Hi

[KCRileyGyer]

I’m an Australian failed author who refuses to quit, can’t draw for the life of me but won’t let that stop me, and ex-role player who now uses the process to create characters. And, I’ve recently taken on the role (with major help from my best friend) of creating a world from scratch for a story project in November and I know nothing about drawing maps. They look pretty though lol. I’ve seen this site around on and off over the last few years and I joined due to searches in Pinterest and deviant art.

[XCali]

Hi!
Name's Omri. How do you do?

I will say this. Writing only gets better with time. So, never say never.
Welcome to the guild. This is a wonderful place to grow as a creative. Just remember to have fun.

(P.S. It really does get easier to post after 5. Just a heads up.)

[KCRileyGyer]

Hi Omri, lol thanks. Well, this makes post 2. At the moment, I’m reading map making tutorials and realised I have to go away from my preferred graphics program because I can’t translate work-arounds. Seems I have to cave and install GIMP lol.

[niekell]

Hello KCRileyGyer,

Geez, you make it sound like being Australian is related to being a failed author!
C'mon countryman/countrywoman, where is that national can-do (even if it takes tape, a bungy-cord, and bulldog clips) attitude?
GIMP is good, I'm a Photoshop user myself... just an average user, not an expert. (Damn ingrained Tall Poppy Syndrome!)
I'm a current PathFinder DM (two campaigns), and I can vouch for the "a picture is work a thousand words" adage, and when it comes to maps... they're worth several thousand (words).
Welcome to Cartographer's Guild, I hope you find the skills you're looking for. Either to develop your own maps, or by collaborating with other Guildmembers.

All the best, niekell.

[KCRileyGyer]

Hi niekell,

LOL and I did say I refuse to quit. I love writing, I just need to work out what's wrong with them that they aren't selling. I suspect it's the covers but I don't know what about them is wrong. LOL I'm happily a woman even with all the hassles that go with being one. As for GIMP, I've had my first play with it today and just waiting for a reply to be approved to show off my wips. But, I too, am a novice to intermediate user but of PSP.

Thank you for the welcome and only time will tell where all this will lead me.

[Texas Jake]

KCRileyGyer,

This is a great community with many extremely skilled artists. Their work will challenge, inspire you, and quite probably help you become a much better map maker along the way. Welcome to the journey.

[KCRileyGyer]

Thank you, Jake.

[niekell]

Hello KCRileyGyer,

If you don't mind me asking, what is the 'flavour' of the upcoming story project?
Your books seem to be modern world setting, or World of Darkness like, is this new project a departure from that genre into something else? If so, what are you aiming for?

Best wishes, niekell.

[KCRileyGyer]

niekell, yes my current novels are modern setting but I'm picking up an old story I'd started over a decade ago and that is fantasy, not of this planet but not necessarily futuristic. I still have a lot of world building to do outside of just that simple story. So, yes in a way, it is a new project because I'm going deeper into it and I'm petrified LOL. My stuff has been basic and shallow so this will be the first real deep thing I've gone into.

What am I aiming for? In some aspects, I have no idea. I have never planned and plotted before, hence me being out of my depth.

[niekell]

Hello KC Riley-Gyer,
Well as a DM of almost 3 decades experience world building is something I do mostly on the fly these days for the campaigns I run. If you ever need to bounce questions off someone on that topic I can try to help. Map questions I'm no expert in answering (but can try) compared to others on this site, i know what ~not~ to do in regards to making unrealistic terrain features, but other's have much more expertise overall. World building aspects (particularly classic low-magic fantasy types of settings) I have a pretty good grasp of by now, the Birthright setting especially for medieval/fantasy politics.
Best wishes, niekell.