Technically a trick question because I personally don’t think it’s possible to stay motivated at all times for anything, much less practicing a new (or not-so-new) skill. Life gets busy, energy runs low, and the couch + your phone always seem to be calling your name.

But here’s a little something I’ve learned over the years: It’s not about motivation. It’s about discipline.

We’ve talked about spacing within a single word before and how it can totally change the look and readability of your lettering, but did you know spacing in your overall composition is just as important?

There’s no hard and fast, right or wrong when it comes to composition spacing, but there is one rule I stand by: be consistent.

Inconsistent spacing is one of the quickest ways to make your lettering look off, even when your letterforms are solid. And most of the time, it’s not something you notice until it’s already distracting from the message of your piece.

This week’s lettering tip is a continuation of our conversation around composition—and today we’re focusing on an easy (and super effective!) way to add visual interest to your quote layouts -

Varying the size and/or style of your words.

It’s finally time to jump into compositions, my most frequently asked topic. And I’ve been putting it off because it’s not the easiest to teach. I learned everything myself, which means I don’t know much about the theories or science behind composition. I just know what looks good to me and I stick with it. But as with all things art, a nice composition can be a very subjective thing. What’s something I like may not be what you like.

The most basic (and honestly, all you need to get started) setup is just a piece of paper and any pen or pencil you’ve got lying around. The only downside to a blank piece of paper is that you’ll need to draw your own guidelines so your letters don’t end up floating off into weird angles or dancing on different baselines. A ruler or anything with a straight edge does the trick, though, and it’s a pretty quick and painless process.

This week’s lettering post isn’t an actual tutorial, but it is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned and continue to learn. It’s about something we all deal with, no matter how long we’ve been at this: what to do when you hate your lettering and you can’t figure out why. Enter: Feedback!