Tag: maps

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

Four Popular Options for Map-Making Software

World building is a critical part of any speculative fiction work. As we create new worlds, one of the best ways to make them real to us and eventually to our readers is with maps. Maps help us in every stage of writing, from where our characters need to go, to the obstacles they face. Is there a giant mountain range between them and your Mordor? Is there a lake or ocean they must cross before they can scale the Cliffs of Insanity?

Let’s look at four popular options for map-making software. These run the gamut of functionality, price, and ease of use.

Campaign Cartographer 3

Campaign Cartographer 3 website

Like many things in the world of software, there’s a proportional relationship between how powerful a software is and its learning curve. Campaign Cartographer 3 (CC3) has a wide variety of options, but a steep learning curve to go along with it. Budget several hours to go through YouTube video and do some practice on minor projects. Once you master it, you can make some beautiful maps.

The site isn’t easy to navigate and tries to steer you into far more expensive bundles, rather than the $30 price tag for just the software. If you need to create several maps, and can dedicate the time to learn it, CC3 is a superb choice.

Wonderdraft

Wonderdraft website

On the other end of the spectrum, you have something like Wonderdraft. Wonderdraft is a fantastic software. Its intuitive interface makes it simple to pick up and start producing right away. You don’t have to sit there and draw every single little building in your world. There are a ton of exceptional assets to use. It even has a distance ruler. For those of you who love to start with a hand-drawn map, with Wonderdraft’s overlay feature, you could sketch out your map on paper, upload a picture, and trace everything in the software.

Wonderdraft has an active subreddit called r/wonderdraft where users share their creations. You can get inspiration for your own worlds or get help from the community.

 Inkarnate

Inkarnate website

Inkarnate is another user-friendly option. The developer has been making steady improvements, adding new assets which only increase its value and functionality. The sticky wicket with Inkarnate is the monetization model.

Inkarnate uses a subscription model. If you don’t purchase the subscription, you do not have the copyright to the maps you create. But if you produce a map while you have their subscription, you don’t lose the rights if you subsequently drop the subscription. You’ll have to weigh the subscription cost versus a purchase of one of the other options, but I do like how Inkarnate gives you the ability to try before you buy.

 Ortelius

Ortelius website

Ortelius is a powerful map making tool with some significant drawbacks. It is only available on the Mac platform. In addition, it is expensive, but will produce a high-resolution map.

Fantasy Maps Facebook Private Group

Facebook group

If you’d like more discussion of the various map-making tools, this is a fantastic private Facebook group. Besides great discussions, you’ll be able to look at maps other creators have made, and even find people who will make a map for you.

 I have no affiliation with any of these programs, and there are no affiliate links used in this article.

What mapping software are you using for your current work in progress novel? Do you use one of these or something else entirely?

Ted Atchley is a freelance writer and professional computer programmer. Whether it’s words or code, he’s always writing. Ted’s love for speculative fiction started early on with Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, and the Star Wars movies. This led to reading Marvel comics and eventually losing himself in Asimov’s Apprentice Adept and the world of Krynn (Dragonlance Chronicles). 

After blogging on his own for several years, Blizzard Watch (blizzardwatch.com) hired Ted to be a regular columnist in 2016. When the site dropped many of its columns two years later, they retained Ted as a staff writer. 

He lives in beautiful Charleston, SC with his wife and children. When not writing, you’ll find him spending time with his family, and cheering on his beloved Carolina Panthers. He’s currently revising his work-in-progress portal fantasy novel before preparing to query. 

Ted as a bi-montly newsletter which you can join here. It’s a roundup of links about writing, Star Wars, Marvel, and/or the Panthers with brief commentary from him. Think of it as a kind of ICYMI (In Case You Missed It). Eventually, you’ll see info about my his books, and even receive free short stories.

  • Twitter: @tedatchley3
  • Twitter: @honorshammer (gaming / Blizzard Watch)
Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

Fantasy and Maps—Does Your Story Need One?

