Hi, I'm James and I like to sketchnote. Sketchnoting is the combination of normal note-taking with doodling: where your doodles, or sketches, are a deliberate part of the story you are telling in your notes. I've been humbled by the compliments and nice things people have to say about my sketchnotes. I sometimes hear comments to the effect of "That's so cool, but I could never do that." This website-guide is here to show you how easy it is to get started.

A Quick Pep-Talk

A message for the non-believers: I promise you, you can sketchnote. The only prerequisite is to be willing to try. You don't have to be artistic, and you definitely don't have to do it a certain way. When I was on my LDS mission (stay with me), a general authority visited for zone conference. As part of a question-and-answer session, he shared with us something that gave me courage in my efforts as a missionary. He drew a box and labeled each side. One side was labeled the scriptures; another, preach my gospel; the third, the missionary handbook; and the fourth, the mission president. He taught us that every missionary is subject to these four sources of instruction and guidance. They represent what the Lord had communicated about how missionary work should be conducted. We had a responsibility to be true to that revelation—to stay within that box—but as long as we stayed true to that guidance and worked inside those parameters, he taught, we were free to bring our unique perspective, experiences and talents to the table. With that understanding, the box becomes much less of a fence and more of a canvas to paint our masterpiece. So what does that have to do with sketchnotes? The big idea here is that there's no need to fear messing up. As with any type of gospel-study activity, the most important 'box' to pay attention to is that which is made up of those principles and instructions that outline how we receive and act on personal revelation. The rest is really up to you. Like anything in life, it might not come easy at first, but that is part of the adventure. The only mistake is to get too focused on what doesn't matter. Sketchnotes are first and foremost for your own edification: there's no wrong way to do it.

Still don't believe me?

Take a look at the next few pages. We'll focus on the practical side of how to get started. I've included different activities and ideas along the way you can try out. We will look at basic shapes, text sizes and other doodle ideas that are simple and easy to start doing. With practice, you will find yourself with a steadier hand. Ideas on how to personalize your notes and layout what you are learning will come more naturally. Your own style will emerge that fits your interests and needs. You will begin to develop a visual note-taking technique you can use at your pleasure.

Next Chapter: What to Sketchnote?

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