I'm in the mood to work on a Sword and Sorcery story, but yet-- I need advice on how I am to go about it. Like for instance... What are the usual tropes? What makes these heroes or heroines different from fantasy? And so on... Any advice would be appreciated! I was also wondering if people in tapas would enjoy such stories. Thanks in advance!
Sep '24Sep '24
I dunno. I guess you should study popular stories and see what trends are common and maybe what trends are too common and how you could subvert them or what ideas you think would be interesting to see play out instead. Or see if you can add your own specific idea on top of the current ones.
I like to think any story can do well on Tapas even if it's not "popular" as for figuring out how to tell your story I think a good start would be research, observe and experiment and then pick your medium
Research is pretty straigh forward: learn about the genre and what makes it unique as a branch of fantasy story. To be honest I think this thread may be the first time I've heard the name "sword and sorcery" but a google search pulls up a couple things between places like wikipedia, reddit and different book sites (be they publishers or just book fans)
from there is observation, find books, comics, tv shows (whichever you prefer or all of the above) and see how they write within the genre. so stuff like pacing, character and story tropes all the little things that make parts click together and keep in mind the things you like or stuff you might change
after that is the fun part, experimenting. take what you've learned from researching and all the stuff you've watched and read and try to throw together your own story. doesn't have to be anything busy either just start with a concept. so maybe an mc, a bbeg, a supporting character or two and so on and then toss around little scenes or scenarios you like and see if you can glue it into a cohesive plot or be like the "smart guys" and start with a general plot concept and add those parts to it (whatever works for you)
in all honestly my own 'fantasy' story (tho i still dunno where on the genre spectrum it falls) got inspired by a monthly drawing prompt that mostly focused on characters, settings and "encounters/actions" kinda like a D&D thing(?) but i got some pretty solid ideas from it and then built out from those core concepts along with inspiration from my favorite jrpgs and other fantasy stories or settings but with a spin that i'd find interesting to read or write about. which i'll add that it's still very much in it's developmental phases but i've got a vaguely solid outline it's just getting a more solid script or 'chapter' outlines on top of it
the biggest thing tho is to have fun with it, writing rule exist as a guideline but you're free to play around within and around them so as long as it's something you like and you're confident in it's what matters most. after all you're it's first audience and forcing yourself to trudge through something you dont enjoy doesn't make "good" work so dont make it a chore
Make sure you put Chad with nice abs wielding a big sword. And Stacy with D cups casting magic spells. Then crank whatever plot you can think of. It doesn't matter. 
Here is quite all I know about troops in that (I don't do thin genre so... it's theoretical, but still)
Tough, Gritty Heroes
Your main characters are usually not the “save the world” types. They’re more about surviving, getting rich, or solving a personal problem. They might be a bit morally gray—like they’ll help someone out, but they’re also not afraid to put their own needs first. Think of them as rugged, independent, and not afraid to get their hands dirty.
Low Magic, High Stakes:
Magic in Sword and Sorcery is more rare and dangerous, not the everyday kind you see in high fantasy. When it shows up, it’s powerful but unpredictable—something to be feared or respected. The focus is more on physical combat, cunning, and strategy.
Personal, Grounded Conflicts:
Instead of giant battles between good and evil, Sword and Sorcery stories usually focus on more personal stakes. Your hero might be out for revenge, trying to survive a treacherous journey, or seeking some kind of forbidden treasure. The world isn’t at risk—just your character’s life or soul.
Cool, Dangerous Settings:
The settings are usually pretty wild—think ancient ruins, dark forests, or corrupt cities. The world is full of mystery and danger, with lots of history and weird cultures. It’s not a place where your characters can let their guard down.
Monsters, Evil Wizards, and Dark Gods:
These stories love to throw all sorts of threats at your characters, from deadly beasts to sinister sorcerers. The supernatural is usually dark and terrifying, something your characters need to confront or escape from, not embrace.
Quick, Intense Pacing:
Sword and Sorcery stories are often short and punchy. They move fast, with lots of action and not too much downtime. It’s more about the journey and the encounters along the way than about long-winded exposition.
Thank you for you advice. What category would this go under, do you think?-- I've read that sword and sorcery and fantasy weren't the same genre. Are we aloud to add a genre
topic here on topas? Perhaps I might mix genres already listed.
Thanks for your response... I have researched books in this genre and others like; sword and sandles, cloak and dagger, and so on... But I was wondering if anyone has tried telling this kind of stories in a vertical comic format and with the tapas audience. I think your right, there is room to play and experiment with this.
I just hope I won't be strung and quartered from tapas for blaising some cheeks. T&A might get views but might also get me slapped with a ban. I'll have to be clever on how I design it I guess. Thanks for the advice!
Thank you! This is very informative! As far as the look of the characters-- what do you suggest, in the context of posting on tapas? Do tapas allow gritty, violent, and half naked people on the platform?
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