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I love swipe files. In my case it’s more of a combination of a swipe pile and collection of swipe bookmarks, but anyway….

If you’re not familiar with swipe files, it’s basically a collection of information that you can use for inspiration in your writing. Here are some of the things I keep in my swipe file:

• Magazine headlines if I think the format is interesting and worth using as a model at some point in the future.
• Articles on topics I plan to write about, which I can use as source material or just a reminder to cover the topic (like bookmarking an article on a writer I may want to profile in the future).
• Links to things I may want to feature or review, such as books, software programs, or even Web templates or blog plugins.

That covers the bulk of what I keep around to inspire me when I’m having a tough time writing. What do you keep in your swipe file?

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4. The Best E-book Software for the First Time Author
5. Technology-Induced Headaches

About the Author: Jennifer Mattern

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Jenn Mattern is a professional blogger and freelance business writer. She owns All Freelance Writing as well as several other sites and blogs covering PR, small business, and related topic areas. She is also currently writing a nonfiction book for freelance writers called The Query-Free Freelancer, and is the author of the Web Writer's Guide e-book series.