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Who Needs a Map?

Guest Post by Amanda Cabot

In the world of GPS, who needs one of those old-fashioned paper maps? I do, and – judging from the notes I’ve received from readers – so do many readers.

I’ll admit it. From childhood on, I’ve been fascinated by maps, especially by street maps of cities, but it was only when I started writing that I realized just how valuable they could be for an author. Whether the locations are real, as was the case with my Westward Winds books, or fictional like the town of Mesquite Springs, I have a map spread out in front of me while I write. That map’s as important to me as my chapter-by-chapter outline.

When I create a map, I begin with street names, landmarks, topography, and orientation. Street names and landmarks are self-explanatory. By topography, I mean the presence of hills, forests, rivers, or other natural features that might play into the story. Orientation refers to the direction on the compass. Does the main street run north-south? Which direction does the town hall face?

Once I have that information, I pencil in the location of my characters’ homes as well as other buildings that play a role in the story. It’s only when I have all the locations established that I start to write.

Why would I or any other writer do this? I view it as a form of research, a case of knowing as much as I can about my characters’ lives before I begin to tell their stories. But it’s more than that. Having a good map is important for three reasons.

It increases the book’s accuracy. If I know the compass orientation of the street where my characters are staying, when I’m describing the shadows a tree casts at 3 PM, I know which direction those shadows are falling. I also know whether my heroine would see a sunrise from her kitchen window.

A map assures consistency. Readers are astute. If my character turns right one time to go from his house to the church but heads left the next time, the reader will notice the discrepancy. It may not stop her from reading the rest of the story, but it will brand me as a sloppy writer. Who needs that?

A map allows me to add the details that bring my fictional world to life. Once I’ve created the map, I can calculate the distance between points and can determine how long it will take to travel that distance. I can mention landmarks characters pass along the way. And, of course, since I have the map, those details will be accurate and consistent.

To me, maps are a key part of the writer’s toolbox. I love them, and that’s one reason I’m delighted that Revell includes maps of my towns in my books.