Before placing a settlement, ask what keeps it alive. Water, food, movement, defense, trade, religion, industry, and politics all leave fingerprints on location.
Once the location makes sense, hierarchy keeps the page readable. Capitals, towns, villages, ruins, and landmarks do not all need equal visual weight.
An aged planning sheet gives you room to test that hierarchy before committing to final artwork. It also leaves space for the practical notes that explain what the symbols mean.