The Hexanomicon

"You got two choices: go to bed as dignified as possible in your current state, or I carry and throw you."

"Just let me finish this..." "Oh sure, and how long will that take? Another day? Bed, now."

"You just almost created mustard gas trying to make coffee. You're done."

"I'm worried... Please just get some rest."

"You know damn well I'm not above sedating you."

"Brought you coffee." "We both know that's decaf with sleeping pills in it." "Huh. You're learning."

*finds them slumped over on their desk* "Huh."

"Hey, what!" "I told you, one more hour, and then I am dragging you out of here. So here we are." "This is barbaric!"

this and also the only difference between fanfic writers and writers who sell their own original works as careers is that fanfics aren’t monetized. that’s all.

being a “professional” writer doesn’t mean your works are inherently better than fanfics. I’ve read so many fics that are more professionally written than some published books.

Anyway, the main strategy here is to use Bad Reaction to Simochi with Snatch Steal, Rain of Mercy and Maybe Burning Algae

Sangan and WotBF search for Magician of Faith and Mask of Darkness, which can find spells and traps like Snatch Steal and Simochi in the GY

While Magical Hats searches for the spells and traps you want, they go to the GY, Magician of Faith and Mask of Darkness bring them to your hand. And Pot of Greed, Card Destruction and Graceful Charity, coz why wouldn't you if they're not banned in Battle City?

Anyway, the main strategy here is to use Bad Reaction to Simochi with Snatch Steal, Rain of Mercy and Maybe Burning Algae

Sangan and WotBF search for Magician of Faith and Mask of Darkness, which can find spells and traps like Snatch Steal and Simochi in the GY

While Magical Hats searches for the spells and traps you want, they go to the GY, Magician of Faith and Mask of Darkness bring them to your hand. And Pot of Greed, Card Destruction and Graceful Charity, coz why wouldn't you if they're not banned in Battle City?

Anyway, the main strategy here is to use Bad Reaction to Simochi with Snatch Steal, Rain of Mercy and Maybe Burning Algae

Sangan and WotBF search for Magician of Faith and Mask of Darkness, which can find spells and traps like Snatch Steal and Simochi in the GY

While Magical Hats searches for the spells and traps you want, they go to the GY, Magician of Faith and Mask of Darkness bring them to your hand. And Pot of Greed, Card Destruction and Graceful Charity, coz why wouldn't you if they're not banned in Battle City?

Anyway, the main strategy here is to use Bad Reaction to Simochi with Snatch Steal, Rain of Mercy and Maybe Burning Algae

Sangan and WotBF search for Magician of Faith and Mask of Darkness, which can find spells and traps like Snatch Steal and Simochi in the GY

While Magical Hats searches for the spells and traps you want, they go to the GY, Magician of Faith and Mask of Darkness bring them to your hand. And Pot of Greed, Card Destruction and Graceful Charity, coz why wouldn't you if they're not banned in Battle City?

◈ “You can't just invent new rules because you're losing!”

◈ “The dice are rigged.”    “You're just bad.”

◈ “Hey, no alliances! That's literally against the spirit of the game!”

◈ “Admit it. You cheated.”    “Or, have you considered that you might suck?”

◈ “Someone please take the rulebook away from her.”

◈ “Let's make a deal.”    “No.”    “You don't even know my offer!”    “I know you. That's enough.”

◈ “If one more person knocks over the pieces, I'm losing it.”

◈ “Nope, A and B aren't allowed to team up for charades anymore after what happened last time.”

◈ “Whose turn is it?”    “Yours. It's been yours for five minutes.”

◈ “Someone pass the popcorn before I resort to violence.”

◈ “Okay, new rule: every time you curse, you take a sip.”    “Oh, this is gonna end badly.”

(no ✨vibes✨, just structure, stakes, and first-sentence sweat)

hello writer friends 💌 so you opened a doc. you sat down. you cracked your knuckles. maybe you even made a playlist or moodboard. and then… you stared at the blinking cursor like it personally insulted your entire bloodline.

here’s your intervention. this post is for when you want to write chapter one, but all you have is aesthetic, maybe a plot bunny, maybe a world idea, maybe nothing at all. here’s how to actually start a book, from structure to sentence one.

—

🌶️ STEP 1: THE SPICE BASE ~ “WHAT’S CHANGING?”

start with this question:

what changes in the protagonist’s life in the first 5–10 pages?

doesn’t have to be earth-shattering. they could get a letter, lose a job, run late, break a rule, wake up hungover in the wrong house. what matters is disruption. the opening of your book should mark a shift. if their day starts normal, it shouldn’t end that way.

🏁 opening chapters are about motion. forward movement. tension. momentum. if nothing is changing, your story isn’t starting, you’re just doing a prequel.

—

⚙️ STEP 2: THE CRUNCHY BITS - CHOOSE AN ENTRY POINT

there are 3 classic places to start a novel. each one works if you’re intentional:

The Day Everything Changes most popular. you drop us in right before or during the inciting incident. clean, fast, efficient.

pro: immediate stakes con: harder to sneak in worldbuilding or character grounding

The Calm Before the Storm starts slightly earlier. show the character’s “normal” life, then break it. useful if the change won’t make sense without context.

pro: space to introduce your character’s routine/flaws con: risky if it drags or feels like setup

The Aftermath drop us in after the big event and fill in gaps as we go. works well for thrillers, mysteries, or emotionally heavy plots.

pro: instant drama con: requires precision to avoid confusion

📝 pick one. commit. don’t blend them or you’ll write three intros at once and cry.

