established, consider high-level consulting opportunities for additional revenue.

“The business that you're really in is that you're getting paid cash up front to provide a service, help someone else scale themselves on the Internet.” — Cole [31:50]

Q&A Highlights

1. Are Thought Leadership Articles Still in Demand?

• Cole: Yes, they have evolved. Platforms like X and LinkedIn are now preferred for long-form content.

2. Building Credibility for Ghostwriting:

• Cole: Focus on reaching out directly with value-driven, non-salesy approaches rather than relying solely on platform presence.

3. Choosing a Niche:

• Cole: It's simpler than many believe. Programs like PGA help writers identify and commit to a niche effectively.

4. Impact of AI on Content Writing:

• Cole: Content writing is highly susceptible to AI replacement. Writers must build leverage by creating unique frameworks or scaling via teams and technology.

5. Platform Recommendations for Newsletter Writers:

• Cole: Substack is recommended for paid newsletters due to its specialized features.

6. Revenue Sharing in Sales Copywriting:

• Cole: High-tier copywriters negotiate revenue-sharing deals, although it's challenging and typically attainable after significant experience.

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Nicolas Cole wraps up the masterclass by reiterating the importance of understanding the specific "game" each writing career path entails. He emphasizes the necessity of commitment and focus, discouraging beginners from spreading themselves too thin across multiple paths. Cole shares his personal blueprint for success, advocating for starting with ghostwriting to quickly power level income and then systematically investing into higher-potential career paths like genre fiction or writerpreneurship.

“Anyone who creates an upwork profile and your strategy is, I'm going to sit around and wait for someone to come to me. Congratulations. Your business is never going to grow.” — Cole [50:00]

He encourages listeners to confront and dispel faulty beliefs that hinder their progress, advocating for proactive strategies and leveraging opportunities within their chosen path.

Takeaways

• Focus Matters: Concentrate on one career path initially to avoid dilution of effort and maximize growth.
• Understand the Business Model: Each writing path has distinct monetization strategies and expectations.
• Leverage Relationships and Skills: Especially in paths like ghostwriting and sales copywriting, building relationships and enhancing complementary skills are crucial.
• Adapt to Technological Changes: Embrace AI and other technologies to stay competitive, particularly in content writing.
• Long-Term Strategy: Consider scalability and sustainable income when choosing and progressing through career paths.

Closing Quote

“If you want to make a living as a writer, you need to understand what business you're in and how to monetize the goal of that career path.” — Cole [Final Remarks]

This masterclass serves as an invaluable resource for writers seeking to navigate the complex landscape of monetizing their craft. By elucidating the nine distinct career paths and offering strategic guidance on progression, Nicolas Cole empowers listeners to make informed decisions tailored to their ambitions and strengths.