The question may come across as harsh, but it’s one of the simplest ways to decide if elements within your story are working for it, against it, or if (worst case scenario) they’re doing nothing at all.
Ask (and be honest with) yourself:
- Is this information that we need (about the location, the character, the event, etc.)?
- If yes, did we get that information already? Do we need it again?
Then, flag your revisions.
If you ask yourself who cares and the answer doesn’t in some way relate to the reader and them experiencing your story in the best way possible, mark it as “revision needed” or “possible deletion.”