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What Is a Plot Hole?
A plot hole is any inconsistency or gap that counters the logic in a story’s plot.
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5 Major Plot Hole Errors
- Illogical Events: An all-powerful villain is easily defeated.
- Contradictions: A character’s personality changes greatly between two scenes with no explanation.
- Unresolved Storylines: A secondary character is given their own subplot, which is not resolved.
- Impossible Events: A character travels too quickly between far distances.
- Continuity Errors: A character seemingly forgets a vital piece of information they knew earlier in the story.
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Tips for Finding Plot Holes
- Remain objective. The best practice of putting your manuscript aside and approaching with fresh eyes helps you maintain objectivity.
- Follow your characters. As you read, make sure that each character is consistent within the story and has a definite personality.
- Create a story timeline. Make a list of chapters and major events in the chapter. Make sure the sequence of events makes sense: days, months, years, or even morning to evening. Note the characters present in the chapter.
- Examine your plot. Question the plot logic. Has a journey been abandoned or question gone unanswered? Has a character made choices or said something that does not fit their personality?
- Is your story world consistent? Do cultural norms shift? Is your fantasy magic logic consistent?
- Check your subplots. Follow each one from beginning to end. Make sure all of them are complete.
- Keep revision notes. They may open up threads that create new plot holes.
- Hire a professional editor. If cost is a concern, ask a fellow writer to read your novel or suggest an exchange.
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Tips for Fixing Plot Holes
- Rewrite an inconsistency to fit the story. For example, give the suspect who went for a walk in the storm muddy shoes and/or a damp jacket.
- Make the implausible plausible. If a character is acting out of character, rewrite the scene to fit the character actions and speech with their overall character portrayal and role in the story.
- Examine the character. What do they want? What is their goal? What is their plan?
- Rethink the scene or thread. Your first idea is not always the best idea.
- Brainstorm the scene with what-if questions.
- Go back to your original outline to check where the story goes off track.
- Read the story as a reader. What trips you up?
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