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Fantasy Map Making: A step-by-step guide for worldbuilders
Have you ever struggled with map making? Spent countless hours trying to make it comply with the laws of nature?
This book is a step-by-step guidebook that will teach you how to create an authentic fantasy map.
You will gain all the knowledge necessary to complete a map which your audience will believe, no matter if they are readers, viewing a movie, video game players, or role-playing gamers.
It contains the exact process I use when creating maps for my fantasy fiction. I have spent countless hours researching and learning about the topography of Earth and how to apply it to a fantasy map so that you do not have to.
All translated into 14 easy steps which allow you to construct an entire fantasy map from start to finish.
Step What you need to consider before starting your map.Step The different options for creating the from hand-drawn over software to hiring a professional.Step An overview of what is to come.Step Sketch your map and make sure to get size of the world just right.Step Adding continents by understanding how tectonic plates work.Step Terraforming your world.Step Incorporating islands and lakes.Step Making sure that rivers are realistic.Step Adding forests.Step Borders and understanding how the lands will affect the people who live on them, and vice versa.Step It’s then time for roads.Step Optional fantasy elements.Step The final touches.Step The Map Master.As a companion to this book, you will be able to download a free worksheet.
This is not a book to teach you how to draw. It’s about designing.
This book is a step-by-step guidebook that will teach you how to create an authentic fantasy map.
You will gain all the knowledge necessary to complete a map which your audience will believe, no matter if they are readers, viewing a movie, video game players, or role-playing gamers.
It contains the exact process I use when creating maps for my fantasy fiction. I have spent countless hours researching and learning about the topography of Earth and how to apply it to a fantasy map so that you do not have to.
All translated into 14 easy steps which allow you to construct an entire fantasy map from start to finish.
Step What you need to consider before starting your map.Step The different options for creating the from hand-drawn over software to hiring a professional.Step An overview of what is to come.Step Sketch your map and make sure to get size of the world just right.Step Adding continents by understanding how tectonic plates work.Step Terraforming your world.Step Incorporating islands and lakes.Step Making sure that rivers are realistic.Step Adding forests.Step Borders and understanding how the lands will affect the people who live on them, and vice versa.Step It’s then time for roads.Step Optional fantasy elements.Step The final touches.Step The Map Master.As a companion to this book, you will be able to download a free worksheet.
This is not a book to teach you how to draw. It’s about designing.
167 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2016
196 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Jesper Schmidt
16 books22 followersJesper Schmidt is a bestselling fantasy author who also dabbles in non-fiction.
If you need help with writing, publishing and marketing, Jesper can be found at www.amwritingfantasy.com.
He also invites you to join the world of Ylécium, an immersive experience, full of engaging fantasy stories. Visit www.amreadingfantasy.com.
There was a time where the art of writing was something that lived a quiet life, in the back of his mind. A dormant desire and, like so many of our dreams, it was placed on a list of things to do later. That’s, luckily, all in the past.
Nowadays, Jesper write stories about underwater dragons, vampires, awesome spellcasters, and dark Gods attempting to gain a foothold in the material realm of Ylécium.
If you haven’t had enough of this bio yet, here’s more: As of this writing, Jesper is 42 years old. He lives in Denmark with his wife and two sons. Denmark is that small spot of land, just North of Germany and East of United Kingdom. It’s the place where the population refuses to believe that the few can’t leave a mark on the world. Perhaps it’s the Viking heritage, but if the Hobbits could save everyone, so can the rest of us. Denmark might be an insignificant country in the eyes of Sauron, but at Mount Doom the truth will be revealed.
Jesper loves fantasy, worldbuilding – especially maps – and storytelling.
Come say hello on Facebook: http://bit.ly/28NJQXO
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SchmidtJesper
Podcast: http://bit.ly/2GXfbIr (just search for “Am Writing Fantasy” in your podcast app)
YouTube: http://bit.ly/1WIwIVC
If you need help with writing, publishing and marketing, Jesper can be found at www.amwritingfantasy.com.
He also invites you to join the world of Ylécium, an immersive experience, full of engaging fantasy stories. Visit www.amreadingfantasy.com.
There was a time where the art of writing was something that lived a quiet life, in the back of his mind. A dormant desire and, like so many of our dreams, it was placed on a list of things to do later. That’s, luckily, all in the past.
Nowadays, Jesper write stories about underwater dragons, vampires, awesome spellcasters, and dark Gods attempting to gain a foothold in the material realm of Ylécium.
If you haven’t had enough of this bio yet, here’s more: As of this writing, Jesper is 42 years old. He lives in Denmark with his wife and two sons. Denmark is that small spot of land, just North of Germany and East of United Kingdom. It’s the place where the population refuses to believe that the few can’t leave a mark on the world. Perhaps it’s the Viking heritage, but if the Hobbits could save everyone, so can the rest of us. Denmark might be an insignificant country in the eyes of Sauron, but at Mount Doom the truth will be revealed.
