The Chekhovian Rules of Writing

July 8, 2019

How did Anton Chekhov approach his writing? Over at Open Culture, they go over the lauded short story writer’s rules of writing, as stated in an 1886 letter to his brother Aleksandr. “In 1886, Chekhov advised that if Aleksandr wished to get published in the magazine Fragments, he should observe the following: ‘1. The shorter, the better; 2. A bit of ideology and being up to date is most à propos; 3. Caricature is just fine, but ignorance of civil service ranks and of the seasons is strictly prohibited.'”

Image credit: Osip Braz, Portrait of Anton Chekhov

is a writer and illustrator. She is the author of two illustrated books, Last Night's Reading (Penguin Books, 2015) and Sanpaku (Archaia 2018).