🎯 Key points for quick navigation: 00:00:00 *🎯 Breaking Cognitive Dissonance in Writing* - Writers must choose between writing for passion and writing for profit. - Romanticizing the writing craft creates a false narrative about success. - Self-awareness is necessary to balance writing for love versus writing for money. 00:02:16 *🛠️ The Realities of Writing Success* - Writers often rationalize avoiding the hard work needed for success. - Writing success requires learning the business side and taking ownership. - Romanticizing the craft becomes a mental block, preventing practical growth. 00:04:08 *💼 Business Literacy in Writing* - Writers who understand the business make more money and gain competitive advantages. - Volume and commercial appeal are key factors for success, not just talent. - Quality over quantity is a myth; high-quality work comes from producing a lot. 00:05:32 *🔑 Overcoming Romanticized Writing* - Writers must let go of idealized images like Hemingway’s carefree life. - Success in writing requires learning the rules of the game and accepting financial realities. - Broke writers avoid the business side and romanticize struggle, leading to cognitive dissonance. Made with HARPA AI
This was a great video! Thank you for sharing. I am at the very beginning stages of my writing journey. I am in two of your groups on the Skool app. I am really trying to learn all of this so I can be a successful copywriter. Your content is very helpful.
Hallelujah! As a former journalist for nearly 20 years who had to push hard deadlines daily, I get so frustrated with naïve, romantic writers. Life is about hard choices. Listen to Cole.
Hey Cole, I’ve gotten almost 700 followers on Medium after I read your book, took your advice and started posting 8 months ago. An article I wrote months ago has just exploded to 12k views. I’ve only written 20 articles even though I write most days because I’m a slow writer, not a perfectionist. I’m going to double down on what’s resonating with my followers and try to build a business around it. Just not sure if I should wait until 1k followers or 10k followers etc.
As a professional writer and editor, I write mostly for corporate clients. It pays the bills and then some. But I also find time to write what I want to write and want people to read and enjoy it, but so far I’ve been unable to get any literary agents or publishers interested in that work though I believe it is good. So, now I’m considering self-publishing it but I’m concerned that it will sink without a trace because I’m not a marketing expert. Recommendations welcome.
Do it anyway. If the market doesn't respond, figure out why and fix it. Waiting for someone else to give a shit because you've done something they think they can skim money off the top of is a recipe for never doing anything.
@@thekeywitness Basically… if you don’t have a book published and you want to be a well paid publisher of books… you need to get the first one out so you can start trying things and getting real feedback about what works.
True…. It’s an issue for all artists… I have also been thinking about this a lot… because I do want to write what I want… but I also want to get paid to write… so…. I can do both… but…. I need to accept that I can’t just write only what I want… I need to write what I need to write to get paid… so I can also write what I want and not have to worry a about being broke.
You need to get someone better at visual arts than you to select your thumbnails. You are very handsome and probably have marketing reasons for selecting your thumbnails, seeking to draw in your target audience and repel others. I don't think that's the way to go with thumbnails. Visual content is not the written word. I did not point it out on the other examples of ineffective thumbnails but third time's a charm. Even though you look good, are personable, your thumbnails are likely not having your desired effect (and this is confirmed with low numbers of views). Just like a book cover that thumbnail is the first thing they see, and they may only look at it for 1 second so it really must be attractive first, intriguing second, promising third.
Hey Nicolas , really nice video ! I was wondering if I could help you with more Quality Editing in your videos and also make a highly engaging Thumbnail and also help you with the overall youtube strategy and growth ! Pls let me know what do you think ?
🎯 Key points for quick navigation:
00:00:00 *🎯 Breaking Cognitive Dissonance in Writing*
- Writers must choose between writing for passion and writing for profit.
- Romanticizing the writing craft creates a false narrative about success.
- Self-awareness is necessary to balance writing for love versus writing for money.
00:02:16 *🛠️ The Realities of Writing Success*
- Writers often rationalize avoiding the hard work needed for success.
- Writing success requires learning the business side and taking ownership.
- Romanticizing the craft becomes a mental block, preventing practical growth.
00:04:08 *💼 Business Literacy in Writing*
- Writers who understand the business make more money and gain competitive advantages.
