How a Map Changes a Novel
The bad guys zipped into a state forest and into a maze of roads followed by the deputies. The roads twist and turn. And i got lost.
If the author gets lost, what will the poor readers do?
And so I drew a map. I pored through Capri Capers for every mention of the state forest and its roads. Finally I devised a map that almost worked for every mention.
Notice that almost. Obviously my mental road map had some defects in it. No wonder I got lost.
Now that I have a map, I get to work my way through Capri Capers again matching each adventure involving the state forest roads to the map.
A right turn became a left turn. Several turns became two. A cabin turned to face another direction.
Next is the problem of cell phone service in the forest. If there is no service in an area, there must be a reason. Otherwise the whole story in that section changes.
I am glad to have the map. I don't want my readers lost among the trees. But matching the story with the map takes a lot of careful reading and many changes.
If the author gets lost, what will the poor readers do?
And so I drew a map. I pored through Capri Capers for every mention of the state forest and its roads. Finally I devised a map that almost worked for every mention.
Notice that almost. Obviously my mental road map had some defects in it. No wonder I got lost.
Now that I have a map, I get to work my way through Capri Capers again matching each adventure involving the state forest roads to the map.
A right turn became a left turn. Several turns became two. A cabin turned to face another direction.
Next is the problem of cell phone service in the forest. If there is no service in an area, there must be a reason. Otherwise the whole story in that section changes.
I am glad to have the map. I don't want my readers lost among the trees. But matching the story with the map takes a lot of careful reading and many changes.
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