Chekhov’s Gun

Remove everything from writing that doesn’t need to be there.

Novelist Anton Chekhov wrote:

“Remove everything that has no relevance to the story. If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it’s not going to be fired, it shouldn’t be hanging there.”

Make your point, make it clear, and get out of the reader’s way.

Words:  Morgan Housel
Original Source: Collaborative Fund