Maps and Names
Monday, July 27th, 2009I’ve been working lately on a map for some worldbuilding for the story I’m working on.
The story started as a timed writing practice that when I pushed it farther is leading to a tale much broader in scope than I anticipated. So a map and then some worldbuilding is in order.
I love drawing maps. I have been drawing them for fun since high school. After I married, I showed my husband the set of maps that were my favorites. Three continents with close ups of each of the countries and a brief description of them all. He perused them for only a moment before pointing out that rivers flow down hill and not from the ocean inland. So many details to keep straight.
There is a big difference though between drawing for fun and drawing with a purpose. At least in my mind. The coastal lines and the major geographical features; hills, mountains, rivers, lakes, deserts, marshes, etc. These are easy to draw (keeping in mind gravity). What I find hard to do now is make up the names for all the places. I am now really self conscious of my made up names. I spend a lot of time tossing out letter combinations as “stupid” sounding. Then mentally huffing and just throwing down the latest word when I feel I have taken long enough with a name.
Character names are easier. I feel the names I come up with sound more like people names and not place names. Weird.
