“One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it.” – Anton Chekhov.

Also known as foreshadowing, this technique comes from writer Anton Chekhov’s belief that any object introduced in a story must be used later on, else it ought not to feature in the first place.

With this in mind, it is your challenge, over the course of several stories if you so wish, to give crucial relevance or meaning to an object, character or piece of information which does not on first read seem important…

Of course, the fact that your readers may know your story will include Chekhov’s guns will make subterfuge and surprise harder to achieve – but I never said it was going to be easy!

Have 10 days – go!