 

What do “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” and “The Land of Oz” all have in common?

Crack open any of these classic books and you’ll find a map of a fantasy world to go with the story. The inclusion of maps within works of fantasy was not uncommon in early literature, however, it was made more popular with J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” saga.

There are multiple reasons to include a map in your fantasy work. A map can aid a reader to use their imagination and abandon their disbelief of the non-reality. This new world, although steeped in mystery, becomes real to the reader, bringing a deeper connection between the reader and the story. Just as the character of the story is on a journey through this fantasy world, having a visual of where that character treads can create a better understanding of his personality.

Among the more recent fantasy writers, a few authors prefer to avoid the inclusion of a map, as they consider it a distraction from the story. These authors would prefer for the reader to deeply connect with the words, and to avoid the urge to flip back to the map, thus breaking up the story in the reader’s mind.

But there are also writers who hold firm to the inclusion of maps, recognizing that every reader is different. Some readers love maps and might purchase a fantasy book simply because a map is included! Others are more visual and need a map to help them understand the movements within the story. Ultimately, if a reader isn’t a fan of maps, they will likely just skip right over it anyway.

So, should you include a map in your fantasy manuscript? Consider these thoughts to help you decide:

– It’s not a good idea to include it just because other fantasy authors do so. If a map is necessary for the reader to understand the story—particularly if there is quite a bit of travel within it—then by all means, include one!

– Can you keep it simple? It’s important to keep the reader in mind so you don’t bog the picture down with extraneous detail. There is a difference between “complicated” and “detailed.”

– How much research are you willing to put into it? There can be marked differences between a medieval design and a futuristic design. Study the maps of successful fantasy books and see what common theme you see between them.

If you’re still not sure if your book needs a map, then ask your beta readers or critique partners for their input. If you can write in a way so the reader doesn’t need to flip to a map to understand where your character’s journey takes them, then it’s likely you can leave out this extra element in your story.

Does your manuscript include a map? How has it improved the overall understanding of your fantasy world with your readers? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

Laura L Zimmerman Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter and at her website,www.lauralzimmerman.com

 

 

 

 

 

Featured photo courtesy of Upsplash & NASA

Categories
History in the Making

A Hidden Treasure for Historical Writers

Map of Chattanooga and Brown's Ferry by Brigadier General Wm. F. Smith, 1863

By Sandra Merville Hart

 Maps are hidden treasure for historical writers. If you haven’t used this key source of information to add authenticity to your novel, it’s worth investigating.

A treasure chest full of information can be found on old maps. Authors find railroads, waterways, and roads. How close was the town to a river? Often a little digging leads to showing the size of a city and street names.

One of the first things I look for when researching a new historical novel is an old map. It’s important to find a map dated the year of or before the setting year. Anything later runs the risk of expansion/decline, referencing businesses not there at the time, and the like.

That brings us to another wonderful feature of detailed maps: location of homes and especially businesses. Knowing the name of a mercantile or the street where the post office resides sparks reader interest, especially those familiar with the area. Such details add depth if referenced in a novel.[bctt tweet=”You may find the greatest treasure hidden in plain sight. #Author #History”]

A railroad depot in town offers an exciting setting for a scene, maybe in that sagging middle. Perhaps someone comes to visit the main character at the train station or the protagonist travels from there on a day’s excursion. These tidbits reveal that era’s everyday world.

A careful study of these maps may show where Widow Matthews lived. Maybe the widow goes to church with your characters or makes the best apple pies around. A manufacturing company or mill on the map may employ a character’s family member.

If possible, visit the area during the research phase of the novel. Walking the streets in the oldest part of town or eating at a diner gives a sense of a town. Local museums can hold a wealth of information not commonly known. Ask questions. It’s always fun to find a knowledgeable person on local history. Listen to their story even if it doesn’t directly pertain to the novel; maybe some fact will capture your imagination.

When researching for historical novels, don’t overlook maps. You may find the greatest treasure hidden in plain sight.