One of life’s great treats, for a lover of books (especially fantasy books), is to open a cover to find a map secreted inside and filled with the details of a land about to be discovered. A writer’s map hints at a fully imagined world, and at the beginning of a book, it’s a promise. In the middle of a book, it’s a touchstone and a guide. And in the end, it’s a reminder of all the places the story has taken you. (Remainder of Article)
What would a map of your life or a place you lived in for an extended period of time look like?
Draw a memory map of:
- Your old neighbourhood
- A secret childhood hideaway
- A house you lived in as a child
- Your childhood room
Dig out some books that included maps.
Take your time and put in as much detail as you can. Write about something you had forgotten and that emerged when you drew your map. Write about something that happened in the location you mapped.
Specialist Teacher of Writing 