🕵️‍♂️ Do you know what's a morgue file?

Ever heard of morgue files?

Do you know what a morgue file is?

It’s not as creepy as it sounds.

In journalism, a morgue file is a collection of archived materials, including past articles, photographs, clippings, notes…

Journalists and editors use these files to research background information, find historical context, and inspire new stories.

The term comes from the idea that these materials are “dead” in terms of being outdated or previously used, but they can be revived to inform current work.

The term “morgue file” is in disuse today, but not the concept.

In the creator sphere, we know of these “morgue files” as “Swipe Files”, and most of them are no longer in a humid basement.

They are digital.

A modern swipe file is exactly what it sounds like: a file to keep track of what you swiped (or stolen) from others so you can revisit and get inspired.

An artist facing a blank canvas? Take a look at your swipe file

A writer fighting the blank page? Take a look at your swipe file

A marketer’s empty campaign? Take a look at your swipe file

A swipe file allows you to select elements from other people's work and steal them for your own.

It helps you start from a place of inspiration versus a blank page (which rarely works).

Everyone should have a swipe file.

And if you don’t have one, you NEED to start building it now.

Or take my alternative → Use The Steal Club as your swipe file for growing and monetizing your audience.

The Steal Club is the definitive swipe file for creator thieves like us.

It has taken me hundreds of hours to put together but I’ve managed to compile over 120+ tactics creators use to grow and monetize their audience.

For many people, what I’ve shared in these emails these days, plus the 3 tactics I’ll keep sharing every week if you stay subscribed, will be more than enough.

Others (like you maybe? 👀) will want more.

I have something for those brave thieves. But you’ll have to wait for tomorrow’s email.

And I’ll throw in something extra special for those who steal fast.

See you tomorrow!

Alex Llull, Chief Thief