I Need A Map – What To Do?

Written by

I have had a couple of reviews placed on Amazon for The Spiral Tattoo suggesting that I need a map of the city. Now I would have happily obliged and I have at various points hand drawn maps, and looked for some free piece of software to help me draw a map. But nothing has worked well enough for me to put up here or pass to the publishers to include in the story.

My lovely partner has suggested that I run a competition. Send me your best map of Delvenport and I will, ummm, get it included in the next version? Include your name in the next book? Send you a free copy of The Oaks Grove when it comes out?

So I need advice. What can I use on no budget to produce a good map? Or what would be a good prize for a competition?

Comments

9 responses to “I Need A Map – What To Do?”

January 21, 2012

Nobilis Reed

I love making that sort of map, but it’s time consuming and I have no time.

You’re right, though, it really COULD use a map.

Reply
1. January 21, 2012
  
  Michael J. Parry
  
  I know – so many things to do so little time, and it’s not something I am drawn too 🙂
  
  Reply
January 21, 2012

Mick Bordet

What s/w did you try? A graphics package? Best bet for free mapping is probably QGis – It’s a reasonably well featured GIS package I have used on occasion.

Reply
1. January 21, 2012
  
  Michael J. Parry
  
  Thanks I will check that out 🙂
  
  Reply
January 22, 2012

Mike Reeves McMillan

I have used AutoRealm for mapping. The user interface has its annoyances, but it does a reasonable job. You can see a sample on my blog: http://csidemedia.com/gryphonclerks/

It’s free, but PC-only.

Reply
1. January 22, 2012
  
  Michael J. Parry
  
  Hi Mike…
  
  Thanks I will check that out. I have been playing wiht GIMP and following the tutorials on the which was suggested to me by Nathan Lowell 🙂
  
  Cheers
  
  Michael
  
  Reply
April 18, 2012

Kura

Hi Mike
couldn’t you just hand-draw and then take a digital photo?
If a graphics package is required, Inkscape is open source.
– which would be a better format to create a map on than Gimp, being that Inkscape is a vector program.
(I can’t vouch for it though, I use Illustrator)

Loved the post about The best Spam ever bTW!
kind regards
Kura

Reply
1. April 19, 2012
  
  Michael J. Parry
  
  Hi Kura
  
  Thanks for that suggestion. I did try to do a hand drawn but the result was pretty bad 😆
  
  Cheers
  
  Michael
  
  Reply
2. April 19, 2012
  
  Mike Reeves-McMillan
  
  I’ve used Inkscape a lot, it’s good and easy to use. Wouldn’t be my first choice for drawing a map, necessarily.
  
  Reply