Jesper loves fantasy, worldbuilding – especially maps – and storytelling.
Come say hello on Facebook: http://bit.ly/28NJQXO
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SchmidtJesper
Podcast: http://bit.ly/2GXfbIr (just search for “Am Writing Fantasy” in your podcast app)
YouTube: http://bit.ly/1WIwIVC
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 11, 2020
I want to avoid rating this book too low because I'm clearly not its target audience:
- I have a PhD in geology and already know an enormous amount about plate tectonics and geomorphology.
- I already have a world map and tons of detailed maps. I don't need ideas for how to lay out maps; I want to learn how to make better quality maps.
Thus, only the short section describing drawing, software, and hiring professional artists was of much interest to me.
That said, the book has some definite warts. It has quite a few grammatical and layout errors. For example, the line spacing on the back cover is screwed up in a couple of places. The bulleted list at the start of the Software chapter has a bare hanging bullet. That sort of thing.
The late chapters, I have to think even for layfolk, contain an awful lot of Captain Obvious statements interspersed with little bits of gibberish or opinions where you, fair reader, clearly have at least as much right to your opinion as this mensch does.
The target audience has to be people who realize they need some kind of map for their fantasy world (be it a novel setting or RPG environment) but for some reason can't get themselves started. If that's you, this could be a valuable book. Otherwise, nah.
Nothing in this book encouraged me to seek out the author's fantasy works, for sure.
- I have a PhD in geology and already know an enormous amount about plate tectonics and geomorphology.
- I already have a world map and tons of detailed maps. I don't need ideas for how to lay out maps; I want to learn how to make better quality maps.
Thus, only the short section describing drawing, software, and hiring professional artists was of much interest to me.
That said, the book has some definite warts. It has quite a few grammatical and layout errors. For example, the line spacing on the back cover is screwed up in a couple of places. The bulleted list at the start of the Software chapter has a bare hanging bullet. That sort of thing.
The late chapters, I have to think even for layfolk, contain an awful lot of Captain Obvious statements interspersed with little bits of gibberish or opinions where you, fair reader, clearly have at least as much right to your opinion as this mensch does.
The target audience has to be people who realize they need some kind of map for their fantasy world (be it a novel setting or RPG environment) but for some reason can't get themselves started. If that's you, this could be a valuable book. Otherwise, nah.
Nothing in this book encouraged me to seek out the author's fantasy works, for sure.
August 17, 2021
Pretty useful Insights !
June 21, 2017
Just enough detail to help with mapping
The information is just enough to make sure water doesn't flow uphill or other nonsensical features of some fantasy maps. However, he could have used a better editor. There are numerous word choice errors, e.g. parameter for perimeter, and the like.
The information is just enough to make sure water doesn't flow uphill or other nonsensical features of some fantasy maps. However, he could have used a better editor. There are numerous word choice errors, e.g. parameter for perimeter, and the like.
April 10, 2019
I share the author's passion for maps and map making so this was right up my alley. It's very short, but worth a read for anyone contemplating including maps in their novels or for those interested in maps for role-playing games and supplements. I liked the samples from Tolkien and Game of Thrones. There is some good discussion of drawing your own maps, mapping software, and professional map-making services as well as some useful links to map-making tools and design sheets.
Although very useful and well written, it only scratches the surface of the topic. I understand the difficulty of providing illustrations in ebooks, but the subject begs for more illustrations. I'd love to see an expanded edition of this. I'm a firm believer in negative examples and I'd like to have seen some illustrations of 'maps gone wrong'--sort of a Cakewrecks of mapping. I'd also like to have seen more how-to examples.
I've used most of the software he recommends and my biggest regret since switching from PC to Mac over ten years ago is that there is so little mapping software for Mac. I'm tempted to get a cheap PC just to run my Campaign Cartographer software.
Although very useful and well written, it only scratches the surface of the topic. I understand the difficulty of providing illustrations in ebooks, but the subject begs for more illustrations. I'd love to see an expanded edition of this. I'm a firm believer in negative examples and I'd like to have seen some illustrations of 'maps gone wrong'--sort of a Cakewrecks of mapping. I'd also like to have seen more how-to examples.
I've used most of the software he recommends and my biggest regret since switching from PC to Mac over ten years ago is that there is so little mapping software for Mac. I'm tempted to get a cheap PC just to run my Campaign Cartographer software.
October 22, 2024
If you want to learn a good work flow, this book is great for that. Some of the pickier stuff I mention below prevents the book from being a higher quality book to me, but that doesn't mean it isn't valuable.
I learned some valuable lessons, but after being told how important the maps were to a book, the author's maps were not that impressive (to me). Granted, the ones he had done for his fantasy book did look good. However, that just made the example maps look worse to me. Instead of feeling excited about building my own maps, I left the book feeling meh about it.
