I knew this, but I didn't quite KNOW it.

[lagilman]

Oh shit. I have to create a map.


I guess I are a fantasy writer now for sure.



EtA: I lurrrve research. I especially lurrrve research I can mess with.

Comments

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Yup, nothing says fantasy writer like a map.

Of course nothing says "fantasy writer who can't draw" like square islands-- and for this I reference the map included in DEVLIN'S LUCK.

[lagilman]

If this makes it to final inclusionary stage, it will be redone by a professional (or at least talented amateur) cartographer. I know my limits, and they fall around the level of "might be able to draw a straight line if you gave her a ruler."

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

Then you are far ahead of me, who can sometimes draw a straight line WITH a ruler, but not always.

[kriz1818.livejournal.com]

Heh. I make maps pretty often, but they're mostly of real places.

Of course, if I ever actually *finished writing anything* then maybe I'd have a reason to make more fictional maps ...

[lagilman]

This one's purely so the author knows who is coming from where, going to there, and working for whom.

[nick-kaufmann.livejournal.com]

Don't forget the glossary!

[lagilman]

Bite your tongue. Hard.

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

..and pronunciation guide ;P
...and style sheet for non-standard characters..
...and?

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

I love to read pronunciation guides, but I then ignore the correct pronunciation and use one that speaks to me. For example, I might read your tag, neutron jockey, and says in my head as "Newton jonkey"

[lagilman]

Part of the work (and it's hard work!) of writing a non-standard, non-historical world is trying to come up with names that are logical within the culture you're creating, exotic enough to be believable as an alien culture, and yet not so exotic that the reader revolts at accepting the name as anything other than silly.

Plus, since there are multiple cultures, I have to come up with names that are specific to each culture, and yet seem probable to have evolved on the same continent within the same time period.

So no "Ma'a'tik'rit" living next to "George" unless there is a specified and needful mixing of cultures. Which, since there is a deliberate cross-pollination of cultures in portions of this universe, I get to do. But carefully!

The joy of organized character lists cannot be understated.

[otterdance.livejournal.com]

Heh. And yet the fans do clamor for all that. Mine got so pushy for a pronunciation guide that I finally made them compile the list themselves. I put all that stuff on my website for whoever wants it.

Fantasy maps do seem to be a useful embellishment, though. My hand was guided by a trained cartographer, fortunately. No right angle mountain ranges or square islands. Let me know if I can help.

[lagilman]

I may take you up on that.

[ebenstone.livejournal.com]

My wife and her sister mock the number of maps that are scattered all about my house! Saturday night I did a map for my present rewrite and my wife was having a ball with it!

[bigferret.livejournal.com]

LOL! I would be really concerned if you need to come up with a new language.

[lagilman]

I leave that to scholars of JRR's ilk. I know my limits and work within them.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

That's a perfect icon for this post. Heh.