I usually start by thinking about the essence, but sometimes I think of an element, and expand out from that element.

As I think of the essence I write down an unsorted list of elements of that essence, then sort them by what part of the essence they are describing.

That is the basic structure, and all the other neat things you have heard about in advanced mapping can be added to that as you go along.

But for now I will make a new essence map for an example for this post. Sometimes I make an essence map of a thing, but I often do not, so I will not this time.


Argyle socks
A bale of lumber falling to a warehouse floor
The name Eoin Colfer
Spout of dust
Spent shotgun shell
Grinding black pepper
Broken crutches
Smoke billows from the mouth of a cannon that has not fired
A lump of charred wood striking the floor
An iron cup filled with fog
Loose horseshoe
Shaved hedgehog
Tumbleweed
A split cork
Under a withered wood
Rolling a stick
Cracking nuts
Crushing black bread on the face
Rubbing a large brush on wet sand

There are the unsorted elements, and now I will sort them by how they express the essence. The titles of the categories are like elements themselves.

-What to do
Spout of dust
Shaved hedgehog
Crushing black bread on the face
A lump of charred wood striking the floor
Tumbleweed
Rubbing a large brush on wet sand

-Take nothing
The name Eoin Colfer
Spent shotgun shell
An iron cup filled with fog
Broken crutches
Smoke billows from the mouth of a cannon that has not fired
Under a withered wood

-Room for No
A bale of lumber falling to a warehouse floor
Argyle socks
Grinding black pepper
Loose horseshoe
A split cork
Rolling a stick
Cracking nuts


There you are. Have delight with this.

*wonders where the argyle socks came from*

So when thinking of these unsorted things, do they all have some connection of essence that makes you think of them, or are they only an essence when they are sorted?

Well, they all come from the same essence, but they are also sorted by the same essence.

By the way, the answer to the What is this an Essence Map of Riddle is here:


The first person who pms me with the answer will get a picture or critique of one of their stories!

http://www.holyworlds.org/fantasy/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=5659