Anton Chekhov famously wrote that a writer should have a reason for each
item described in their story. Chekov illustrated this by saying that if you show
a gun in the First Chapter then you must use it in the Second or Third Chapter.
Neglecting to do so is giving the reader false expectations.

To me that depends on the size of the puzzle. A simple puzzle may only be 50
pieces, but a complex 500-piece puzzle is a bigger challenge, requiring more
of the artist/developer ( author) and more from the participant (reader). Both
are equally valid ( a brilliant children’s book or a wonderful 700-page fantasy –
you pick the adventure!) but the point remains.

The gun must be used.

Every genre uses some form of suspense, like clues, to pull the reader into the
story. But some genres require more – a thriller or mystery requires more
complex pieces than your standard romance. Fantasy may require even more.
But whatever the genre, the best novels bring these pieces together to form a
cohesive story that engages the reader and leaves them satisfied.

Details matter!

By the end of the book, you should know not only why the gun mattered, but
why the author introduced it in the first place.

Q: Have you ever read a convoluted detail, clue or plot point, that left you shaking your head?
Q: Can you think of one time when a novelist surprised you with a twist that you never saw coming?
Q: Do you prefer linear plots, or ones that skip back and forth?
Q: Can you remember a novel where all the elements seemed to come together in a way that made you an immediate fan of the writer?