London Writers' Salon #160: Nicolas Cole — How to Balance Art and Business as a Writer: Ghostwriting, AI, Focus & Sustainable Success
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Sep 14, 2025 
Nicolas Cole, a digital writer and entrepreneur known for being a top writer on Quora, discusses balancing creativity and business in writing. He shares how poetry helped him stay grounded while he built multiple businesses. Cole emphasizes the value of ghostwriting for skill-building and income diversification. He also tackles how AI impacts writing without replacing the writer's voice. Strategies for consistent writing habits and navigating distractions are highlighted, with an encouraging message about the transformative power of community in writing.
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Phone Poems Became Books
- Nicolas Cole wrote three poetry books by jotting short poems on his phone during in-between moments while building businesses.
- He later transcribed and self-published them during the pandemic as a creative practice to stay connected to art.
Writing Answers A Question
- Every piece of writing answers a question, and clarity begins by naming that question explicitly.
- The size of the question limits the potential audience and impact of your writing.
Start Free To Find Readers
- Start by publishing free writing to prove readers care before expecting them to pay for longer work.
- Use conversations and everyday feedback as data to refine ideas and build an audience.
