Mastering Chekhov's Gun: Definition, Examples, and Proven Writing Tips

Have you ever noticed that in the best stories, seemingly minor details introduced early on can set up climactic moments later in the book? This use of dramatic tension and payoff is a literary device commonly known as Chekhov's Gun. In this post, we'll explore how you can use this writing tool to make your own stories feel tightly woven and satisfying!

Who is Anton Chekhov?

First off, who is Chekhov? Anton Chekhov was a 19th-century Russian playwright whose plays and short stories are still considered some of the best of all time. Known for his realism and deceptively straightforward stories full of subtext, his most notable works include The Seagull and The Cherry Orchard.

What is Chekhov's Gun?

The term “Chekhov’s Gun” comes from a concept he used several times in the letters he wrote to friends with writing advice. Here are some examples:

If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don’t put it there.

One must never place a loaded rifle on the stage if it isn’t going to go off. It’s wrong to make promises you don’t mean to keep.

The "gun" doesn't have to be a literal weapon. What Chekhov means by this is that effective writing requires you to remove everything that has no relevance to the story, especially if it's something that would easily catch your reader's attention. For example, if you say in the first chapter of your novel that the main character, who lives simply and owns very few possessions, has an ornate jewelry box on their bedside table, your readers' ears will prick up. They may think to themselves, Hmm, I bet this will be important later! 

If this metaphorical gun you’ve described is never fired by the end of the story, then you risk leaving your audience confused and disappointed since you dangled something in front of them that never paid off. Following the dramatic principle of Chekhov’s Gun will help you keep your story satisfying and tightly written because everything in your story will have a purpose.

If you want to learn how to apply this plot device expertly in your stories, read our tips below!

Do you need to use Chekhov's Gun in your story?

At its core, Chekhov’s Gun is about following through with every emphasized detail. This includes props (will they be used as a murder weapon later?), stand-out dialogue (is this monologue revealing a potential culprit’s motive?), and even characters (will this newly introduced person prove important later on?). One of the benefits of adhering to Chekhov’s Gun is writing a story that isn’t packed with insignificant, distracting fluff. This can help you avoid things like a sagging middle.

Story elements can pay off in many ways. They can help you foreshadow a plot twist or a revelation, create dramatic irony, be used as a red herring to distract and mislead the audience, or they could help move the plot along in terms of character development, setting, etc.

Trying to decide which specific elements matter? Ask yourself the following for story elements you’re not sure about:

• Will it drive the plot forward?
• Does it help develop a character?
• Does it contribute to the story’s atmosphere/setting?
• Will readers notice it and expect it to pay off later?

If the answer is no to all four of these questions, then proponents of Chekhov’s Gun would suggest you eliminate the detail in question. If the answer is yes to any one of them, then you’re on the right track!

How to use Chekhov's Gun in your writing

Emphasize only what’s important

There are many ways to draw readers’ attention to an important detail. You could introduce it as something jarring (why is the door to the nursery padlocked?), or describing something mundane with unexpected care (a weak floorboard that creaks like a squealing mouse, which will thwart a robber later on). Just make sure that if it’s meant to set up a critical turning point or reveal, that it doesn’t go unnoticed by readers. These are the kinds of details that need to be expressly stated, not hinted at.

On the other hand, if there are details that stand out unduly when they’re supposed to be nothing more than just a fun bit of world-building, try to de-emphasize these elements. Alternatively, you could also just cut them out entirely— remember to kill your darlings!

Set up important details early

The plot device of Chekhov's Gun works best when important details are planted like seeds: early enough to bloom satisfyingly later on. This could be the first chapter or first scene, but it could also work in the second or third chapter of your book. The earlier you set things up, the more time you have to build in other key details that come together satisfyingly.

For example, in The Hunger Games, Katniss is introduced early on as someone who is knowledgeable about poisonous plants. This comes into play when Peeta nearly eats some berries that will kill him, but the true “firing” of Chekhov’s Gun happens at the end of the book, when Katniss threatens to eat those poisonous berries to foil that year’s Hunger Games.

Use red herrings

Even though the principle of Chekhov’s Gun states that it’s important to make every stand-out detail meaningful, that doesn’t mean you have to do something cliché or expected with it. For example, a rifle hanging on the wall can do many things besides go off. It could accomplish something surprising, like end up being a lever that opens a secret chamber, or hide a camera that is secretly taping the protagonist.

Do something unpredictable—add a twist! Perhaps instead of introducing a character’s hatred of snakes to foreshadow the fear they have to overcome later, maybe their instinctual aversion to legless reptiles can help them figure out that their new next-door neighbor is a descendant of Medusa!

Another way to do the unexpected is to emphasize details to create a red herring, an element introduced to purposefully misdirect audiences. Just make sure that the red herring comes full circle, too, or else readers will have the same feeling of dissatisfaction as they would with a failed use of Chekhov’s Gun. For example, if you introduce a character with blood on their hands near a crime scene, make sure you eventually produce an explanation for their predicament.

One final caution! Doing the unexpected to subvert expectations should not mean throwing in a detail late in the story that ends up saving the day, risking the hollow, deus ex machina effect of something that wasn’t set up properly.

Ask beta readers for help

Ask your beta readers (or critique partners) to specifically look for details that stand out. What, to them, feels particularly emphasized? With this information, you can learn which elements catch readers’ eyes, allowing you to identify what needs to pay off, what needs to do more work, and what needs to be toned down. After all, if an insignificant detail is flagging readers’ attention, then you run the risk of unintentionally distracting your readers.

Conversely, if an important, plot-relevant detail is so subtle that it becomes blink-and-you-miss-it, then it’s clear you need to emphasize that element more. Early readers can be vital in helping you determine which story details need to be softened or eliminated, and which ones need to have more attention drawn to them.

When should you NOT use Chekhov's Gun?

There are plenty of examples of successful literary works that ignore Chekhov’s principle by introducing meaningless characters that disappear as quickly as they appear. Many authors argue that having a purpose for every little thing in a book makes a story basic, or predictable. This can be particularly true if a detail is introduced and used in a cliché, tired way.

Following Chekhov’s rule can also sometimes lead to a mystery getting solved too early. Have you ever watched cop dramas on TV, and known exactly who the culprit is just because a character was introduced quickly, then passed over? If you watch enough of these shows, and they make a point of following the rule of Chekhov’s gun (no one is brought into the show unnecessarily), then you might catch on to who the criminal is too early. However, this issue can easily be avoided if you’re careful not to use Chekhov’s Gun in the expected ways, as discussed earlier.

Ready to foreshadow your story's major moments?

At the end of the day, Chekhov’s Gun is all about payoff. Make sure every element of your book—characters, props, descriptions—is necessary so readers don’t feel confused or misled by the end. Making and keeping the unspoken agreement with your readers about which details will prove essential will leave them wholly satisfied at the end of your book when everything finally comes together.