“Plot holes are not evidence that you’re a bad writer. They’re evidence that you’re writing a complex story. Complex stories have complex problems. Fix them and move on.”
— L.A. Walton, The Book Maven
Every story has plot holes in the first draft. Every. Single. One. The difference between a published novel and a trunk novel is not the absence of plot holes—it’s the thoroughness with which they were found and fixed.
The Plot Hole Identification System
| Plot Hole Type | How to Find It | How to Fix It |
| Logical inconsistency. | Ask ‘does this follow from what came before?’ | Add a scene or line that bridges the logic gap. |
| Character knowledge gap. | Track what each character knows and when. | Ensure characters only act on information they’ve actually received. |
| Convenient coincidence. | Ask ‘is this too convenient?’ | Add obstacles. Make the coincidence feel earned. |
| Missing consequence. | Track every action and its aftermath. | Show the ripple effects of every major event. |
| Abandoned setup. | List every setup and match it to a payoff. | Either pay off the setup or remove it. |
The Book Maven’s Plot Hole Repair Kit
- Create a timeline. Every event, every day, every character’s location. Inconsistencies become visible instantly.
- Use beta readers as plot-hole detectives. Give them one job: ‘Find anything that doesn’t make sense.’
- Read backward. Read the last chapter first, then the second-to-last, and so on. It disrupts your narrative flow and exposes logical gaps.
- Ask ‘why didn’t they just…’ For every major conflict. If there’s an obvious, easier solution, address it.
- Sleep on it. Seriously. Your subconscious solves plot problems while you rest. Write down the hole before bed. Check your brain for answers in the morning.
Your Move, Creative
Make a list of every major plot event in your story. Next to each one, write the CONSEQUENCE. If any event has no consequence, you’ve found a hole. Patch it.
Stop letting your stories stay stuck.
