Coffee With Cole: The Digital Writing Podcast

Episode: Millionaire Writer Rules: 22 Tough-Love Truths (Jan 27, 2026)

Overview

In this episode, Nicolas Cole lays out his "Millionaire Writer Rules"—a distilled list of 22 hard-earned truths for digital writers, ghostwriters, and self-publishers. Drawing on his own journey, mentors’ wisdom, and years of coaching thousands of writers, Cole delivers a rapid-fire, tough-love guide to leveling up your writing mindset, craft, and business. Each rule is paired with practical examples, memorable analogies, and reflections from Cole’s own creative life.

Cole’s tone is honest, slightly no-nonsense, but always encouraging, with a clear mission: cut through excuses and illusions, and focus on what really drives writing success and wealth in the digital age.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. You Can't Steer a Stationary Ship [00:00]

• Main Point: Taking action is more valuable than overthinking; you improve by moving forward, not by hypothetical planning.
• Insight: Many writers get “stuck” solving problems they haven’t encountered yet.
• Analogy: Comparing writers to aspiring basketball players who want to learn advanced moves before even showing up to the gym.
• Quote:
  • "You literally can't improve something that isn't in motion." (Nicolas Cole, 00:38)

2. Volume Wins [03:08]

• Main Point: Writing more—publishing at higher volume—trumps obsessing over perfection.
• Insight: Great artists (Mozart, Beethoven, Da Vinci) made thousands of works; masterpieces come from quantity, not single attempts.
• Quote:
  • "Volume wins. Everything is more successful with more volume." (Nicolas Cole, 03:20)

3. Create More Than You Consume [06:10]

• Main Point: Spend more time producing than consuming; skill grows through output.
• Warning: High consumption without action just develops taste, not ability.
• Quote:
  • "If at any point you are consuming more than you're creating, you are not being a creator." (Nicolas Cole, 06:32)

4. Consume What You Want to Create [07:31]

• Main Point: Align your consumption with your creative goals—read fiction if writing fiction, etc.
• Tactic: Before starting a new project, consume a little of the same genre to “anchor your mindset.”

5. Practice Before You Play [09:17]

• Main Point: Do the necessary, often boring work before jumping into fun projects.
• Insight: Discipline is only needed when things cease to be enjoyable; “whoever can tolerate the most boring work wins.”

6. Simplicity is Velocity [11:20]

• Main Point: Simpler plans and systems move faster; complexity creates friction.
• Action: Ruthlessly seek to remove unnecessary complexity in your writing process or business.

7. Every Day You Don’t Write, You Practice Not Writing [12:50]

• Main Point: Habits solidify both by doing and not-doing; not writing consistently builds the habit of not writing.
• Quote:
  • "Every day you don't write, you are actually practicing the opposite habit." (Nicolas Cole, 13:10)

8. If You Can Write Fiction (or Copy), You Can Write Anything [14:48]

• Main Point: Mastery in fiction or in copy writing makes other forms of writing much easier.
• Observation: Both literary and sales writing trains valuable skills; the worlds should cross-pollinate.

9. Word Count is a Poor Measure of Value [17:23]

• Main Point: Don’t price or judge writing by length; focus on the impact and uniqueness of your message.
• Story: Many Upwork writers charge by the word—an approach Cole challenges.

10. Start With the Big Idea [19:01]

• Main Point: Spend more time crafting the core idea or hook before drafting content.
• Story: Copywriting session with Craig Clements—the true pros focus most on the headline/title.
• Quote:
  • "I spend 100 hours thinking about the positioning of the book and the main title and subtitle before I even write a single word." (Nicolas Cole, 21:10)

11. Write for One Person, Not Everyone [22:09]

• Main Point: Writing that targets “everyone” lands with no one; build a detailed archetype for your true audience.
• Tactic: Write a 5-10 page autobiography “in character” as your target reader.

12. Speak in Benefits, Not Features [24:55]

• Main Point: Always frame your writing around what’s in it for the reader/customer, not your product's features.
• Example: Transforming “we have a real-time dashboard” into “you’ll always know where your money’s going.”

13. Tangibles Are Worth More Than Intangibles [27:03]

• Main Point: Make your value propositions concrete—promise what people can see, touch, or objectively measure.
• Transformation Example: Moving from “live your dream life” (intangible) to “retire with a million dollars in the bank by 60” (tangible).

14. Make Objective, Not Subjective, Promises [29:14]

• Main Point: Offer measurable, universally understood outcomes.
• Test: Would ten random people agree on your promise's meaning?
• Example: Switch “get healthy” (subjective) to “lose 15 pounds of fat in 16 weeks” (objective).

15. The Reader is the Main Character, Not You [31:30]

• Main Point: Pivot personal stories to insights relevant for your reader; storytelling should always answer “here’s what this means for you.”

