Where is the best place to put a MAP?

VydorScope · 10-06-2013, 09:56 PM

So for my fifth book where there is a bunch of back and forth traveling to around a dozen locations I decided to create a map. In fact, I create the most awesomest map ever! So awesome I dare not post it here, cause might make everyone jealous (okay that is a huge lie, but I am FICTION writer...sheesh!

) Anyways, I do think the map is decent enough looking on my Kindle Fire (plan to test on my buddie's Paperwhite tomorrow) to use.

The question is... do I put the map in the FRONT of the book or the BACK of the book? It is not critical for the story, but it could be helpful. I am not concerned about it spoiling anything.

Pulpmeister · 10-07-2013, 12:28 AM

I would put it up front.

If it's an e-book it won't have endpapers like a hardback. Therefore at the front, so the ebook reader, who often starts at the beginning of the text, rather than the TOC finds it and knows it's there.

Structurally, I'd made the Contents look a bit like this:

Table of Contents
Map of Ererwhon
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
etc

Kindles tend to default to the "start", so if the map is at the start, AFTER the TOC, rather than the back of the book, it will be seen. My paperback edition of Dune has the maps at the back, and I didn't know they were there until I got to the end. Many readers are not terribly attentive to the apparatus on the contents page of p-books; they just want to start reading and dive for the beginning.

VydorScope · 10-07-2013, 07:45 AM

I asked this is in 2 forums now... so far its a universal vote for front.

Dr. Drib · 10-07-2013, 10:19 AM

Here ya go.

Don

gmw · 10-07-2013, 11:29 AM

I'm not going to break the streak - I think it should be at the front.

If ebooks had a decent footnote feature then a useful alternative would be to put the such things at the back and have a footnote reference at the first relevant part of your text.

Penforhire · 10-07-2013, 05:23 PM

+1 front is the traditional location to me.

Maps and e-readers are a pain though. Not only the need to bookmark it but also often needing to zoom in. Reading in a more potent tablet browser works better with maps because you can open multiple instances of the document and keep one tab or page set to the map (and zoom however you like).

Historiann · 10-07-2013, 05:38 PM

Another +1 for front. And thanks for taking the trouble to add a map. I find it annoying when I have to pause my reading long enough to look up a location elsewhere.

dwig · 10-07-2013, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

...I am not concerned about it spoiling anything.

If it contained spoilers then I would place it elsewhere, but without spoilers I agree with the consensus that it should be in the front.

While you're at it, you could also link to it, like an endnote, from various places in the text where the action heads of toward some location or reaches some new location.

colinsky · 10-07-2013, 07:52 PM

Another useful procedure would be (in addition to including the map in the book), including a larger version of the map for printing or side-to-side reference on the book's web site or purchase point.

See for instance the maps at the bottom of https://ebookstore.sony.com/wheel-of-time/

VydorScope · 10-07-2013, 08:56 PM

Thanks all! Front it will be!

I tested my map as the last page before the start of the first chapter.

Kindle Fire HD - All is Good!

Nook E-Ink Classic (3 or 4 year old model) - did not scale the map so you could only see he top left corner, but at least that little corner was clear and correct

Kindle Paperwhite - current generation - Scaled map fine, but some of the text on the map was completely gone. It looked fine in gray scale in Photoshop, but on the Paperwhite screen the text was lost (assumed to be the same or close to same shade as the background and not actually missing)

VydorScope · 10-07-2013, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colinsky

Another useful procedure would be (in addition to including the map in the book), including a larger version of the map for printing or side-to-side reference on the book's web site or purchase point.

See for instance the maps at the bottom of https://ebookstore.sony.com/wheel-of-time/

Well maybe after I mature my maping skills and map more of the universe... but for now, I have many hours in to this one little region not sure anyone would really want to print this. But I guess I can toss it on my web site. Does not cost me anything to do that.

theducks · 10-21-2013, 11:19 AM

Would you start a trip without looking at a map?
(OK I admit. I don't have a handy to use GPS.)