There is valuable content in here. I just think this book could be improved, and my rating shows that.
Also, I did go onto Pinterest and start a mood board because of this book that should help me figure out the style of map that I want. I did not see that kind of recommendation in the other books I read on this subject.
I learned some valuable lessons, but after being told how important the maps were to a book, the author's maps were not that impressive (to me). Granted, the ones he had done for his fantasy book did look good. However, that just made the example maps look worse to me. Instead of feeling excited about building my own maps, I left the book feeling meh about it.
There is valuable content in here. I just think this book could be improved, and my rating shows that.
Also, I did go onto Pinterest and start a mood board because of this book that should help me figure out the style of map that I want. I did not see that kind of recommendation in the other books I read on this subject.
December 11, 2019
Great if you want to flesh out the climate/s in your world and get geeky about tectonics, but if you're looking for a how to draw a map book, this isn't what you're looking for.
This book gives tips on making the layout of your fantasy map more realistic. It goes over climates based on latitude/longitude, the best places to put mountain ranges, weather patterns that might set your heroes back, and ways to divide your fantasy continent for easier story flow. There's also an index of different types of terrain!
Definitely for writers who want to flesh out their world, or for DMs who want to give their group an immersive experience.
This book gives tips on making the layout of your fantasy map more realistic. It goes over climates based on latitude/longitude, the best places to put mountain ranges, weather patterns that might set your heroes back, and ways to divide your fantasy continent for easier story flow. There's also an index of different types of terrain!
Definitely for writers who want to flesh out their world, or for DMs who want to give their group an immersive experience.
July 23, 2022
As the title suggests, this provides a step-by-step guide for creating a fictional map. It provides a high-level science and logic based approach. This isn't as dry as it sounds. It just means that rivers flow downhill and towards the ocean, lakes have only one outlet, country borders are often along geographical features, and so on. Much of this is probably obvious to anyone who has finished high school geography but for some of us, it has been many years since those classes. It is nice that Schmidt has collected this information into a systematic approach. It is also nice that it is a very quick read.
December 19, 2018
Useful and Enjoyable
Admittedly, I haven't read many books on fantasy map making. I have created so many maps on my own though, which only makes me wish I had discovered this book a lot earlier! Getting right to the point, Jesper gives great information and direction in an organized and succinct way. I definitely recommend this for anyone who is creating their own maps for world building or just for fun.
Admittedly, I haven't read many books on fantasy map making. I have created so many maps on my own though, which only makes me wish I had discovered this book a lot earlier! Getting right to the point, Jesper gives great information and direction in an organized and succinct way. I definitely recommend this for anyone who is creating their own maps for world building or just for fun.
July 5, 2021
I can't believe I spent money on this book. For anyone who's spent ANY time thinking about making maps, this is an absolute waste of time (and money). LOTS of white space - in other words, empty space to make the book look bigger/longer. LOTS of repetition, again for filler. VERY superficial. Even his review of map making tools (Adobe Illustrator, Campaign Cartographer 3, Fractal Mapper, GIMP, Inkanate, Photoshop) was woefully wanting. I do not recommend buying this book.
January 9, 2025
Good book for what it offered
I bought this book years ago and finally the time arrived to utilize it. It helped me with the very basic and logical input for the maps I was making. It made the initial leap into it simple with the required understanding. I'll add that I wished it covered some artistic points like how the edges of the map should be drawn around continents or land masses but I guess that's more of an artists take on it.
I bought this book years ago and finally the time arrived to utilize it. It helped me with the very basic and logical input for the maps I was making. It made the initial leap into it simple with the required understanding. I'll add that I wished it covered some artistic points like how the edges of the map should be drawn around continents or land masses but I guess that's more of an artists take on it.
December 9, 2018
Very helpful
This book includes a step by step process for map making. I love that it goes into the why of where things should or shouldn't go without going into too much detail on each terrain.
This book includes a step by step process for map making. I love that it goes into the why of where things should or shouldn't go without going into too much detail on each terrain.
January 25, 2019
Good argument of why
I thought this book contained a lot of good reasoning as to why to include a map in the fantasy genre, but was expecting more how to. Well written, just not what I was hoping for.
I thought this book contained a lot of good reasoning as to why to include a map in the fantasy genre, but was expecting more how to. Well written, just not what I was hoping for.
March 5, 2019
Basic but helpful
A good basic primer on fantasy mapmaking with plenty of helpful suggestions and cautions to make one's map as realistic as possible.
A good basic primer on fantasy mapmaking with plenty of helpful suggestions and cautions to make one's map as realistic as possible.
April 10, 2020
A must have
I truly love this amazing book as it's filled with great useful information that any fantasy author would love.
I would recommend this book to any fantasy author!
I truly love this amazing book as it's filled with great useful information that any fantasy author would love.
I would recommend this book to any fantasy author!
October 18, 2020
Very, very helpful for my projects.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews