Hi everyone. I am here today to give you all advice on a matter of 'cartography' (or map making) for fantasy stories which include fictional lands and countries.
I find that this helps me write my novels an astounding amount, it actually shapes the path my characters go on and I can state with precision the path they go on. The purpose of this is to see if it helps other people, hence it is a tip for writing.
I have noticed that not many people have tried or even dared to attempt making a map for their story, but it is easier than you think (or so I think).
Many of you may have actually seen my maps on here and thought that they look a little complex, but really they are not. They all start off from basics (save for my original designs, but my more recent maps follow a basic structure). The way I will teach you may seem completely absurd, or it may seem logical, but as you will see, it does work as long as you are quite patient.
As you know, the recent server moves on YWS have subsequently caused all images on the site to disappear. As such, this tutorial had been rendered useless as it is near impossible to interpret from words alone.
I thought it would be a good idea to start again. Looking back at what I had done before, there was a lot which I left out in terms of getting an accurate and believable shape. I will keep this tutorial much simpler than before to make it less confusing, and hopefully the pictures can more or less speak for themselves.
I am using a new technique this time than before. I think this is much more suited to people who have difficulty making the smallest decisions.
So here goes:
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STAGE ONE:
Draw a random ‘blob’ or interesting freeform shape. Whether you believe it nor or not, this will be the core of your map! It can be absolutely any shape you want, so long as it’s not a recognisable one.
STAGE TWO:
Your random shape should have some areas that stick out, like the drops of a paint splatter. Put a dot on these points like I have shown. This is where you will begin to transform your blob into a formidable piece of land. When you have done this, put a dot roughly in the centre of your blob. This it the heart of the land.
STAGE THREE:
From the central dot, begin to draw curving lines to connect to all the other dots, like a spider’s legs stemming from its bodies. Make sure you make all these differing lengths and mostly different directions; these are what will eventually form the refined shape of the land.
STAGE FOUR:
From the longest of the ‘legs’ begin to connect the end of the leg to the next one along, but as you do, follow the shape of the blob, so it is like a larger version of the original blob, only extruded across different branches, giving it a more expansive and land-like form.
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STAGE FIVE:
Once you have gotten the complete shape you can begin to layer it up more to give it more interesting areas. Just play around with this, add more small blobs, odd shapes, scribbles here and there – you will know what looks right. Eventually your map should look like a form with a lot of bits eating away at it.
STAGE SIX:
Rub out everything inside the map. This includes the original map lines that you drew before adding the parts from STAGE FIVE. You should be left with quite an interesting shape, certainly more realistic looking. Now then, you will notice there are arrows next to the map, which will be explained in the next stage.
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STAGE SEVEN:
Don’t worry, I have just used a different map with this, but the same principle still applies. The arrows mentioned in the previous stage and seen in this one represent where the ocean will hit the land. If the water presses into the coast, it will find its way inland. As such, many river mouths will open (though you don’t have to do this, as not all countries will have this) It just makes it look more fantasy like and as if nature has been battering it. You’ve just got to mould the land into a weathered look, as if cant just look ‘shiny and new’ It has to look like it has been there for thousands/millions of years.
STAGE EIGHT:
This is one of the trickier stages. It involves giving your land a more detailed edge. The magnified section will show you the original lines and how I have gone around them, adding random points and indents. Some of these indents will eventually go on to form rivers etc. You can also at this point, begin to add in small islands around the edge, but make sure they follow the direction of the ocean currents as shown. Rub out the old basic lines as best you can so you are left with an interesting edge around your map. Once you have done this you should be left with a much more realistic looking map.
PART TWO SHALL BE EDITED WHEN THE TIME COMES.
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