Hello Reader,

It's been a minute! I wanted to send a quick update about the goings-on around Sketch Academy and give a personal update.
​
First, let's talk about my last email. I asked "Why are you on this email list, and what do you want to learn?", and you delivered! I got a huge variety of responses that were really helpful, and even hilarious! One person said they didn't know what sketchnoting was, but they really liked visual notetaking. 🙃

Here's some of the big takeaways:

1. Sketchnoting is a WIDE field. There are a lot of ways to apply and practice visual notetaking... There are hobbyists looking to do something fun once in a while, enthusiasts who want to practice at every opportunity, people who want to try to incorporate visual notetaking at work, and people who want to become a professional and get paid to do the work.
2. Time & bandwidth are the biggest barriers... Myself included! I have a personal life and a business that I prioritize above other commitments, and others of you are busy with little kids, your work, and busy schedules. I heard often that it's always hard to be consistent or make something work with your schedule and timezone. That being said...
3. Interest exists, but commitment is low. You enjoy tips, inspiration, and short learning opportunities but can't commit tp long courses or programs. Totally okay!
4. Sketch Academy's site was confusing! It was hard to find programs and what levels they were for.

So... now what?

Here are some changes:

1. No more membership or community. It was a lot to manage personally and it distracted from my goal of creating more standalone courses and resources. There are other online communities for sketchnoters. 😉
2. Keeping it Simple. I want Sketch Academy to be THE place to learn sketchnoting online without having to pay for a subscription every month. No one likes subscription models! So, I'm focused on every offering being centered around learning sketchnoting at different levels. This means no adjacent workshops on things like visual metaphors, Christmas cards, etc. for the foreseeable future... I only have time to keep the main thing the main thing!
3. Workshops or Courses? Feedback was overwhelmingly in favor of live workshops over courses... but schedules are so busy or timezones are such that you're not able to attend live workshops. It does feel a bit like being between a rock and a hard place! I wish I could make everyone happy, but my best option is sticking to a short online course format. I'll make sure they're easier to finish quickly and have lots of videos, exercises, and worksheets.

I'm working on some new offerings and will keep you in the loop!

A personal update: The roller coaster of summer

As many of you saw in previous emails, at the end of May my brother-in-law died in an accident and in June my sister-in-law passed a week later from her injuries. There's nothing to say other than it sucks.

The worst part of grief is how the world keeps spinning and you're forced along for the ride, and most people don't know how shitty you feel. My husband describes grief like a wave that shakes up the icebergs of other hurt/trauma you haven't processed or dealt with yet. It's like one grief triggers other griefs. You're crying about a lot of different things. But because the world keeps on going, there's actually good stuff happening too! Sometimes I felt guilty enjoying the good things or couldn't really engage with the goodness, and other times it was a true moment of gratitude and enjoyment.

In June I attended a Mastermind retreat and a conference, shadowed a facilitator, and did some graphic recording for a local nonprofit. All of these experiences were the BEST time. I also put together a will and got life insurance. That process unearthed a lot of grief about my life and where I am today, my family, and even the state of the world! This was the WORST time.

In July I got an amazing package from Zebra Pens (that I can't wait to share more about!), took my MTB group on a couple of rides, visited family, and enjoyed several lake days with Joseph and some friends. The BEST! We also traveled to Colorado for the memorial service. The WORST!

August brought camping, MTB rides, witnessing the monarch butterfly migration, paddleboarding on the lake, and graphic recording for a local creative event. BEST! But also marked month 3 of REALLY slow work, thus causing me to feel like a piece of shit and wonder if it's all my fault. WORST!

It's been the summer from hell but it's also been the best summer ever. Highest of highs... lowest of lows. Both are true. There's loss and sadness and major depression and pain, all cozied up with joy, love, community, and support. One of those supports was my local counselor. I've been in therapy off and on since 2017, and it's been so helpful for helping me make sense of my emotions, connect with feelings in my body, and process things in a healthy way since I grew up being a professional emotions stuffer. If you've never done therapy, there's no time like the present to. try it! You don't even have to have anything going wrong in your life right now... If you're not sure where to start, I suggest BetterHelp as a place you can start.

When I moved to Oregon in 2022, counselor waitlists were long and I didn't have local insurance yet, but I needed support NOW. Like you, I'd heard all the BetterHelp ads on podcasts and thought I'd give it a try. I was paired with a wonderful counselor. I felt so heard, she understood me and my blocks, and she coached me through what I needed to do over several months. I'm really grateful for this service and how it helped me, and if you've ever thought about counseling, I know it can be helpful for you too.

That's all for now, friends! I'll keep you in the loop with more updates.

- Emily Mills