- Volume and commercial appeal are key factors for success, not just talent.
- Quality over quantity is a myth; high-quality work comes from producing a lot.
00:05:32 *🔑 Overcoming Romanticized Writing*
- Writers must let go of idealized images like Hemingway’s carefree life.
- Success in writing requires learning the rules of the game and accepting financial realities.
- Broke writers avoid the business side and romanticize struggle, leading to cognitive dissonance.
Made with HARPA AI
This was black coffee. No sugar. No cream. Much needed.
But Black Coffee is good 😅
The cold water most writers need, yet will largely reject. Thanks, Cole.
You are an awesome writing mentor!
This was a great video! Thank you for sharing. I am at the very beginning stages of my writing journey. I am in two of your groups on the Skool app. I am really trying to learn all of this so I can be a successful copywriter. Your content is very helpful.
Truth! Loved this public spanking of people who fanticize about writing but don't want to put in the work.
I love this!
Hallelujah! As a former journalist for nearly 20 years who had to push hard deadlines daily, I get so frustrated with naïve, romantic writers. Life is about hard choices. Listen to Cole.
Hey Cole, I’ve gotten almost 700 followers on Medium after I read your book, took your advice and started posting 8 months ago. An article I wrote months ago has just exploded to 12k views. I’ve only written 20 articles even though I write most days because I’m a slow writer, not a perfectionist. I’m going to double down on what’s resonating with my followers and try to build a business around it. Just not sure if I should wait until 1k followers or 10k followers etc.
As a professional writer and editor, I write mostly for corporate clients. It pays the bills and then some. But I also find time to write what I want to write and want people to read and enjoy it, but so far I’ve been unable to get any literary agents or publishers interested in that work though I believe it is good. So, now I’m considering self-publishing it but I’m concerned that it will sink without a trace because I’m not a marketing expert. Recommendations welcome.
Do it anyway. If the market doesn't respond, figure out why and fix it. Waiting for someone else to give a shit because you've done something they think they can skim money off the top of is a recipe for never doing anything.
@@JosephRooks I just need to get a better grasp of the steps following "publish".
@@thekeywitness Not before you publish you don’t… Learn after you clear the first hurdle. It might take more than 1 book to figure it out.
@@thekeywitness Basically… if you don’t have a book published and you want to be a well paid publisher of books… you need to get the first one out so you can start trying things and getting real feedback about what works.
True…. It’s an issue for all artists…
I have also been thinking about this a lot… because I do want to write what I want… but I also want to get paid to write… so…. I can do both… but…. I need to accept that I can’t just write only what I want… I need to write what I need to write to get paid… so I can also write what I want and not have to worry a about being broke.
definite red pill moment. very hard for talented people to accept
Is there a Nicolas Cole for solo web dev founders?
😂😂😂
Publish a book on this!! Your dream or the money.
He already did. Read Snow Leopard or the Art and Business of Online Writing.
@@AminataYKanu Thank you. I will.
This could not be more true. I’ve been a “ghost writer” for two decades and never considered myself a real writer. Hmmm…
This was killer. Truth bombs all over the place. 👍🏿
Break those limiting beliefs Cole!
I like tough love Cole 😂
You need to get someone better at visual arts than you to select your thumbnails. You are very handsome and probably have marketing reasons for selecting your thumbnails, seeking to draw in your target audience and repel others. I don't think that's the way to go with thumbnails. Visual content is not the written word. I did not point it out on the other examples of ineffective thumbnails but third time's a charm. Even though you look good, are personable, your thumbnails are likely not having your desired effect (and this is confirmed with low numbers of views). Just like a book cover that thumbnail is the first thing they see, and they may only look at it for 1 second so it really must be attractive first, intriguing second, promising third.
Hey Nicolas , really nice video ! I was wondering if I could help you with more Quality Editing in your videos and also make a highly engaging Thumbnail and also help you with the overall youtube strategy and growth ! Pls let me know what do you think ?
Write about what an audience with money wants to read.
Make a lot of money doing that.
Buy a cabin in the woods.
Write more.
This ☝️
Man the section about "broke writers" had me all ears.