Sketchnoting with Paper Mate®

What makes sketchnoting different?

In traditional note-taking, it is sometimes challenging to make connections between points in the context. Rather than just filling the page as you go, in sketchnoting, thoughts and ideas are structured in a manner that makes sense to you. Connect points with lines. Use boxes, circles, abstract doodles or different colours. Improvise! The most important element is finding a style that works for you.

• Text: simplify your everyday handwriting. Use it to make lists, add details, or make notes in the margins.


• Shapes: stay basic with squares, circles and triangles. Shapes work great for bullet points or to call out specific information.


• Containers: take your creativity to another level with containers like clouds, frames or speech bubbles. Containers can serve as page headers or highlight the primary points of a passage.

• Connectors: track your train of thought with connectors. Does the point support an earlier entry? Connect the two with an arrow or dotted or squiggly line!


• Symbols: as you gain confidence with your sketchnoting, symbols will play more and more into the process. Draw a lightbulb to shine a light on the point where you got it. Over time, you’ll build a library of icons to use in your notes.


• Illustrations: turn doodles into picture-notes. Remember that a picture is worth a thousand words. Don’t get caught up on perfection, rules or mistakes. The notes are yours – and you make the rules!

Stock up

Ready to give sketch note-taking a try? Both ruled notebooks and blank sketchpads work well. Make sure to grab a few pens – we suggest a variety of tip sizes and colours. Both Paper Mate Flair Pens and Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens feature wide-ranging collections of colour perfect for the task. And don’t forget the most essential tool of all – your imagination!