on Live Write Thrive:

Crafting a compelling story within a specific genre is akin to deciphering a secret code. Every genre has its unique DNA—a set of markers that define its essence. To truly master your chosen genre, you need to become a genre detective, adept at uncovering and employing these markers to create stories that resonate deeply with your target audience. Identifying genre matters!

Whether you are in the early stages of planning your novel, armed with a promising concept and a basic plot outline, or you’ve already completed a rough draft, reasonably confident that your story fits within a specific genre, you’ll want to examine your genre DNA to ensure you’re on target.

Does it really matter, though? In a word: yes. Because readers have expectations, and while you might not want to view your book as a product designed for a specific type of customer, that’s exactly what it is.