A post I made about World-building

[EGLoomis]

This is a post I made about world-building on my blog.

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[elemtilas]

This is a post I made about world-building on my blog.

You had me at maps! I am definitely of the opinion that a good map is every bit as important as a good character. If the character arc in the text part of your story shows us an image of the character, her development, her temperament and personality; the map similarly shows us an image of the world's nature, its history and character.

Apart from the slick soft-porn image on the front of the book (usually looks nothing at all like anyone ìn the book), the map is generally the first "character" the reader will interact with. The map sets the scene tells the reader about the world and locates the action. A nicely done map serves as a real attraction to a story and also is the pivot point between the advertising (the scantilly clad girl on the front cover and the boiler-plate girl wakes up only to find she's got to rescue the kingdom from sure destruction text on the back cover). It's the gateway to both world and tale.

 

[EGLoomis]

You had me at maps! I am definitely of the opinion that a good map is every bit as important as a good character. If the character arc in the text part of your story shows us an image of the character, her development, her temperament and personality; the map similarly shows us an image of the world's nature, its history and character.

Apart from the slick soft-porn image on the front of the book (usually looks nothing at all like anyone ìn the book), the map is generally the first "character" the reader will interact with. The map sets the scene tells the reader about the world and locates the action. A nicely done map serves as a real attraction to a story and also is the pivot point between the advertising (the scantilly clad girl on the front cover and the boiler-plate girl wakes up only to find she's got to rescue the kingdom from sure destruction text on the back cover). It's the gateway to both world and tale.

Agreed. Glad we share opinions!

 

[Eastwatcher]

I'm totally on board with this. In my own work a vague map was the very first thing that I drew just so I could get my bearings. When I started I didn't really have a story laid out. Just an idea. The map gave me an anchor to base the events that I came up with around. It also let me pick up on logical errors and then find interesting ways to account for them, e.g. Why would a kingdom want to go to conquer a mountain tribe in the first place if the mountains are such an inhospitable place to live and rule? Because the tribe controls the only valley that cuts through the mountains that will allow for access into the seas and trade with other nations. It's also really important for building the cultures of the peoples in your work. A people are what their land and their history make them, and without a firm understanding of the land, half of their essence is missing.
Also, the maps on your blog are awesome. I love a good scale bar. It makes things that little bit more real.

 

[EGLoomis]

I'm totally on board with this. In my own work a vague map was the very first thing that I drew just so I could get my bearings. When I started I didn't really have a story laid out. Just an idea. The map gave me an anchor to base the events that I came up with around. It also let me pick up on logical errors and then find interesting ways to account for them, e.g. Why would a kingdom want to go to conquer a mountain tribe in the first place if the mountains are such an inhospitable place to live and rule? Because the tribe controls the only valley that cuts through the mountains that will allow for access into the seas and trade with other nations. It's also really important for building the cultures of the peoples in your work. A people are what their land and their history make them, and without a firm understanding of the land, half of their essence is missing.
Also, the maps on your blog are awesome. I love a good scale bar. It makes things that little bit more real.

Thanks Eastwatcher!