Yea Dan has a niche, whether he realizes it or not. Notice 99% of what he talks about has to do with digital biz/digital writing/"modern systems." He's not talking about fitness. He's not talking about biotechnology. He's not talking about literature. So, he has a niche. He just isn't naming it anything (a missed opportunity in my opinion).
I see a lot of creators do this. I think they rationalize it by saying, "I want to be broad" or "I want my readers/listeners to come up with their own definition of me." But in the long run, both of those end up being mistakes.
What he's trying to say is that there's no one way to see something. People see being in a niche as talking about one thing only but you could be in a category (as Nicholas Cole put it) or niche and still talk about something outside that niche which is going to be your unique perspective and what makes you stand out even in while you're in that niche or category.
For example blending my interest in football, cars and personal growth to talk about personal growth for footballers, or personal growth principles gotten from football game stories, something like that. Someone who talks about that is still in the personal growth category or niche, he's just unconventional and therefore unique.
Basically Dan Koe and Nicholas Cole say the same thing just in different perspectives.
I don't know if I explained the POV well. I hope you understand better.
I've never seen it articulated anywhere like this, and always found that frustrating! So went ahead and did it myself haha. Glad you found reading it as valuable as I found writing it.
He's an awesome non-fiction case study, but he didn't make his money from his books. (His books are super smart, dense, and far from mainstream.) He made his money as an options trader, and today makes most of his money consulting in the finance industry.
$4M advance, couple million copies sold, he gets a 10-15% royalty per. He’s probably made $10-20M from his books. Incredible, AND a far cry from the James Patterson’s of the world.
Could be in that range. That must put him quite high up the list of non-fiction writers, imo, if not at the top spot. And he's reportedly coming out with two new books this year, curious to see how that will go. But yes, fiction is definitely a different ball game!
I appreciate how in-depth this article is! Thank you for sharing your experiences. It's easy to accidentally fall into magical thinking in the writing world, but your clear breakdown is a good reminder that the process, like most, is predictable.
Hey Nicolas! As a fellow writer, I truly appreciate your insightful article on navigating the path to financial success. It's great to see you sharing your knowledge with the writing community and helping us all grow together. Thanks for paying it forward! 😊📝
This is a well written (... ! I knew you are v good at it! ) article, but more importantly is a very well articulated strategy. I, too, have been thinking about all possible writing careers for almost 2 years now!, and I 100% agree with your conclusions. Not sure what founder will award significant shares to a consultant (even to the greatest of consultants, be it writer or strategist) but it is possibile. Yet, even if it was for just cash, positioning and writing go really well together and, sure enough, I believe consultants who nail this skill combination can generate a great income. And. For me. This is where I am at now, although coming from a business background. Happy I have read your article. Thanks for being so clear and transparent in the exposition.
This made it easy for someone in the beginning of their digital writing journey to know that I was on the right track.
I also just find your writing good to study for my own best practice - the way you use dot points for example.
It cleared up the free vs paid newsletter decision and a lot more.
Thanks for writing this man :)
This is so in-depth! Thanks.
What would you say Dan Joe's niche is?
you're welcome!
Dan Koe you mean? Writerpreneur.
Sorry for the typo.
I mean, you wrote that a writerpreneur needs to have a niche. But Dan always repeatsheahs no niche.
Yea Dan has a niche, whether he realizes it or not. Notice 99% of what he talks about has to do with digital biz/digital writing/"modern systems." He's not talking about fitness. He's not talking about biotechnology. He's not talking about literature. So, he has a niche. He just isn't naming it anything (a missed opportunity in my opinion).
I see a lot of creators do this. I think they rationalize it by saying, "I want to be broad" or "I want my readers/listeners to come up with their own definition of me." But in the long run, both of those end up being mistakes.
Thanks. I was really curious to know what you thought about him.
You satisfied my curiosity! 😄
He does have a niche obviously.
What he's trying to say is that there's no one way to see something. People see being in a niche as talking about one thing only but you could be in a category (as Nicholas Cole put it) or niche and still talk about something outside that niche which is going to be your unique perspective and what makes you stand out even in while you're in that niche or category.
For example blending my interest in football, cars and personal growth to talk about personal growth for footballers, or personal growth principles gotten from football game stories, something like that. Someone who talks about that is still in the personal growth category or niche, he's just unconventional and therefore unique.
Basically Dan Koe and Nicholas Cole say the same thing just in different perspectives.
I don't know if I explained the POV well. I hope you understand better.
You describe my exact point of view. My article about it resonated a lot.
But I found many creators don't read Tim's or Dan's words this way.
They read it as "I can just write about anything".
Hey Nick, I don’t think anyone in the writing universe has packaged this like the way its presented. Thank you and look forward to reading more.
I've never seen it articulated anywhere like this, and always found that frustrating! So went ahead and did it myself haha. Glad you found reading it as valuable as I found writing it.
Good post!
"But there are 0 Non-Fiction writers who have crossed $100M from book sales alone."
If he's not already there, I think Nassim Taleb could be a candidate for this.. wouldn't you consider him a Non-Fiction writer?
He's an awesome non-fiction case study, but he didn't make his money from his books. (His books are super smart, dense, and far from mainstream.) He made his money as an options trader, and today makes most of his money consulting in the finance industry.
I know he made a lot of money in finance before and that he is not mainstream per se, but The Black Swan alone has sold millions of copies.
According to Bloomberg, he got $4 million in advance in 2007 after the initial success of The Black Swan.
https://web.archive.org/web/20120326024500/https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=nw&pname=mm_0508_story1.html
And especially that book regained a lot of attention with covid.
$4M advance, couple million copies sold, he gets a 10-15% royalty per. He’s probably made $10-20M from his books. Incredible, AND a far cry from the James Patterson’s of the world.
Could be in that range. That must put him quite high up the list of non-fiction writers, imo, if not at the top spot. And he's reportedly coming out with two new books this year, curious to see how that will go. But yes, fiction is definitely a different ball game!
So much vakue in this article.
Great post! I really enjoyed this.
You left out my niche though, regulatory medical writing.
I appreciate how in-depth this article is! Thank you for sharing your experiences. It's easy to accidentally fall into magical thinking in the writing world, but your clear breakdown is a good reminder that the process, like most, is predictable.
huge man. super helpful. thank you.
I enjoyed reading this. Thank you.
Hey Nicolas! As a fellow writer, I truly appreciate your insightful article on navigating the path to financial success. It's great to see you sharing your knowledge with the writing community and helping us all grow together. Thanks for paying it forward! 😊📝
This is a well written (... ! I knew you are v good at it! ) article, but more importantly is a very well articulated strategy. I, too, have been thinking about all possible writing careers for almost 2 years now!, and I 100% agree with your conclusions. Not sure what founder will award significant shares to a consultant (even to the greatest of consultants, be it writer or strategist) but it is possibile. Yet, even if it was for just cash, positioning and writing go really well together and, sure enough, I believe consultants who nail this skill combination can generate a great income. And. For me. This is where I am at now, although coming from a business background. Happy I have read your article. Thanks for being so clear and transparent in the exposition.
Cole, can't say thank you more. I'd dream to step in the Holy Land of Paid Newsletter.
I love this map, so much.
They look like Disco Elysium characters.
Awesome article! Thanks for sharing so much valuable and insightful information.
Truly excellent advice!
So glad this landed (helpful data point for me!) and thanks for reading & being part of all I/we have shared over the years, Keith. It means a lot!