Looking for the best note taking method for you? This blog post explains and evaluates four of the most effective note taking methods.
Conventional depictions of landscape elements for map sketching. Topographic maps and sketch mapping. 1920. Internet Archive
I’ve realised I have a particular workflow for drawing coastlines in my maps. Here’s a quick walkthrough. Each step is done on a new layer in photoshop, and I use a 5px hard round brush in each case with size set to pressure. However, all of these steps can be done in Gimp – or … Continue reading "How to Draw Coastlines on a Fantasy Map"
Creating city maps can be hard. Here's four quick steps I use to design believable town and city maps.
What is a realistic population size for a medieval or ancient fantasy setting? Should a city have a couple of million people? How about 500,000 or 20,000? Let’s delve in and give you some simple guidelines as well as a cheat sheet you can easily reference as you are writing your story and drawing yo
There is something mysterious about a swirling vortex of water that seems to be draining into the depths of the ocean. This is why a whirlpool or maelstrom is a compelling feature to include on your fantasy maps as it opens up so many storytelling possibilities. In this tutorial I’ll walk you throug
Placing cities and villages is one of my favorite steps in the map making process. It’s the moment a map goes from being just a landscape to having a history with a story to tell. The placement of cities and their relationship to one another is the backbone to a world with a sense of depth and reali
This week on Freebie Friday we are sharing free printables related to Minecraft and architecture! If you don’t need these freebies right now, click here to
Back to School is right around the corner for us and I am SUPER excited to kick of this school year with some fun, hands-on and engaging resources for The
Students can use this graphic organizer to map out their ideas for a story (short or long). This is made based on the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where and why). ...
Laura Wood was born and raised in Italy and after completing a Bachelor of Cinema and Multimedia, moved to Australia in search of new experiences. Once in Australia, she completed a diploma of Illu…
You have your idea. You’ve done your research. You know something about your main character. Maybe you’ve even taken a crack at your first scene. And now you’re stuck… …
A Rough Guide to Castle Design Part 3 – The Floorplan by Jon Roberts To collect and transform the room list into a sensible layout I make a flowchart, finding this to be a simple way to list …
Fantasy map generators are great tools for both RPG players and storytellers in general. Here's a list of 10 great map generators you can use.
How many of us have hiked for miles just to see a waterfall? Even if you haven’t, it’s not difficult to recognize the beauty and power that so many find compelling. In this tutorial, you will learn some simple steps to walk you through how to draw a waterfall on your map for your next rpg or book.
How many of us have hiked for miles just to see a waterfall? Even if you haven’t, it’s not difficult to recognize the beauty and power that so many find compelling. In this tutorial, you will learn some simple steps to walk you through how to draw a waterfall on your map for your next rpg or book.
Discover beautiful mind map templates to plan your projects, create business strategy, brainstorm new ideas, visualize concepts and more.
If you want the coastlines to look like they’re popping off the page, then adding some cliffs is a great way to do it. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to do and it will instantly make your map look much more professional. In this Map Tip, you will learn some simple techniques to help your maps stand o
Last year, Dan Wells, author of “I Am Not A Serial Killer” went over a story structure he found in the “Star Trek Narrator’s Guide: Roleplaying Game”, which …
One way to make your fantasy map more believable is to vary the size of the mountain ranges. Not all mountains in our world are the same height, and they shouldn’t be in your story either. If you are using the Ridgeline Mountain Method, then how you draw the initial ridgeline will play a large role
Canyons are a striking feature of any landscape and can really be a focal point in the story you're telling. In this tutorial, you will learn how to draw canyons that bring a sense of depth to the landscape and make your fantasy map really stand out.
An in-depth guide on how to make a fantasy map. The perfect resource for fantasy writers looking for help creating a realistic fantasy map
A mind map is one method of brainstorming as an individual: start from one word, idea, or concept, and expand it to find deeper meaning. Beginning with one key concept, you branch off (in any direc…
We’re big fans of mind mapping here at Lifehacker, but its value isn’t always apparent if you haven’t tried it. This infographic explains some of the commonly used memes in mind mapping. While there’s a slightly cynical message here, the biggest instruction — “disregard hierarchy completely” — is worth heeding. Good ideas often emerge when […]
How do you make your rivers stand out so they’re more than just a squiggly line on your map? In this tutorial, you will learn how to draw rivers that have a sense of depth and look like they are actually part of the landscape.
Photoshop brushes are serious time-savers. The correct brush can instantly enhance a plain-looking photo. The right brush can highlight a specific area in an image without putting too many touch-ups. The great thing about Photoshop brushes is that they are…
Basically everythig you need to help you write & get rid of Writers' block This may end up becoming a blog
