Track Layouts

As some of you know, i love to make tracks.
I almost always do retros, but have tried to start making more nitros, which ive struggled with, because i suck at making good layouts, more specifically, I have lots of trouble thinking of them.
Does anyone have some advice or techniques i can use that will help me with it, including but not limited to making the thinking process of coming up with layouts quite a bit easier?

I usually just make a circle while waving my mouse lol :genius:

Anyway you want some variety (boosts, cannons, obstacles)
Avoid long straightaways unless they got boosts
Avoid long turns as they're just straightaways in disguise (N64 Kalimari Desert)
Avoid making everything a perfect 90°/45° turn
Avoid having too many 180° turns, especially one after another

This doesn't work as well in tracks with less going on visually but I try to plan out where the "landmarks" of the track will be (e.g. if there's gonna be a castle area, where is that? If there's gonna be a lake, where is that?) and I'll try to build a layout around that. Also feel free to import the image while it's still a wip and test how the turns feel, it can help with realising something doesn't work well before it's too late

I usually draw lines in random direction, eventually forming a layout.

- Listen to everything Kernell said
- Make sure the track lasts around 1:30-1:45 (Perfect lenght)

for the length, many people tell me to always keep it at least a few seconds under 2 minutes. is this true, or is everyone else wrong?

1:30 - 2:00 is the ideal range

A track that is too short is preferred over a track that is too long so really try not to go over 2 minutes