Skip to main content
No Image Available Visual representation of Nicolas Cole
Writing/entrepreneurship Updated August 19, 2025

Nicolas Cole

Nicolas Cole is a digital writer and entrepreneur who co-founded the online writing community, Ship 30 for 30. He is known for his viral essays on personal development and digital writing.

Born

January 1, 1990

Known For

  • Top writer on Quora
  • Founder of Ship 30 for 30
  • Author of 'The Art and Business of Online Writing'

Social Media

Notable Facts

Career Highlights

Background

Nicolas Cole attended Columbia College Chicago, focusing on creative writing and marketing. His early career was not in traditional academia but was built through digital platforms. He began publishing written work online as a teenager, initially within the online gaming community for games like World of Warcraft. This early writing, in the form of forum posts and game guides, amassed a significant readership and established the foundation for his expertise in digital writing and personal branding.

Major Contributions

Cole's primary contributions are in the fields of digital writing, personal branding, and thought leadership. He is a co-founder of several companies, including Digital Press, a content creation agency, and Ship 30 for 30, a cohort-based writing program. He is also a founding partner at Copyblogger, a leading content marketing education platform. His work is not centered on physical inventions but on frameworks and methodologies for online content creation and audience building. He is a recognized authority on writing for platforms like Quora, LinkedIn, and Medium, where his answers and articles have garnered tens of millions of views.

Impact on their field

Cole's impact is demonstrated through the popularization of specific content creation strategies. He has been a influential figure in validating online publishing as a viable professional path, moving it beyond casual blogging. His frameworks for "atomic essays" and consistent public writing have been adopted by thousands of professionals and entrepreneurs seeking to build their personal brand and authority. His work has contributed to the broader business understanding of content as a primary driver of growth, lead generation, and trust-building in the digital economy.

Current work/relevance

Nicolas Cole remains an active writer and entrepreneur. He continues to operate and teach through the Ship 30 for 30 program, guiding new cohorts of writers. He is a regular contributor to major business and marketing publications and maintains a strong presence on social media platforms, particularly LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter), where he shares insights on writing, entrepreneurship, and digital business strategy. His current relevance is tied to the ongoing demand for effective written communication and personal branding in an increasingly digital and remote-first professional world.

Personal Story

Nicolas Cole is a writer, entrepreneur, and digital strategist who has mastered the art of storytelling online. He started his career in an unlikely place: as a professional video game player. This early experience in competitive gaming taught him about focus, practice, and building an audience, which became the foundation for his later success in the world of digital writing.

Who They Are

Born and raised in Chicago, Cole began writing online as a form of therapy and self-discovery. He started anonymously publishing personal essays on the platform Quora, where he quickly gained a massive following. His honest and relatable stories about life, failure, and personal growth resonated with millions of readers, turning him from an unknown gamer into a celebrated online writer.

Why They Matter

Cole’s key achievements lie in his ability to demystify the process of building a personal brand and a successful writing career in the digital age. He co-founded a premium ghostwriting agency, Ship 30 for 30, which helps professionals and executives share their ideas and build their authority online. His work has empowered thousands to find their voice and turn their knowledge into a valuable digital asset.
  • Built an audience of millions on Quora and other platforms.
  • Co-founded a successful writing collective and ghostwriting company.
  • Authored multiple bestselling books on writing and personal development.
  • Recognized as a top writer on Medium and a thought leader in digital writing.

  • What They're Known For

    Nicolas Cole is best known for his incredibly popular online essays and his practical advice for aspiring writers. His most recognized works include his viral Quora answers and his book, "The Art and Business of Online Writing." He is celebrated for his clear, concise, and impactful style that breaks down complex ideas into digestible lessons for a general audience, teaching others how to replicate his success.