—

🧠 STEP 3: CHARACTER FIRST, ALWAYS

readers don’t care about your setting, your magic system, or your cool mafia politics unless they’re anchored in someone.

in the first scene, we need to know:

what this person wants

what’s bothering them (externally or internally)

one trait they lead with (bold, anxious, calculating, naive, etc.)

that’s it. just one want, one tension, one vibe. no bios. no monologues. no “they weren’t like other girls” essays. put them in a situation and show how they act.

—

⛓️ STEP 4: OPEN WITH FRICTION

first scenes should create questions, not answer them.

there should be tension between:

what the character wants vs. what they’re getting

what’s happening vs. what they expected

what’s being said vs. what’s being felt

you don’t need a gunshot or a car crash (unless you want one). you need conflict. tension = momentum = readers keep reading.

—

✏️ STEP 5: WRITE THE FIRST SENTENCE - THEN IGNORE IT

okay. now you write it.

no pressure. you’re not tattooing it on your soul. this isn’t the final line on the final page. you just need something.

tricks that work:

start in the middle of an action

start with a contradiction

start with something unexpected, funny, or sharp

start with a small lie or a weird detail

💬 examples:

“The body was exactly where she’d left it - rude.” “He was already two hours late to his own kidnapping.” “There was blood on the welcome mat. Again.” “They said don’t open the door. She opened it anyway.”

once you’ve got it? keep going. don’t revise yet. don’t edit. just build momentum.

you can come back and make it ✨iconic✨ later.

—

📦 BONUS: WHAT NOT TO DO IN YOUR OPENING

don’t start with a dream

don’t info-dump lore in paragraph one

don’t give me three pages of your OC making toast

don’t try to sound like a Victorian cryptid unless it’s on purpose

don’t introduce 7 named characters in one scene

don’t start with a quote unless you are 800% sure it slaps

be weird. be sharp. be specific. aim for interest, not perfection.

—

🏁 TL;DR (but make it ✨useful✨)

something in your MC’s life should change immediately

pick a structural entry point and stick to it

give us a person, not a setting

friction = good

first lines are disposable, just make them interesting

and if you needed a sign to just start the damn book, this is it.

💌 love, -rin t.

P.S. I made a free mini eBook about the 5 biggest mistakes writers make in the first 10 pages 👀 you can grab it here for FREE:

𐙚˖ ݁ Write however you want. This post isn’t meant to diminish other writing styles or tell anyone to write like I do. It’s just some advice I thought others might appreciate—and honestly, I just like putting my thoughts and opinions down on ‘paper.’

1. For Smut / Erotica

Don’t write for shock. Write for tension. Sex scenes should feel like a claim and a confession at the same time. Focus on what it feels like, not what it looks like.

Don’t say: He thrust into her faster and faster.

Try: He fucked her like he was trying to prove something. The bed creaked, her hand slipping against the sweat on his chest.

Think about rhythm. Short sentences hit harder. Fragments can feel like panting.

Example: His breath in your ear. Your name, again. The sound of skin. The silence right before he moves again.

Also make them talk. Dirty talk, praise, teasing, begging—whatever fits their dynamic. Dialogue gives your scene shape and personality(I'm a smut writer; trust me).

Example 1(dialogue):

Part IX

How to show being delighted

bright, sparkling eyes

smiling or grinning broadly

light, bouncy steps or movements

clapping hands or small, excited gestures

warm blush or flushed cheeks

soft, happy sighs or laughter

jumping up or small hops

eyes crinkling at the corners

open mouth, slightly parted in surprise or joy

leaning forward eagerly

staring at whatever delights them

spinning in a circle

How to show dread

rapid, shallow breathing or sudden gasps

sweaty palms or clammy skin

trembling hands or body

tightened jaw or grinding teeth

furrowed brows, tense forehead

wide, darting eyes or a fixed, unblinking stare

clenched fists or nails digging into skin

stiff, frozen posture or tense muscles ready to react

dry mouth or difficulty swallowing

sudden chills or shivers

heart pounding visibly or audibly (e.g., pounding in ears)

fidgeting or restless movements, pacing

nausea or tightness in the stomach

avoiding eye contact or looking away anxiously

voice trembling or catching in throat if speaking

How to show serenity

slow, deep breathing

soft, gentle smile or neutral, peaceful facial expression

softly gazing

smooth, unhurried movements

hands resting calmly, loosely folded or open palms

even heartbeat/pulse

slight tilt of the head, indicating calm attentiveness

relaxed jaw, no clenching or grinding

steady, balanced posture with relaxed shoulders

soft sigh or contented breath out

minimal fidgeting or twitching

How to show being alarmed

widened eyes

raised eyebrows

dilated pupils

quickened or shallow breathing

heart pounding or racing

trembling or shaking hands

stiffened posture or frozen still

sweating or cold sweat

sudden intake of breath or gasping

paleness or flushed face

lips pressed tightly or quivering

clenched jaw or fists

neck hairs standing on end

fidgeting or restless movements, pacing

mouth slightly open or dry mouth

rapid head movements, scanning surroundings

jumping or flinching suddenly

tightened throat or throat clearing

More: How to write emotions Masterpost