25
Oct

Mapping 2

   Posted by: lonnie   in NaNoWriMo, Writing

Here’s a slightly update version of the map, along with a legend for the places listed. Not as much as I would like to have, but a good start. All names are the “english” equivalents. Culturally prevalent names will be added later.

The Landing Sea - created when the first ancestor fell from the Dreaming into this world. His splash created a ring of isnaldns, where he later made a home.

Life Island - where the first ancestors first made a home. It is asaid to hold great mysteries and power but is now off limits. Horrible storms blow all travellers away if they come by ship. The pass at the south opens during these storms for those that believe.

Herd Island - the primary lands of the novel - though to be named for wher ethe original ancestors found the most plentiful source of herd animals. In truth, it was a cruel label given by the First in repsonse to the people that would come to live there - simple followers - herd animals.

First’s Mouth - legends claim the impact of the First Ancestors left a funnel, a mouth that sucked the wonders the First had brought with them back into the Dreaming. It is also said that the storms originate from here. In truth, theis is the Great Father’s prison where he keeps both his children locked up for fear of an uprising, and his father whom he was able to imprison, but never kill.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 25th, 2005 at 9:58 pm and is filed under NaNoWriMo, Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 comments so far

Working Man
 1 

Do you think the whole map thing goes back to Tolkien and the level of detail he first put into world building? How has the map helped you in your story building process?

October 27th, 2005 at 9:52 am
 2 

I find maps to be very necessary to the story for two reasons:

1) they help to define the options (or lack of) that the characters have. For example: how does a character act when backed into a corner. Sure, it’s nice to be able to just throw something at the character when we want to, regardless of the location. And, I guess we can - we just have to revise our map… but it does allow for consistency. If he passed such and such on this way there, on the way back it should still be there.

2) Drawing the maps up and labeling them are a wellspring of ideas. In this story, for example, looking at the circular formation of the islands led me to thinking about a volcano that would rise, which then led me to the First’s Mouth. Also, ideas come from trying to name things, parts of history develop in the world, flavor, activities, etc.

October 27th, 2005 at 10:50 am

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