Writing Tips: Maps in Your Novel
Everyone has seen the fantasy novels that have the world map on the inside front cover or right before the first chapter. Believe it or not, these maps can help you write that novel. It is extremely important to know where everything is in the world you are creating. If you provide a location that contradicts another location, your readers will pick it out every time.
Drawing out a map is extremely simple and indispensable as you create your world. This map can be as vast as an entire world or continent, complete with mountain ranges, valleys, rivers, cities, haunted regions and caverns, etc. It can also be as simple as a building that your characters are trying to navigate to get away from your villain. This map will be just for your visual needs, but can be adapted to print in your final book like so many fantasy books before you.
I think the more information you can provide on a map, the better. Include regional names, city names, ocean, lake and river names as well as the home place of your hero and villain. You will want to mark all the places that your characters visit. Draw in the mountains and maybe simple illustrations of the buildings that can be found in that region of the map.
As you write your story, your map will most likely mutate and evolve. Let those natural changes happen. It will only make your map and your story better.
See More Writing Tips.
If you have other ideas on how to find story ideas, write a comment. I would love to hear how you are inspired.
