I Haven't Had Writer's Block in 6 Months (Here's My Secret)
The Complete Guide to Building Your Own Substack Swipe File for Sustainable Growth
When I first started writing this newsletter, I’d stare at a blank screen trying to come up with ideas for my Substack for that week. My mind would be completely empty. I’d have that familiar panic creep in… "What am I going to write about?"
Sound familiar?
Ten months ago, this was my weekly reality. I'd sit there forcing ideas, scrolling through other people's content for inspiration, or worse—just not posting at all because I "couldn't think of anything good."
Then I discovered something that changed my entire approach: I stopped trying to be creative from scratch.
I haven't experienced writer's block since. Not once in ten months. Actually, sometimes I have too many ideas. I can sit down and write 2-3 Substack Notes in under 15 minutes, come up with newsletter post ideas on demand, and never feel that blank-page panic again.
The secret? I built my own Substack swipe file.
What's a Swipe File? (And Why Most Writers Don't Have One)
A swipe file is a collection of high-performing content ideas, templates, and inspiration that you can adapt and use whenever you need it.
Most writers approach content creation like they're reinventing the wheel every single time. They sit down to write with zero preparation, expecting creativity to strike like lightning. When it doesn't, they either force something mediocre or don't write at all.
This approach kills momentum and leads to burnout faster than anything else.
The difference between struggling writers and consistent ones isn't talent or creativity—it's having a system that removes the guesswork.
Why Your Substack Needs Its Own Swipe File
If you’ve ever hit the dreaded “writer’s block” as a Substack writer, you need a swipe file. I promise it will speed up your creative process tremendously.
Having a good swipe file will actually help you be MORE creative. It frees you up to brainstorm better ideas, all based on frameworks you already know work.
1. You'll Never Start from Zero Again
When you have a collection of proven ideas and formats, you're never staring at a blank page wondering "What should I write about?" You're choosing from options that you already know work.
This removes the biggest barrier to consistent writing: decision fatigue.
2. You Can Create Content in Minutes, Not Hours
With templates and proven formats, I can write a Substack Note in 2-3 minutes instead of 20. I'm not wondering how to structure it or what angle to take—I'm adapting something I know resonates with people.
This makes daily posting sustainable instead of exhausting.
3. Your Growth Becomes Predictable
When you track what works for you specifically and build on those patterns, your growth becomes more predictable. You're not hoping something will hit—you're using proven approaches that consistently perform.
What to Include in Your Substack Swipe File
The key to a useful swipe file isn't just randomly collecting content—it's being strategic about what you save and why. I organize mine into three main categories: content specifically for Substack Notes, ideas for full newsletter posts, and inspiration from other creators that I can adapt to my style.
When I'm building my swipe file, I'm not just saving things I like. I'm saving things that get results:
A Note that sparked 50 comments.
A headline that made me immediately click.
A story opening that hooked me from the first sentence.
Each piece serves a specific purpose in my content creation process.
Here's exactly what I keep in mine:
For Substack Notes:
Question formats that start conversations ("What's the worst advice you've heard about X?")
Behind-the-scenes angles ("Here's what happened when I...")
Quick tip templates ("One thing that changed my X...")
Contrarian takes ("Unpopular opinion: Most people are wrong about...")
For Newsletter Posts:
Headline formulas that get clicks ("How I [Result] in [Timeframe] ([Method])")
Opening hooks that grab attention (specific story starters, pain points, surprising stats)
Post structures that keep people reading (problem/solution, before/after, numbered lists)
Closing CTAs that actually convert (specific calls-to-action that work)
From Other Creators:
Subject lines that made me open emails
Notes that made me stop scrolling and engage
Post angles I hadn't thought of for my niche
Ways to present common topics with a fresh perspective
The key is noting WHY each piece worked, not just saving it randomly.
How to Build Your Swipe File (Start Today)
Building a swipe file might sound overwhelming, but it's actually simpler than you think. The key is starting small and being consistent about it. I didn't build mine overnight—it started with just a few pieces of content that caught my attention, and I gradually developed a system for organizing and using them.
The mistake most people make is trying to create the perfect system from day one. Don't do that. Start messy, then refine as you go. The goal is to begin collecting today so you have something to work with tomorrow.
Here's the exact process I used to build mine from scratch:
Step 1: Start Collecting Right Now
Don't wait until you have the "perfect" system set up. Create a simple Google Doc, Notion page, or even just a notes app on your phone. The tool doesn't matter—consistency does.
As you scroll through Substack today, save any content that makes you stop, engage, or think "That's smart." A Note that made you comment. A headline that made you click instantly. A story opening that hooked you from the first sentence.
The key here is saving things that made YOU take action, not just content you thought was "good."
Step 2: Organize by Purpose (But Keep It Simple)
After you've collected 20-30 pieces of content, start creating basic categories. Don't overthink this—you can always reorganize later.
I use these categories:
Engagement-focused Notes (questions, controversial takes, behind-the-scenes)
Educational post ideas (how-to's, tutorials, case studies)
Personal story angles (lessons learned, failures, breakthroughs)
Promotional content that doesn't feel salesy (soft pitches, value-first offers)
Step 3: Adapt, Don't Copy
This is crucial: your swipe file isn't about stealing content. It's about understanding what works and adapting it to your voice and audience.
