Tips for Sketchnotes: How to improve text

As you get going, it is important to keep in mind you don't always need to feel you have to have an a pictograph or doodle to effectively sketchnote. Another great way to emphasize or otherwise add visual variation to your notes is to stylize your text. If you can't think of what to draw, you might find this particularly useful. This section discusses how to sketchnote your text: to embellish what you write down. The big idea here is to vary the style and sizes you use as you write. Just like you might highlight or circle a single word or phrase while reading your scriptures, the purpose is to call out and bring attention to what you feel was most important. These kind of text styles are not just asthetic: they will help you improve the scanability of your notes (meaning it will be easier to quickly review them later). Below are some examples you might consider as you are taking notes.

Big Words, Small Words: Make important keywords bigger and less important words smaller.
Spacing: Try clustering like ideas on the page; leave gaps of space when you change focus or the speaker changes topic.
All Caps: I find writing in capital letters helps improve legibility (the ability to read my notes later. This is especially true if I'm running into the edge of the page and I have to squish the letters a little to fit.
Script/Cursive: Personally, I often use a script if I am capturing an emotion of a side note. It also works great with creating a different emphasis. You might use script with the 'Big Words, Small Words' suggestion above. For example, I might write the big words in block capital letters and then write the small words in a sort-of cursive.
Use an Accent Color: Color can be a great way to add a little variety and give yourself a visual cue. I would recommend using only one or two colors as an accent. You don't want to slow yourself down trying to make it look pretty (you might miss something noteworthy!).
Wrap Your Text Often: Avoid too many long lines of text. Press the "enter" key in your brain often.
Try Making it Bold: Make anything you write look bolder by writing over it a couple times
Think Meme: Shoot for brevity and quick impact.

Activity: Sketchnote Your Own Quote Meme

What's a favorite quote of yours? Find a blank piece of paper and try sketchnoting it out with no icons or graphics: just the text. Try some of the ideas above. Take a picture of it and submit it for our blog.

Share Your Sketchnotes