When writing genre fiction...

Any

Over on Twitter, Bryan Edward Hill made an interesting point. Basically, there should be a story before you add genre elements.

(It might seem like this goes against Sturgeon's dictum that a good science fiction story couldn't exist without the science, but I think they're talking about different things.

• Hill is pointing out that in most cases, there should be a dramatic situation that can be exploited whether or not the genre elements appear.
• Sturgeon is pointing out that the method in which that dramatic situation is exploited must be unique to the genre elements.

Does this have roleplaying implications?

Well, if it does, I'm too blind to see them.

It might for some systems. Any system where the character's goals or qualities or aspects could set up a dramatic situation or a dramatic need is fodder for this idea. So your DramaSystem for sure; maybe your FATE or Burning Wheel, but it depends on the system.

Most roleplaying games are focused on the external. They create an illusion of story (when you sift through the memories) but they're not about producing a fiction. Playing Cops & Robbers is not about generating The Wire, though that's not out of the realm of possibility.

So RPGs put their genre elements forward; it's up to the players (I include the GM if there is one) to create the dramatic situation that makes it a story.