Worldbuilding Part III: The Initial Map

I have been really getting into world building lately. Detailing out lands, races, and languages has brought me a level of enjoyment I didn't know I was missing. Between this book and planning out some fly tying sessions for my upcoming fishing trips, the past few weeks have been quite fun.

As seen above, I have worked out not only some additional continents and major island chains, but I have also placed them squarely on the globe. Using two programs, gProjector and Gplates, I have been able to put my designs together, building a sense of scale and perspective. All told, the major land masses make up approximately 35-38% of the surface area of the planet, centering around two major continents - as shows in my previous post - a smaller continent that has been ripped in two by tectonic forces, and a polar continent that is mostly barren glacier.

Dotting the map are several island chains, most created by tectonic forces, and two chains created by magma hot spots.

Looking at the center continent above, I have been working on the map, adding mountains, forests, rivers, etc., while also working out political boundaries for 7-10 nations. I also started the same on the continent to the right, though I'm stuck between 6 and 8 nations. Names haven't yet taken shape as I'm working out a balance between "easily remembered in English/to the reader" and "making sense within the common tongue of the world". For example, I've worked out that the common tongue doesn't include a /z/ sound, so a Romanized name with a 'z' in it wouldn't make sense.

The story itself is also taking shape. All of this world building certainly helps with that as motivations become more clear and actions have meaning and impact. Otherwise it's just a story with no purpose. 

One day, I would love to show off my in-universe timeline. But that day is not today.