All right, let’s have some fun: let’s outline a sword and sorcery story…

…no, not the one I’ll be writing for Conquering Swords, but it’s a type, there is a sort of a formula (feel free to violate it or turn it on its head): and who knows, maybe we’ll vote (informally, since I don’t have a poll widget, nor can find one) on favorite takes. Feel free to take this as far as you want, and understand it is community property, so if you get inspired and want to go write the great American S&S novel, you can do so—just don’t gripe about other writers having a similar plot!