Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Sordow: a map commission

This post is Part 1 of a series to augment the Fictional Cartography by D.N.Frost available for free download.

This and other map commissions are gathered in my Portfolio Directory for you to explore.

This post is also Part 1 of a series about David Glenn.



I first met David when my repeat client Stephen Everett introduced us on Facebook. In a writer's group, David shared a rough sketch of his world, and Steve suggested he collaborate with me to take his map to the next level. I gave David my email address and he sought me out.

We discussed his northern isles, then called Sodow, a world still taking form. I used maps to develop the Known World, so I knew the mapping process would provide a fantastic world-building tool for David. I also remembered how daunted I felt about mapping my world before knowing where all the pieces fit.


Check out this Fictional Cartography by D.N.Frost for more maps!


We decided that Sordow would be a long-term project, and that instead of my usual commission process, we'd take things an hour at a time.

This took the pressure off David to know all the details of his world at once, and it allowed him to access the phenomenal worldbuilding tool that is map-making.

Using his rough sketch, I started working on the initial render of Sodow's coastline to help him envision the finished map.

Once he felt confident in the project, David paid for his initial render and we proceeded.


Here's what he had to say about the finished map:


T'Chak of Sheridan's World, a map commission by D.N.Frost for Stephen Everett www.DNFrost.com/portfolio Part 1 of a series.
Wow, it looks wonderful. Thank you so much.

The woods and rivers are great.

I like the text.

In the end the geography has that feel of the British Isles.

Nice job. I like this a lot.

– David Glenn, fantasy writer


That's it for this post! Up Next: Coastlines, nations, and rivers... Soon.

Want to bring your own world to life? We can map your world.
You deserve a professional map you can be proud to share.

Download Fictional Cartography by D.N.Frost here, or start your adventure below.






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