I have spent all night thinking about what you said. How does genre affect my role as a writer, and in what way can it satisfy this role?
Probably not asked many times, but I’m curious. In general, when people talk about genre and other literary forms, they’re usually talking about the method bookkeepers use to organize the books in stores.
Genres contain structural elements. Contraptions/inventions, industrial revolution setting, airships, and fuel element make a steampunk novel. A crime, an investigator, an antagonist, thrilling plot twists = crime/detective novel. Time travel, parallel universes, space travel and exploration = scifi. Advanced technology, near-future earth, hardboiled noir, cyber environment = cyberpunk. And so on.
Notably, genre can be perceived as the foundation of a story, forming the structure and something to build on. A building cannot be built on a weak foundation. A lot of work goes into the creation of a novel, and knowing the genre helps the writer.
In fiction the writer must plan and construct a conflict, plot, and character. These are the materials that build the story. The writer must also decide how it begins and ends, and if to include other literary elements. But a writer might be overwhelmed by the many potential directions the story could take, unsure how to proceed. But familiarity with genre makes it easier for the writers. To write well and quickly in a genre, you need knowledge. Each genre has its elements, history, origin, art and design, ect. The writer can read a bunch of books, and research, perhaps even have pre-built knowledge of the genre due to their love for it.