build a swipe file.
a swipe file is your private library of what works — the cure for the blank page and the secret behind consistent ideas.
a swipe file is an organised collection of content ideas, hooks and formats you've saved for inspiration. build the habit of capturing, and you'll never start from zero.
the blank page is the enemy of consistent content, and the cure is a swipe file: a growing, organised stash of great hooks, formats, ideas and references you've collected. the best creators all have one. it turns "what do i post?" into "which of these proven angles fits today?"
— 01what to capture
- hooks — opening lines that stopped your scroll.
- formats — content structures worth adapting.
- ideas and angles — topics and takes to explore.
- references — great examples from any industry.
capture anything that makes you think "that's good" — you're collecting raw material, not finished ideas.
— 02make capturing a habit
the swipe file only works if you feed it constantly. save as you scroll, screenshot what works, note ideas the moment they strike. use whatever tool you'll actually open — notes app, a board, a folder. the habit matters more than the system.
— 03organise so you'll use it
a pile you never revisit is useless. organise loosely by type — hooks, formats, topics — so when you sit down to create, you can pull relevant inspiration fast. the swipe file's whole job is to make the blank page disappear.