What is the most important element of fiction?

What is the most important element of fiction?

Russell Celyn Jones (Published writer. Professor of Creative Writing and Director of the MA Programme at Birkbeck College (University of London).) gives expert video advice on: What is fiction?; Where does fiction begin?; What is the most important element of fiction? and more...

The singular most important element in fiction is character. If you get your characters right, other things come out with that, such as story. For instance, if you create a character with problems or issues, the plot would probably emerge from those issues or problems.