You have made a map you like. Now it has to get into the book, and that is where good maps often fail: a picture that looked fine on screen prints as a grey smudge, a map that fills a page on a tablet is cut off on a phone, or the file is so large the ebook becomes slow to download. Putting a map in a novel is a small job with three decisions: where it goes, how it is placed, and whether it will actually read at the size and format your readers use. This guide walks through each decision, compares the ways of adding a map, covers print and ebook differences, and shows how to do it in Quillen with a map made in the app.
The short answer
Decide whether the map belongs at the front (the usual place for a world map), at the back, or inside a chapter. Use a full-size picture, not a screenshot. Check that labels read at the finished page size, in greyscale for print. In Quillen, you can place a map as front matter or back matter in the export, or drop it into the manuscript as an image page. An interactive map must first be saved as a picture.
Where does the map go?
| Placement | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Front matter, before Chapter 1 | A world or region map the reader will refer back to | The most common place; sets the scene before the story starts |
| Back of the book | A map that would give away the story if seen first | Good for maps showing the end of a journey |
| Within a chapter | A city map or a plan used in a single scene | Place it where the scene needs it |
| A series of maps | A story that moves across several regions | A world map at the front, local maps at their chapters |
Think about what the reader needs at each point. If the map shows a place the characters will not reach until the final act, a front map may spoil it. If characters constantly refer to the geography, a front map is a gift.
Three ways to add a map in Quillen
There are three routes, and each suits a different case:
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Front matter map | Tick Map in the export's Front matter and choose a map and a caption | A map before Chapter 1 |
| Back matter map | Tick Map (back of book) in the export's Back matter | A map at the end |
| Image page in the text | Click Image Page in the editor and choose a map | A map at a specific chapter or scene |
Interactive maps need a picture
If you made your map with an interactive generator, it lives as a live document, which a book cannot print. You need a flat picture of it. In Quillen, interactive maps show up in the picture chooser by their small preview, with a note that for print you should open the map in Lore, click Save picture to Lore, and then choose the full-size picture. City maps exported as PNG are already pictures.
Make it readable
Three checks before you publish:
- Label size. Print the map at the actual page size, or view it at that size on screen. Can you read the smallest label? If not, remove labels, enlarge the important ones, or simplify the map.
- Greyscale. Convert it to black and white. Do borders and regions still read? Many printed books and e-ink readers are not in colour.
- Phone test. Look at it on a phone preview. A map that is tiny on a phone screen might need fewer, larger labels.
Captions and credits
A short caption helps: the map's name is usually enough. If the tool or artist requires credit, add it to the copyright page or caption. Quillen's credits list the world map generator and the city generator, both free to use with their own licence terms, so check their terms for your book.
Print versus ebook
| Ebook | ||
|---|---|---|
| Size | One full page, fixed | Scales to the reader's screen |
| Colour | May be black and white | Colour on tablets, greyscale on e-ink |
| Zoom | None | Readers can often pinch to zoom |
| Resolution | About 300 pixels per inch | 1,200 to 1,600 pixels on the long side is enough |
| File size | Not a concern | Keep it moderate |
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Using a screenshot | Low resolution | Save a full-size picture |
| Too many small labels | Unreadable in print | Fewer, larger labels |
| Placing a spoiler map at the front | Gives away the story | Place it where the reader has reached it |
| Colour that only works in colour | Lost in greyscale | Test in greyscale |
| No caption or credit | Missing context or licence terms | Add a caption; credit if required |
| Forgetting to preview | Layout surprises | Check every preview mode |
Do it in Quillen
Start with a map in Lore, either a city map exported as a PNG, an uploaded image, or a picture saved from an interactive map.
Option 1: As front or back matter
- Open Export. Click Export in the header and choose Print, eBook & Kindle.
- Tick Map in the Front matter list (or Map (back of book) in the Back matter list).
- Choose the map. Pick one of your Lore maps, or choose a new image, and add an optional caption.
- Check the preview. The front map sits after the other front matter and before Chapter 1.
Option 2: As an image page in the manuscript
- Place your cursor where the map should go.
- Click Image Page in the toolbar. The window lists your maps under Your maps: picture maps (city maps, pictures saved from an interactive map, and uploaded maps) and interactive maps, shown by a small preview.
- Pick a picture map, add an optional caption, and click Add image page. The image sits on a page of its own, centred.
Checklist
- Placement chosen: front, back or in a chapter.
- A full-size picture, not a screenshot.
- Labels readable at the finished page size.
- Tested in greyscale and on a phone preview.
- Caption added, and credit if required.
- Checked in the E-reader, Phone and Book previews.
Common questions
Where should a map go in a novel?
Most often at the front, before Chapter 1, for a world or region map readers will refer back to. Use the back for a map that would spoil the story, or place a local map inside the chapter that needs it.
How do I add a map to my book in Quillen?
Tick Map in the Print, eBook & Kindle export's front or back matter and choose a Lore map, or click Image Page in the editor to place a map on a page of its own.
Can I put an interactive map in my book?
Not directly. Open it in Lore and click Save picture to Lore, then choose the full-size picture when you add it.
How big should a map image be?
About 300 pixels per inch at print size for paperbacks. For an ebook, 1,200 to 1,600 pixels on the long side is usually enough.
How can I check that my map is readable?
View it at the finished page size, in greyscale, and in a phone preview. Remove or enlarge labels that are hard to read.