I think a lot of people have little to no knowledge of how a professional-grade fantasy map comes about. How do you go about designing a world based off an author’s ideas? Do you just throw some stuff onto a squiggly coastline and call it good?
Making a map is quite the process. I read the book and make location notes (sometimes I find myself noting geographic references in books I’m just reading for fun—it’s become a habit). I really try to make the map match the tone of the book and to make it more than just something for the reader to keep track of where the characters are. I’ve brought back maps from many of the real-world countries I’ve visited. I’ve marked on them where I’ve been. I’ve planned trips on them and dreamed about going to some of the places. Fantasy maps are the same way. They’re a real thing—souvenirs that the reader can bring back with them when they’re done visiting the book.
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