I really like using maps to help tell my story. Maps are a great way to show WHERE events in your story are taking place.
The Kernowland story starts in Cornwall, a county in England. The two main characters, Tizzie and Louis, are then transported to an alternative Cornwall called Kernowland ('Kernow' is the old name for Cornwall in the ancient language).
However, it soon becomes clear that Kernowland is only a tiny little kingdom in a much larger place called Erthwurld.
Once I've decided on a WHERE for my story, lots of ideas for the PLOT, CHARACTERS, and SETTINGS can then come from looking at the map whilst asking questions and using my imagination.
As soon as I saw the Cornwall map, the place names gave me loads of ideas for WHO was going to be in my story. Click on the Cornwall map above to make it bigger. You will then be able to see some of the towns that gave me CHARACTER ideas - such as Gwithian, Drym, Warleggan, Wendron, Godolphin, Portwrinkle, Sheviok, Mawla, Malpass, Liskeard, Mullion, and Crumplehorn.
As soon as I saw the Cornwall map, the place names gave me loads of ideas for WHO was going to be in my story. Click on the Cornwall map above to make it bigger. You will then be able to see some of the towns that gave me CHARACTER ideas - such as Gwithian, Drym, Warleggan, Wendron, Godolphin, Portwrinkle, Sheviok, Mawla, Malpass, Liskeard, Mullion, and Crumplehorn.
In the Kernowland in Erthwurld stories, I could see much more clearly where I wanted the characters to travel to and from once I had the maps. The LOCATIONS gave me ideas for PLOT and CHARACTERS.
In Kernowland 4 Pigleg's Revenge, the characters go to an alternative Gambia (a country in Africa) called 'Jungleland'.
And, in Kernowland 5 Slavechildren, a lot of the action takes place in an alternative USA called 'Acirema North'.
IDEA: In your next story, draw a map before you start. Then look at the map and ask questions and use your imagination. Make a few story notes based on the map before you start the story.
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See you next time in the Story House.
Happy writing... and reading!
Jack
Links...
Free Audio chapters: Listen FREE to first 12 Chapters of Kernowland 1 The Crystal Pool read by actor, Tom Solomon
Signed + Dedicated: Buy signed copies of Jack Trelawny books with dedication to a child or children
Waterstone's: Buy hardcover books online from Waterstone's
Tesco ePub: Buy ePub ebooks online from Tesco
Other related websites: www.jacktrelawny.com www.jacktrelawny.co.uk www.kernowland.com www.erthwurld.com
