Based on comments from y’all–not to mention which posts get the most traffic on this blog–I’ve made a cool discovery: Although you seem to appreciate posts on theory, what you REALLY like are posts that dig into specific examples.
Photos: Jaro Larnos, Sheltie Boy, State Library of South Aus, & Woodleywonderworks
Practice a Concept–OWN the Concept
Makes sense to me! I don’t really understand a concept until I try it out six ways from Sunday and make it my own, if you know what I mean :).
So I thought I’d try an experiment. On Mondays, I’ll continue to bring you information and tips about writing, creativity, and novel ways to connect with readers. Thursdays, we’ll dive into specifics–specific examples, specific applications, specific challenges, and so on, that have to do with the week’s topic. Starting with (drumroll, please…) sketchnoting!
Add Sketchnotes to Your Creative Process: 3 Ideas
Idea 1: Use sketchnotes to create a “mind map” of conference sessions, lectures, or other presentations.
How? Simply apply basic sketchnoting principles as described by sketchnoting authority Mike Rohde in the Sketchnote Handbook: The Illustrated Guide to Visual Note Taking.
Who should try this? Creating this type of sketchnote could be a good fit for you if:
- You want to start training your brain to think visually and symbolically
- You want to practice the sketchnoting process without simultaneously trying to generate content
- You want to share conference or meeting notes with others
- You want to create a visual reminder of conference, meeting, or other information that you can refer to later
Example: I created this sketchnote…
…to help remind me of the great concepts in Simon Sinek’s inspirational talk “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.” The result is a one-page source of inspiration that I’ll add to my writing binder. It captures the core ideas in a way that will jog my memory when I need to recharge.
Idea 2: Use sketchnotes to create a visual representation of an EXISTING character or character arc.
IMO, it’s easier to organize existing information in a visual format than it is to generate new ideas during the sketchnoting process. That means you’ll probably have an easier time creating a well-organized sketchnote if you have a clear idea of who your character is before you start.
However, the very process of sketchnoting activates different brain regions than writing text, so it’s likely that this exercise will generate new ideas along the way. If so, run with them! The purpose of sketchnoting isn’t to create beautiful art (see my examples!) but to create a visual representation of thoughts and ideas. Let your creativity come out and play–get messy–and make the process work for you!
You want to see the “big picture” for a specific character (or setting, or whatever else you decide to use in this exercise)- You have a reasonably clear idea of who your character is–for example, her personality, flaws, strengths and weaknesses, etc.
- You want to create a one-stop reference to help remind yourself of important character details–such as who he knows, his mannerisms, his physical appearance, information he’s uncovered at various points in the story, etc.
Idea 3: Blend sketchnoting concepts with mind mapping to brainstorm a NEW character, character arc, scene, or an entire plot.
- You feel comfortable translating words and ideas into simple symbols
- You trust yourself not to fixate on creating beautiful art at the expense of generating ideas
- You’re familiar with mind mapping
- Or you like trying lots of new things at once–bring on sketchnotes, mind mapping, and more!
