I usually sketch out a map when I'm writing my first draft, especially if it's a fantasy novel, because it helps me visualize the setting and the characters' physical and emotional journeys. I've actually drawn this particular map three times already, and this time I think I've finally go it right. I was a bit more obsessive drawing/artsy-wise while working on this project because it offered a lot of opportunities for me to create visuals (I've also drawn out prison blueprints, building faces, and castle floor plans for my WIP), and frankly, I'm more attached to it emotionally. And for whatever reason, I enjoy drawing these maps :)
Wow, that's awesome! I tried drawing a map for my WIP... which didn't turn out nearly as well as yours did. Well done!!
ReplyDeleteOoh, pretty. ^_^ I love the shading and artsy-ness. =) I was too lazy to do shading like that, even though that's the aesthetic I was going for(I used Eragon as a map guide). I just scribbled with pen, lol. I think it turned out pretty nice—I have it on my blog here if you're interested in seeing it—but yes. I researched geographical processes, so everything's scientifically correct…except I forgot that coastal towns should be in nooks w/ bays, so I'm a teensy-bit hard pressed to say it's entirely correct and sensical. But that's more social-science than science-science, so…I'm all good? =P All the coastal cities and towns ended up somewhat near a nook, so I could say that they're correct, haha.
ReplyDeleteGiven the research, deserts generally require mountains on one side to be deserts, usually the coastal side, so your Black Desert might be wanting a mountain range along its coast. Because mountains catch/block the moisture from the ocean, making their coastal side lush and all the air that gets past them dry, hence desert. A very good real life example is the Sahara and the Atlas Mts. =) Also, rivers flow from high elevation to low elevation, usually starting in mountains or high elevation lakes, and end either at the ocean or a large lake in a bowl that can't drain out—steep gradation leads to very straight, swift rivers, like in Japan, and gentle gradation leads to more meandering rivers.
You know, most people probably wouldn't notice or care, haha, but I thought I'd let you know. ^_^