I found out about this site when Tarn Adams (the creator of Dwarf Fortress) mentioned that this month's mapping challenge here involved DF maps. Since I've got a dabbling interest in maps as a creator of fictional worlds (which then need maps - or actually, more usually I draw the map and then make up the people that live there), I figured I might as well join up and look about for tips on how to draw the things so they look natural, either by hand or using software.

So. Can anyone give a dabbling cartographer, who mostly likes mucking about making random maps for the fun of it and isn't very good at it yet, any pointers?