16. The Size of the Question Dictates the Size of the Audience [33:15]

• Main Point: Broad questions attract bigger audiences; niche questions have more focused reach.
• Insight: Match your content and expectations—broad for reach, niche for resonance.

17. The Game is to Say What Hasn’t Been Said [35:19]

• Main Point: Originality is essential; don’t rehash the same advice, even on well-worn topics.
• Tactic: Package familiar advice in fresh, memorable ways when true novelty isn’t possible.
• Quote:
  • "If you can't say something new, then just say the same thing that everyone has said before, but repackage it in a different way." (Nicolas Cole, 37:22)

18. First and Last Sentences Matter Most [39:22]

• Main Point: Open with a compelling hook; end with something memorable or curiosity-provoking.
• Process: Cole drafts the first and last sentences before filling in the content.

19. In the Digital Age, Skimmability is Readability [41:18]

• Main Point: Make your writing easy to skim—use bold headings, bulleted lists, and short paragraphs.
• Observation: Legacy publications like The New Yorker use dense layouts that discourage today’s readers.

20. Your Value is the Value of Your Value to the Reader [43:23]

• Main Point: Your worth is defined by how much value you deliver to others, not your effort or intent.
• Quote:
  • "All of your value is predicated on the value of what you give someone else." (Nicolas Cole, 43:40)

21. If You Want to Learn What Sells, Sell Something [46:19]

• Main Point: The fastest route to learning sales/copywriting is by attempting to sell your own product or service, not just consuming theory.
• Encouragement: Trial and error—just try selling and adjust quickly.

22. The Business Model Is the Goal [48:01]

• Main Point: The way you make your money will define your priorities; you can’t expect one business model to fund a different creative dream.
• Advice: Choose your business model consciously—the model will shape your actions and outcomes.
• Quote:
  • "Whatever business model you pick ends up defining all of the actions that you take, because that's the thing that's paying you." (Nicolas Cole, 48:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You literally can't improve something that isn't in motion." (00:38)
• "The right way to write is often okay." (03:15)
• "Every day you don't write, you are actually practicing the opposite habit." (13:10)
• "I spend 100 hours thinking about the positioning of the book and the main title and subtitle before I even write a single word." (21:10)
• "If you can't say something new, then just say the same thing that everyone has said before, but repackage it in a different way." (37:22)
• "Your value is the value of your value to the reader." (43:28)
• "Whatever business model you pick ends up defining all of the actions that you take, because that's the thing that's paying you." (48:47)

Structured Episode Timeline

| Timestamp | Rule/Segment | Core Message | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Rule 1: Stationary Ship | Take action; improvement only comes from doing | | 03:08 | Rule 2: Volume Wins | Publish more, worry less about perfection | | 06:10 | Rule 3: Create > Consume | Output over input; practice creates skill | | 07:31 | Rule 4: Consume What You Want to Create | Consumption should match creative intent | | 09:17 | Rule 5: Practice Before You Play | Prioritize necessary, unsexy work | | 11:20 | Rule 6: Simplicity is Velocity | Streamline, remove friction | | 12:50 | Rule 7: Practice Not Writing | Habits form by both doing and not-doing | | 14:48 | Rule 8: Fiction/Copy Mastery | Fiction or copywriting unlocks writing mastery | | 17:23 | Rule 9: Word Count =/= Value | Impact > Length | | 19:01 | Rule 10: Start With the Big Idea | Nail the core idea/headline first | | 22:09 | Rule 11: Write for One Person | Be specific, create archetypes | | 24:55 | Rule 12: Speak in Benefits | Reader-focused, not ego-focused | | 27:03 | Rule 13: Tangibles > Intangibles | Make value concrete | | 29:14 | Rule 14: Objective > Subjective Promises | Clarity and measurability | | 31:30 | Rule 15: Reader is Main Character | Personal story = reader lesson | | 33:15 | Rule 16: Question Size = Audience Size | Broad vs niche tradeoffs | | 35:19 | Rule 17: Say What Hasn’t Been Said | Originality and effective repackaging | | 39:22 | Rule 18: First/Last Sentences Matter Most | Hook and close with impact | | 41:18 | Rule 19: Skimmability = Readability | Modern formatting for attention | | 43:23 | Rule 20: Reader’s Value is Key | Value is in what others receive, not what you put in | | 46:19 | Rule 21: If You Want to Learn What Sells, Sell | Real learning comes from direct experience | | 48:01 | Rule 22: Business Model is the Goal | Your income stream shapes your creative reality |

Conclusion

Cole’s 22 rules are both practical and philosophical, urging writers to get moving, focus on creation over perfection, and build their writing—and their writing businesses—around clarity, simplicity, audience benefit, and relentless action. The episode is fast-paced, rich in personal anecdotes, and peppered with sly, memorable turns of phrase and analogies. It’s a tough-love manual for anyone ready to treat the craft and business of writing with seriousness and courage.