Hello there! First, I apologize if this is a duplicate. I searched the forums but couldn't find any threads regarding deserts, wastelands and barrens.

So here I am, asking for advice on how to imply on my map that there is a desert somewhere. The first thing you need to know to be able to help me is that I am doing this map old school, ink pen, and paper, therefore any sort of color is out of the question. I've drawn what I believe to be an fairly accurate depiction of dunes, but I don't want to fill up the whole area with just dunes. I'm trying to use those to symbolize where the dry, hot wasteland begins, but as you know (or I hope you do) deserts begin long before you start trudging through shifting sands.

I have considered to dot the area with small dots, and that seems to work fairly well, however, when using your own hand, it is very complicated to achieve randomization of the dots and not get stuck with lines of dots. I hope by now you understand my problem and will be able to offer suggestions.

Thanks in advance.