Quote Originally Posted by bartmoss View Post
It's easy to see some of the awesome maps here (I don't even mean my own, there are many people here who are TONS better than I) and get discouraged because you don't see the tries and errors that went into making them. Don't get discouraged, is my point.
This is the most important point. It's easy but foolish to compare one's own skills as a newbie to the work of the many experienced folks here.

Use their stuff as inspiration, but not a standard to hold yourself to.