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I suck at time estimation.
I thought I could produce a map for S E E in about a week of dedicated effort.
So here I am, six weeks later and I'm still not finished.
I did a political map last night, you know one where all the countries have different colours?
The idea zapped across my brain at about 6 ish, if memory serves - it was as I was writing yet another eMail to poor Penny.
So I dived into this project (estimated at 2 to 3 hours) and actually got to bed at 03:30 when I had finished it.
And all these maps just show the very basic of information - all high mountain valleys are not shown, for example, just those valleys that are relevant; not all roads are shown, just the main Chivan 'trunk' roads; not all rivers and streams are shown, just those that affect borders, or the narrative, or are a reason that a road takes a detour, and so on. I even included a stream/river to give the excuse for Toomer's Gulley. Maker only knows how long this project would have taken if I had made a complete map. A year probably. Possibly nearer two.
To do this job, I have had to invent things not mentioned specifically in the story, so I have had to run these things past Penny for her approval.
Poor Penny.
Not just I, but also some fanfiction/Anmarian universe writers are all bombarding her with demands - I feel so guilty about that, the poor girl must have her head spinning round and round. How she actually has time to write fresh stuff ........
Anyway, I have, as I said, drawn up a political map of the Great Valley, limited by events in the story, and I have also drawn up a town map of Blackstone which is kinda boring, being a straight road, a bridge, a confluence of 2 waterways and some buildings.
These maps are with Penny right now for her final seal of approval.
I have one other map to finish (yes, it is started!) and that will be of the town, the upper Bray valley and some of Blackstone Vale.
So I have a question of you all.
The two maps posted at the moment have been made 'on parchment' and decorated with 'Palarandi writing and symbols'. The idea of this was to reproduce some of the parchments used by Keren in #20.
As the other maps I shall produce will not be those actually mentioned in the story, then should I put them also on parchment, with Palarandi 'script' and an English translation thereof, or should I just show them on a plain white background and with English lettering? The time involved with the lettering is peanuts, it's just a question of typing in the stuff in English, and then changing the font.
If I ignore the parchment 'feel' to the map, then I could do all sorts of silly things, like throw in thick bunches of trees (to represent forest), or stone circles, or swampy land - as symbols of course.
Your input would be valuable.
Thanks
Di
Comments
Believe in your self
I have not read the story in question, or seen any map. BUT, I believe you know how you want YOUR map to look! Old maps would have been done on parchment in an old language and script. Newer ones would be on paper and written in a modern language. So as I see it you are the one that should decide how you want your map to appear.
HUGS!
That's not the point
These are maps of another planet... Somewhere Else Entirely.
The smaller maps Di spoke of are representations of actual maps described in the story. Several people have enquired whether she should produce an overall map to allow people to visualize the whole area concerned. Since this size map would never be produced locally, it doesn't have to be the same format.
Penny, chief perpetrator of the above tale.
Edit: And no, Di, you definitely do not suck!
Parchment or not
Particularly with the ones of Blackstone town and vale, while no maps have been produced in-universe yet (at last partially because they were a small, out of the way place that kept themselves to themselves and didn't have much dealings with anywhere else apart from a single trade route), is it possible that maps of the Vale may end up being created in-universe in the not-too-distant future - especially with the possibility of developing new transport networks to deal with the anticipated mining activity.
Political and world maps are likely to be out-of-universe as the locals all know what elements of global geography they need to, while borders are likely to follow natural geographical features to avoid disputes (for example on earth, the US:Canada border was supposed to be a straight line, but with the technology and maps of the day turned out to be quite wiggly).
However, maps that have a possibility of being developed in-universe in the not-too-distant future would probably be better done 'local style'.
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
Thanks
Thanks mittfh
I sort of agree with you, but the two I have ready are actually aimed at being reader's ease, rather than story involved - but they are described in the story, of course.
So as no-one else seems interested, I'll publish these two and go back to the parchment for the final one which will show from the forest to the head of Bray Valley and most of Blackstone Vale.
Thanks for your encouragement.
Di