how do you get better at describing things? and how much is too much?

You need to become a better observer to describe things better. Too much is too much when the details do nothing for the book.

I don't know the exact quote, but a Russian author I believe said that if you say there is a gun on the wall in act 1 it should fire by act 3

You need to step up your pussy game. Once you do all answers will become clear and you don't even have to think about it as pen touches paper.

>>8504075
Chekov

The book I'm working on right now has almost zero description and works almost entirely based on dialogue, occasional interjecting internal monologues, and actions. It's honestly a great exercise: trying to enact this Proust-esque simulacrum through description is a trap many writers fall into and is something you can only really do if you've mastered the discipline. Also it's pretty antiquated and usually lends itself to creatively masturbatory writing

>>8504075
Chekhov said that

>>8504075
Fuck off pragmaticist

>>8504075

Spoiler alert: All his protagonists kill themselves.

Read some Updike. His books don't always add up to much, but he's the greatest descriptor in the English language.

>>8504137
Not much, what's up with you?

If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

the trick is to describe it like you would to a friend so he could find and recognize the thing or person on his own. this assures brevity and realistic distinctiveness.
it's was one of flaubert's writing exercises, mentioned in some interview.

>>8504162
nice bait