“We need myths to get by. We need story; otherwise the tremendous randomness of experience overwhelms us. Story is what penetrates.”
― Robert Coover

I think we can all agree on how one key ingredient for a good work of fiction is the aliveness of characters. But how far do we go with this? Case in point - I offer the following micro-fiction:

Real Life Characters

Basil Blackhorn is writing his novel. Basil Blackhorn is the kind of novelist who lets his characters develop a life of their own. Basil Blackhorn hears voices in his head, then writes what the voices tell him. The voices talk and talk and talk and talk and talk themselves out and finally resort to action.

The next morning the authorities find Basil Blackhorn slumped over his writing desk, his throat sliced by five thin slashes of a knife. The motive, background information and details of the slaying are described by the five main characters in the novel in progress on his desk.

What can be done? The five characters, so read the authorities, make a clean escape beyond many borders.

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And when it comes to a master storyteller sharing advise on the magic of fiction, you will not find a better guide that Joyce Carol Oates. This is one book I refer to again and again.