A Writer’s Swipe File - Why You Should Have One & Some Links
Do you have a writer’s swipe file?
Chefs say they are the ultimate plagiarists. When they eat out they notice what other chefs do, and then introduce the best elements to their own cooking. Yes, they swipe someone else’s ideas or at least use them to spark their own. Haven’t you wanted to try something you enjoyed at a restaurant at home yourself?
Writers may give chefs a run for their money in the swipe file department. I’m not talking plagiarism in the copyright, intellectual property sense… just ideas, tips, memorable words and interesting turns of phrase.
Infuences and inspiration come your way all the time. Sometimes they come thick and fast like a tennis ball machine serving to a player at the ready. You catch some and some whizz by. Other times new ways of doing things just wash over you like waves as you soak in someone else’s style or notice a nifty word wrangling trick.
We’re all word collectors and idea catchers.
A writer’s swipe file helps keep track of writing sparks you come across for ready reference.
I’ve gathered a few links about swipe files - a swipe file in itself.
- Why You Should Start A Swipe File Today
- Copyblogger Headline Swipe Files
- Headline Helpers Swipe File
- Copywriting Swipe File
How To Start A Swipe File
Use your preferred way of managing information including -
- Bookmark favorite links
- Folders on Outlook Express
- Email yourself and file these in folders
- Word documents (update as needed)
- Highlight as you read (if you can bear to mark a book)
- Print out good examples and use a folder system
- Photocopy print articles and book excerpts
- BlinkList
- Delicious
- Any other suggestions?
Weekend Writers Cafe
What to collect? Anything that interests you.
What is in your writer’s swipe file? What else are you on the lookout for? What have you found most useful?
Maybe these are questions we could toss around at this weekend’s Writers Cafe. Hope to see you there - Friday to Sunday.
Catch me on the web - Yvonne Russell
www.growyourwritingbusiness.com
www.smallbizmentor.com
www.homebiznotes.com
Hi Yvonne. A Swipe File sounds like a great idea. It’s good to learn from others and be inspired to write something new out of what you have learned.
Never heard the expression, Swipe File. (I’ll have to catalog it in my Swipe File!) Delicious has been working pretty well for me as a storage bin for ideas and facts, although after you accumulate hundreds of links, searching for a particular item can be time consuming. I always highlight my books, and for really important points, I’ll make a note on a front or back page of the concept and page number.
This is actually one of the things I’m terrible at–keeping clippings, jotting down thoughts, writing notes … I probably lose half of my ideas because I think, “Ooh, good idea! I need to do that,” and then walk off and forget about it.
I’m torn about this post, honestly. I get the idea that we should be able to gain inspiration from others, but my fear in the blogging world is that we wind up losing our own voice. Instead of being inspired by Problogger, for example, we just regurgitate what is in our swipe file.
I’ve done it, and I think many other bloggers have. Using a swipe file as a jumping off point is fine, and I think that’s what you’re getting at here. But too often it becomes more swipe and less jump.
Very thought-provoking post, Yvonne!
Hi Bob
My idea of a swipe file is more things like keeping a running list of great verbs, a paragraph that so well written you love to read it, an unusual word you’d like to use - not so much post ideas.
I agree that the blogosphere is becoming a mass of the same thing said in different ways - the “echo chamber” effect.
I like your caution that it should not become “more swipe less jump”
Hi Rach
Yes, it’s all about the inspiration and sparking your own ideas.
Brad - The term “swipe file” originally comes from the copywriting field, where they list successful phrases, verbs etc.
I have to confess to highlighting my (non fiction) books too, or post it noting them with a brief note of a concept.
Hi Deb
Like you, I’ve learned the hard way, I need to make a note.
As Brad says if you save links, they can get out of hand and unmanageable. Does anyone have any tips on this?
Hi Yvonne,
I have a hard copy and electronic swipe file. I keep ideas, headlines, and great marketing pieces. There have been so many times when I have been working on something and got stuck and I found inspiration in my swipe file, sometimes a phrase sparked my creativity or the use of color or a photo but just as poems, great literature and a thesaurus inspire so can the work of modern day writers and marketers.
Karen
Hi Karen
This is great… sounds like the swipe file is really working for you.
I like the idea of having photos, color and poems as inspiration too.
Ywonne, poems and photos are always a great source of inspiration. My swipe file also includes direct mail pieces and often it’s a photo or the use of colors that inspires me.
Karen
Mar 21st, 2008 at 8:48 am
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