Most of the time, I kind of hate rules. I get defensively mad that I’ll need to follow them, even when they’re rules I was unlikely to break in the first place. I also start worrying about not breaking them—oh no, does this obscure little thing I might want to do someday break this random rule or law that I’ll probably never get called on?

In writing, though, I love rules, at least when it comes to generating plots. If I sit down and say, I can do anything I want in the entire world, I will have absolutely zero ideas of what to write. But when I sit down to write a cyberpunk novella, the ideas just flow from me.

Usually the connection makes no sense—why a cyberpunk romance has to be f/f is something not even I understand, but I know it to be true. That connection is all I need, though.

Even better, as the story flows, having more rules just makes things easier. “There has to be a sex scene in the first three scenes.” Hrrm, okay. I can do that. “It’s a cougar story.” Hrrrm, really? Do I even like cougars? Screw this rule! I’m going to write a real cougar who enjoys the sex but isn’t a scary predator either. But maybe a little…

That’s right, my contrary nature is fuel here. I follow the letter of the law, while coming up with creative ways to violate it in spirit. Rebellion is surely the best fuel for creativity.