How is a gun like Vampire Karaoke?

[sarahmichigan]

When you introduce either one in the first act, you know something awful will happen by the end of the show...

Comments

[simianpower.livejournal.com]

To be fair, Vampire Karaoke IS something awful in its own right.

Regarding Chekhov's maxim, I strongly disagree with it. If every element MUST be used it leaves no mystery at all. I hate predictable, plodding storylines. But then, I was bored by everything I've seen of Chekhov as well, so no surprise there.

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

I dunno. I think there's a place for the red herring, but I think there's a balance. Sometimes authors will throw in characters and situations and objects and go into detail about them, and by the end of the book, you're wondering, "What happened to so-and-so?" or "Why did he go on and on about that book when it never contributed anything to the plot?"

[simianpower.livejournal.com]

True, a balance needs to be struck. I'm not on the "make everything a red herring" camp either.