"Swag Out"

Musings from an Unexpected Source

A quick FYI

Before I dive into things, I would love it if you can take one minute and share below link on your social media or aspiring writer friends. I’m teaching a class on pitching for Roadmap.

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Shameless plug over, let’s discuss today’s post.

“Swag Out"

I thought I would write about the philosophy of applying the thinking of staying in a bear market to one’s career. This was based on a podcast episode of The Daily discussing Warren Buffett’s exit/retirement from Berkshire Hathaway. Even though Buffett’s not a perfect figure, he had an astute take on money and capitalism with guardrails in theory. The podcast mentions how one is supposed to buy “cigar butts,” which refers to Buffet’s ethos of not buying blue chip companies, but buying penny stock companies and holding them until they rise. (Yes, I slightly misused the terms “blue chip” and “penny stock,” finance readers, don’t come at me!). It’s the same process with the stock market. Do not sell out if your portfolio dived but hold onto what you have because the stock market has always historically recovered, pending, of course, if there isn’t something unprecedented like a world war. (I’m over unprecedented times, please, universe.) *

*This goes without saying; this isn’t money advice but just how I think about things.*

With that said, today’s substack was about hanging in and surviving the business until… drumroll please…

I got on a call with my reps and they mentioned the idea of “swagging out.” It was their way of saying that despite the market being what it is and having no idea if the contraction will un-contract or if this is the new normal, the one thing I can control is my attitude, on top of having standout material. My reps kindly told me, which I don’t know if it’s comforting or not, how much they loved my samples and especially in my latest. So their advice was to go out and act in confidence, not fear. “Swag out,” so to speak. Have some confidence on top of a stellar sample. I’m paraphrasing their words here.

Why not be the writer who “swags out?” Everyone else is probably going to be talking about how “times are weird” or bringing up the “contraction.” Be the writer in a meeting who peacocks a little. Maybe that’s how one can stand out in the marketplace. Maybe that extra puffing of the chest is what I can do to put myself over the top. Let your excitement get others excited.

While I’ve uttered a similar sentiment like this before, I don’t think I’ve ever used the words “swag out.” There was something so fucking empowering about it. I kind of love it.

So that’s my take this month. SWAG OUT.

I also found the below podcast super interesting and great for anyone writing a family dynamic in their scripts.

The Secret Power of Siblings

Almost Insightful A.I.

I know writers are resistant to AI but hear me out. I do think AI, specifically chatgpt can be great for research and compiling info. Here are some suggestions on AI prompts to make your writing life easier. Half of below will be behind the firewall.

• If you’re doing research for a general with someone, ask AI, “Can you please tell me the five key takeaways from this person’s online presence. The person is ____ at _____. Thank you.”

• Similar to above, “Can you please come up with 3-5 insightful questions to ask______ at ______. Here is the website (or social media) ______ for ______?”

• If you’re looking for comps. Let’s say you’re writing a romance drama. “Please tell me the most successful romance dramas on television in the last ten years. Thank you.”