There is no simpler way to start a narrative than to have a character discover a mysterious map; after all, who wouldn’t be curious?
Maps are great for narrative as they provide a simple plot concept structure… you gotta find something with the map. Characters go on an adventure based on the clues–or lack thereof–provided by the map.
Have a look on this page to see if you can use a map somewhere in your narrative to confound or convenience your characters. Enjoy!
Maps
- map, guide, atlas, chart,
- diagram, schematic, blueprint, plan, layout,
- drawing, sketch, rough, draft, print, scribble, scrawl,
- plan, plot, flow chart,
- military map, battlefield plan, tactical map, military simulation board,
- scroll, tapestry,
- coded, cryptic, encrypted, symbolic,
- map embedded through symbolism in tattoo, painting, novel, book, story, will,
- secret map, hidden map, disguised map,
- original, copy, facsimile, forgery, imitation, red herring, fake,
- treasure map, pirate map, X marks the spot, gold mine location, secret hideout,
- travel guide, tourist directory, best hotels, top ten places, wonders of the world,
- road map, city map, highway map,
- atlas, globe,
- GPS, nav system, Google map,
- touchscreen mall directory, highrise apartment suite guide,
- star map, sky map, constellation map,
- star system guide, intergalactic map, map of space, map of the universe,
- trail map, mine diagram, tunnel schematic,
- dungeon layout (with or without secret doors),
- Stan’s Guide to the Underworld,
- tree fort sketch,
- blueprint of an impenetrable starbase…
Elements of Maps
- legend, key, guide, symbols, compass, scale, color coding, decryption key,
- line, colored line, mark,
- an “x”, target, destination,
- route, path, road, street,
- directions, notes, italics, bold print, steps, plan, order, itinerary, schedule,
- place names, titles,
- points, marks, way points, stops,
- land features, terrain, bodies of water, forests, mountains,
- water, coast, river, pond, lake, stream,
- obstructions, barriers, canyon, edge, wall, fortification,
- warning, caution, danger, enemies, zombies, tolls,
- ratings, rankings, recommendations, judgments, opinions, warnings, star-rating,
Maps could be…
- written in code, invisible ink, magic script, poisonous ink,
- divided into parts and spread around the kingdom, world, city, house, organization, guild, secret society,
- embedded secretly in a manuscript, book, series of books, a painting, sculpture, fresco, TV advertisements, billboards, street signs,
- old, brittle, dusty, dirty, smudged, obscured, cracked, filthy, moldy, wet, burnt, singed, torn,
- in a safe, vault, safe deposit box, trapped chest, bus station locker, lock box, grave, coffin, tomb, dragon’s lair, hermit’s house,
- guarded by a monster,
- a series of steps that need to be taken,
- stolen, illegal, banned, prohibited, blasphemous, heretical,
- dubious, suspect, incoherent, incomplete,
- in another language,
- carved in stone, burnt into a wooden tablet, etched into an ivory tusk, inlaid in the inside of a wooden box cover,
- revealed through the smoke of a special cigar, shared through a vision ritual, spiritually guided,
- cursed, blessed, ordained, tainted by a demon, possessed, ominous, spiritually costly,
A Map could lead to…
- treasure, riches, fortune, a hoard, money, bags o’ cash, treasure chest,
- ancient kingdom, lost planet, legendary city, disappeared city-state, empire of the future, domain in peril, parallel universe,
- the answer, an answer, more questions, a solution, another clue,
- stolen goods, the stash, drugs,
- something strange, another map, an oddity, a paradox,
- a base, hide out, gangsta crib, lair, rebel enclave,
- heaven, hell, the afterworld, the outerworlds,
- a new star system, wormhole, rift, universal fey lines, folds, blackhole, whitehole,
- an office, business, shop, store, sale, yard sale, gypsy camp,
- vacation spot, the resort, the spa, the club, campground,
- a tower, a castle, a villa,
- a dead end road, red herring, the wrong path,
- a short cut, the scenic route, a safer path,
- ancient burial ground, an old cemetery,
- a route traveled by ancients, by ancestors, by gods,
- missing persons, abductee,
- a wonder of the world, archaeological discovery, paleontological discovery,
- a holy site, a religious relic, sacred ground, spiritual place, fountain of youth, holy grail, a fabled monastery,
- a new world, home, life, start, birth, awakening, chance, (this is an esoteric notion that could be an overarching concept of your narrative)
- monster’s lair, goblin hideout, dwarf kingdom,
- a retreat, a lonely hotel, an unadvertised bed and breakfast, a haunted house, a manor,
- a mountain pass, a way through, an archipelago,