When I see a Note that got 100 comments asking, "What's the worst business advice you've ever received?", I don't copy it word-for-word. I adapt it: "What's the worst Substack advice you've heard?" Same structure, different angle for my audience.
Take the format, the psychology, the approach—but make it authentically yours.
Step 4: Track Your Own Wins (This Is the Secret)
Here's what most people miss: your own content is often your best source of inspiration.
Every time you publish something that performs well—a Note that gets lots of engagement, a post that brings in subscribers, a subject line that gets opened—save it to your swipe file immediately.
Ask yourself: Why did this work? What can I learn from this? How can I create more content like this?
Your highest-performing content becomes templates for future success.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Swipe File
I've seen people build swipe files that never actually help them create content. They collect hundreds of examples but still struggle with writer's block. The problem isn't their collection—it's how they're using it.
After helping dozens of writers build effective swipe files, I've noticed the same three mistakes over and over again. Avoid these, and your swipe file will actually work for you:
Mistake #1: Copying Word-for-Word
Some people treat swipe files like a copy-paste library. They see a successful Note and repost it with minor changes. This misses the entire point.
A swipe file isn't about plagiarism—it's about understanding the psychology behind what works. Why did that headline make you click? What emotion did that story opening trigger? What made that question so engaging?
I see some people take my Notes and copy them word-for-word. It doesn’t bother me but I’m like, “really?” Put a little effort in and adapt the Note to your own style. It kind of looks back to copy word-for-word.
Study the structure, not the words.
Mistake #2: Collecting Without Using
I know writers who have swipe files with 500+ examples but never reference them when creating content. They spend more time collecting than creating.
Your swipe file is a tool, not a hobby. If you're not actively using it to generate ideas and overcome creative blocks, you're just digital hoarding.
Set a rule: for every 5 things you save, create 1 piece of content inspired by your collection.
Mistake #3: Only Saving Viral Content
It's tempting to save only the posts that got thousands of likes or hundreds of comments. But viral content is often lightning in a bottle—hard to replicate and not always sustainable.
Instead, focus on consistently performing content. The Note that reliably gets 20-30 engaged comments. The headline format that always gets good open rates. The story structure that keeps people reading to the end.
Consistency beats virality every time.
One Thing You Can Do Right Now
Here's the thing about swipe files: they only work if you actually start building one. I could give you the perfect system, but if you don't take action today, you'll be in the same position next week—staring at a blank page, wondering what to write.
So, let's cut through the perfectionism and analysis paralysis. I want you to do something simple that will immediately change how you approach content creation.
Stop reading this post right now and spend exactly 15 minutes building the foundation of your swipe file.
Here's what to do: Go through your recent Substack activity—what Notes made you stop scrolling and engage? What posts made you think "I wish I'd written that"? What headlines made you click instantly, even when you weren't planning to read anything?
Save 5 to 10 pieces of content that caught your attention. For each one, write just one sentence about why it worked. Was it the question format? The personal story? The contrarian angle? The specific numbers?
Don't overthink this. You're not building a masterpiece—you're starting a system.
When you're done, you'll have something most writers never create: a personalized collection of proven ideas that you can reference anytime you're stuck.
That's it. Fifteen minutes. Ten examples. One sentence each about why they worked.
You now have the beginning of a system that will save you hours of creative struggle and eliminate writer's block for good.
📌 Want My Complete Substack Swipe File?
I'll be honest with you: building an effective swipe file takes time. Not because it's complicated, but because the really valuable stuff comes from months of collecting, testing, and refining what actually works for your specific audience and style.
You could spend the next six months building yours from scratch—and you absolutely should start that process today. But if you want to fast-track your progress and see exactly what's in the swipe file that's helped me avoid writer's block for six months straight, I have something that can shortcut your learning curve significantly.
I've spent the 6 months building and refining my personal swipe file . It contains over 50 proven templates, formats, and ideas that I use to write 2-3 Notes daily, come up with newsletter topics on demand, and never experience that Sunday night panic again.
More importantly, it's organized in a way that makes it actually useful—not just a random collection of content, but a strategic system for sustainable content creation.
When you join my Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass by Sunday night, you're getting two bonuses that work together perfectly:
✅ My Personal Swipe File - The exact collection of 200+ templates, formats, and ideas I've tested and refined over the past year. This isn't just inspiration—it's a proven system organized by content type, engagement goal, and audience response.
✅ Sustainable Substack Writer Workshop (New) - My complete system for building a writing practice that energizes you instead of draining you. This teaches you not just what to write, but how to maintain creative momentum long-term without burning out.
(*Both bonuses will be delivered on Tuesday June 17th via email, but you get access to the Substack Growth Class right away.)
These two bonuses complement each other perfectly. The swipe file gives you the tools to never run out of ideas. The workshop gives you the sustainable system to use those tools effectively without overwhelming yourself.
But here's the thing: this bonus package is only available until Sunday night. After that, these bonuses won't be available again. I'm not doing this to create fake urgency—I'm doing it because I want to reward the people who take action quickly.
If you're tired of staring at blank pages and want a proven system for consistent, sustainable content creation, this is your chance to get everything I've learned about beating writer's block permanently. Join the class & get the swipe file below 👇
What a clever and simple suggestion!!! Creating a swipe file today, thank you!!!
I don't have a swipe file yet, but after reading this I definitely want to create one. Thanks Wes.