Fast Start for NaNoWriMo Day 12 - Setting - Where are We?

[ladyseishou]

The world only exists in your eyes - your conception of it.
You can make it as big or as small as you want to.

- F. Scott Fitzgerald





With less than two weeks left until the start of NaNoWriMo, world building may be a daunting, perhaps impossible, task. But fear not Nano Writer, let's apply the principle of working from small things to BIG...

Instead of starting with a map of your story's world, why not start with a sketch of your character's bedroom/house/apartment/bat cave?

Working with your location list from yesterday, try your hand at sketching out the particulars for your character's neighborhood/village/town. Remember, this is a map from your character's point of view so it won't be necessary to name every street but try to note the names of familiar landmarks that your character may pass by or visit: places to buy or eat meals, entertainment venues, medical care, places of worship and employment - the kind of map that a friend might draw out on a cocktail napkin. Depending on the general scope of your story, this sketch may be the only map that you will refer to as you write your novel this November.

If your story takes place in the real world (or somewhere that looks like an Earth based location), Google Maps can be your friend - a great resource, from maps of neighborhoods from around the world to Street Views and linked photographs.

If your story takes place on a more global or extraterrestrial stage, spanning many countries or solar systems, a sketch that shows general relational details (country A is northeast of country B and shares a border with country C) will be useful but once again, remember that your story is written from your protagonist's point of view and should only reflect his or her knowledge of the world and be limited to your character's immediate environment. Spend your time wisely.

For additional inspiration, check out the city generator or the place name generator provided by nine.frenchboys.net.

Do you have any map making tips or favorite generator web sites to share? Questions? Comments? Tell us about it!


And it's getting to be about time to talk about time! Tomorrow! So until then Nano Writer, keep writing!