#27 Sticker charts for joy

For people who need to step away from their to-do lists

Hello hello.

I’m more done-ish with my book. Last week, I turned in my book—the colored, edited pages— in one large PDF.

There are 132 pages in my book—in this nearly finalized version. But I bet I’ve made at least 300 pages through this book-making process. Most of what I’ve made didn’t make it into the book. Here’s a page I love that won’t make it into the final book.

For me, this part of the process is meaningful. I made so many pages that won’t be included in the end. It feels a lot like life. Learning to be okay with not using what I’ve made helps me learn to let go. And it helps me to recognize that these pages were important for me to make—even if they’re not in the book.

Let’s draw together!

Recently, I listened to an On Being podcast with Krista Tippett and Ross Gay. Ross Gay talked about cultivating a delight radar and developing a muscle for joy.

I’d like a sticker chart for joy.

Maybe, like me, you’re a person who likes sticker charts.

Maybe, like me, intentionality is important for you, too. Maybe you, too, need a way to kickstart your creative process for the day.

If that’s the case, I hope you’ll join me for a daily delight drawing session.

Next week we’ll spend 45 minutes Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday morning drawing about joy. If you’d like to join for one or more sessions, sign up here!

9-9:45 AM EST |July 22 | July 23 | July 25 | $20 per session | on zoom

No drawing experience needed! If you’re comics-curious—this is for you. 

During each 45-minute session, we’ll identify what softness our animal bodies need and practice noticing joy. We’ll dive into two drawing prompts, share our work, and set intentions for our creative practice. Our goal is to nurture our creative selves, to jump-start *that* project—you know the one!—we’ve all got that project simmering on the back burner, longing for attention—and spend time with delight.

Sign up here for one or all sessions! I hope you’ll join us.

Thanks for reading Soft Things: comics about science, research, and being human. I create narrative comics that intertwine research and storytelling to make science relatable. My comics have been featured in the Washington Post and Mutha Magazine, among other outlets. My graphic memoir is forthcoming from Street Noise Books in 2025. If you’re new here, welcome! You might wonder why I’m curious about shame, why this newsletter is called Soft Things, and who the heck I am, anyway. For more comics and creative process-processing, here’s my Instagram: @cara_gormally