Even if you do have a GPS, you should verify the solution is reasonable

People have driven into Lakes, onto Tracks because the GPS said "turn here"

Know where you are going (with the story

) Start with the MAP(s)

10-06-2013, 09:56 PM	#1
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Where is the best place to put a MAP? So for my fifth book where there is a bunch of back and forth traveling to around a dozen locations I decided to create a map. In fact, I create the most awesomest map ever! So awesome I dare not post it here, cause might make everyone jealous (okay that is a huge lie, but I am FICTION writer...sheesh! ) Anyways, I do think the map is decent enough looking on my Kindle Fire (plan to test on my buddie's Paperwhite tomorrow) to use. The question is... do I put the map in the FRONT of the book or the BACK of the book? It is not critical for the story, but it could be helpful. I am not concerned about it spoiling anything.

10-07-2013, 10:19 AM	#4
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,614 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Here ya go. Don Attached Thumbnails

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10-07-2013, 12:28 AM	#2
Pulpmeister Wizard Posts: 2,886 Karma: 29145056 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle	I would put it up front. If it's an e-book it won't have endpapers like a hardback. Therefore at the front, so the ebook reader, who often starts at the beginning of the text, rather than the TOC finds it and knows it's there. Structurally, I'd made the Contents look a bit like this: Table of Contents Map of Ererwhon Chapter 1 Chapter 2 etc Kindles tend to default to the "start", so if the map is at the start, AFTER the TOC, rather than the back of the book, it will be seen. My paperback edition of Dune has the maps at the back, and I didn't know they were there until I got to the end. Many readers are not terribly attentive to the apparatus on the contents page of p-books; they just want to start reading and dive for the beginning.

10-07-2013, 07:45 AM	#3
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	I asked this is in 2 forums now... so far its a universal vote for front.

10-07-2013, 11:29 AM	#5
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	I'm not going to break the streak - I think it should be at the front. If ebooks had a decent footnote feature then a useful alternative would be to put the such things at the back and have a footnote reference at the first relevant part of your text.

10-07-2013, 05:23 PM	#6
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	+1 front is the traditional location to me. Maps and e-readers are a pain though. Not only the need to bookmark it but also often needing to zoom in. Reading in a more potent tablet browser works better with maps because you can open multiple instances of the document and keep one tab or page set to the map (and zoom however you like).

10-07-2013, 05:38 PM	#7
Historiann Connoisseur Posts: 76 Karma: 532702 Join Date: May 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle PW	Another +1 for front. And thanks for taking the trouble to add a map. I find it annoying when I have to pause my reading long enough to look up a location elsewhere.

10-07-2013, 07:52 PM	#9
colinsky Addict Posts: 241 Karma: 3500000 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Sony PRS-300, PRS-T1, PRS-T3	Another useful procedure would be (in addition to including the map in the book), including a larger version of the map for printing or side-to-side reference on the book's web site or purchase point. See for instance the maps at the bottom of https://ebookstore.sony.com/wheel-of-time/

10-07-2013, 08:56 PM	#10
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Thanks all! Front it will be! I tested my map as the last page before the start of the first chapter. Kindle Fire HD - All is Good! Nook E-Ink Classic (3 or 4 year old model) - did not scale the map so you could only see he top left corner, but at least that little corner was clear and correct Kindle Paperwhite - current generation - Scaled map fine, but some of the text on the map was completely gone. It looked fine in gray scale in Photoshop, but on the Paperwhite screen the text was lost (assumed to be the same or close to same shade as the background and not actually missing)

10-21-2013, 11:19 AM	#12
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,267 Karma: 61916422 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Would you start a trip without looking at a map? (OK I admit. I don't have a handy to use GPS.) Even if you do have a GPS, you should verify the solution is reasonable People have driven into Lakes, onto Tracks because the GPS said "turn here" Know where you are going (with the story ) Start with the MAP(s)

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