How to Make $10,000/Month Writing Online

Theme / Market Insight

Online writing is positioned as a “desired career” with strong search demand (e.g., “how to be a writer” ranks as the 2nd most searched career query after pilots).

The video argues that the common claim “writers can’t make money” is misleading—when you focus on digital online writing rather than legacy publishing (traditional books/articles routed through publishers and editors).

Core Thesis

Shift from legacy publishing to online writing:

• Legacy publishing

  • Slow and gatekept
  • Low feedback until release
  • Long delays to validation and reviews

• Online writing

  • Publish where readers already are
  • Receive rapid feedback
  • Build an audience/personal brand
  • Monetize through multiple business models

Business Frameworks / Playbooks Mentioned

“Online Writing Funnel” (3 Steps)

1. Forest of ideas

   • Generate many ideas and publish consistently.

2. Feedback cave

   • Publish on platforms to get immediate feedback.
   • This includes negative comments and trolls—use them to learn.

3. Pool of analysis

   • Analyze performance and comments.
   • Identify patterns and double down on what works.

Feedback Loop Comparison (Speed-to-Learning)

• Legacy

  • Long cycle: years to write
  • Then long delays to publish and get reviews
  • Feedback arrives late

• Online

  • Near-immediate feedback
  • Example flow: idea → post → feedback within minutes

Monetization Models (3 Ways to Make Money from Writing)

• Advertising / attention model
• Paywall / exclusivity model
• Services model
  • Writing-for-hire (especially copywriting tied to outcomes)

What “Online Writing” Is (and Isn’t)

Online writing IS

• Publishing on social platforms where readers already are (e.g., Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Quora, Reddit, Medium).
• Iterating quickly based on measurable audience response.
• Building a personal brand + audience before releasing “big work” (books / major products).

Online writing is NOT

• Waiting years for traditional publishers.
• “Legacy-style” blog writing hoping search traffic eventually finds you.
• Long incubation without feedback.

Concrete Examples / Case Studies

Nicholas Cole (Scale & Claims)

• Builds an online writing business via “Shi 30 for 30”
• Described as generating millions in revenue
• Claims top performance on Quora, with strong readership and high-paying opportunities (including speech/ghost writing)

Pachy McCormik (“Not Boring” Newsletter)

• Started in 2019
• Reached “thousands of subscribers” within 2 years
• Attributed to about $1M revenue/year

Mark Manson (Viral Blog → Book)

• Publisher asked him to expand his most viral blog content
• Expanded “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” into a bestselling book

Ryan Holiday (Virality → Media Empire)

• Started as a marketing writer
• A stoicism post went viral
• Then built an “Empire of books,” newsletters, and physical products
• Claims “millions every year”

Medium Advertising Metrics (Examples)

• James Julian: 38,000 views → $1,741
• “Jack/Rob” Rowe (as transcribed): 25,000 views → $1,114

Paywall / Subscriber Example

• Substack account “No Opinion” described as earning around $1M/year
• Specifically tied to subscribers buying access to two paywalled posts/week

Product Creation Example (Ebook)

• Daniel Vaso
• After building audience, released an Amazon FBA ebook
• Made $40,000 in 16 days

Services / Ghostwriting Pricing (High-Level Claim)

• Ghostwriters for autobiographies of celebrities/CEOs can charge up to $1M per book (as stated)

Key Metrics & KPIs Mentioned (and What They’re Used For)

Performance Inputs (for “Pool of Analysis”)

• Quantitative metrics
  • Views/clicks (implied) and other platform engagement signals
• Qualitative metrics
  • Comments and reactions (what resonates vs. what “doesn’t vibe”)

The video doesn’t provide a formal KPI table, but emphasizes pattern recognition from both quantitative and qualitative feedback.

Monetization Outcomes (Explicit Numbers)

• Medium: views → earnings
  • 38k views → $1,741
  • 25k views → $1,114
• Newsletter: “thousands of subscribers” → $1M/year revenue (after ~2 years)
• Substack paywall: ~$1M/year with 2 paywalled posts/week
• Ebook/product: $40,000 in 16 days

Targets / Time Expectations

• Newsletter: about 2 years to reach strong scale
• Ebook launch: 16 days to reach $40k (post-audience build)

Actionable Recommendations (Business Execution)

• Publish where distribution already exists

  • Start on platforms with built-in audiences rather than only personal blogs/websites.

• Iterate using rapid feedback

  • Post smaller pieces (tweets/threads, LinkedIn posts, “AI-ish essays”) and evaluate what gets traction quickly.
  • Expect anxiety/trolls; don’t wait to hide until you have a “final product.”

• Build audience first, then launch big work

  • Releasing a book/magnum opus is framed as easier when you already have subscribers/readers who “already vibe.”

• Pick a monetization path based on your strengths

  • Attention/ads: needs large traffic volume; can be volatile.
  • Paywall/exclusivity: monetizes dedicated subscribers (aligned with “1,000 true fans” thinking).
  • Products/courses: productize to reduce reliance on time-for-money; enables larger income jumps.
  • Services/copywriting: move toward outcome-based compensation (e.g., revenue share / performance lift).

Investing / Markets

No substantive investing or market analysis is included. The monetization section focuses on execution models (audience monetization, productization, services, outcome-based deals).

Presenters / Sources

• Nicholas Cole (The Art and Business of Online Writing) — referenced as the primary source/framework provider.
• Host / Book Club narrator — summarizes and applies Cole’s model (not named in the subtitles).
• Referenced external creators/authors/examples: JK Rowling, Hemingway, Pachy McCormik, Mark Manson, Ryan Holiday, Kevin Kelly, “James Julian” (Medium example), “Jack Rob Low” (as transcribed; Medium example), Anna Todd, Daniel Vaso, Gary Halbert, Shopify (sponsor).