Map making for stories

I talked about the maps that I have been making, but don't think I have yet noted how to make your own maps if you want to design your own fantasy worlds.

I go with basic map symbols, sort of lazy M's and ^'s for mountains, bold lines with dashes on the water side of them to show shore lines. Dotted lines for where roads go and light lines that meander along the paths of rivers and streams. A cloud style shape for a forest.

Dots of different sizes for towns. A crossed pick and shovel indicate mines in the mountains. Stick figure boats show harbors and shipping lanes.

It is all very basic and usually ends up being colored in using either colored pencils or watercolors.

Don't worry about where things are if you are not designing the map around an already finished stor, since you will find a lot of things you had not meant to do will suggest ideas for stories.