It happens. Despite our best efforts, it still sometimes happens: the dreaded plot hole.

What is a Plot Hole?

As a reader, we can spot a plot hole a mile away. It’s any time something doesn’t quite make sense. There are different kinds of Plot Holes, some of them more annoying to read than others:

Deus Ex Machina — when we create a story device, either a solution or a complication, out of seemingly nowhere. (ie, suddenly the character reveals he is an accomplished sharpshooter and happened to bring along his rifle when they are trapped on the roof)

Logic Flaw — when we bend the laws of physics for the sake of a story (ie, explosions in the vacuum of space), or bend our own story rules (ie, we say this can never happen, but then it does)

Motivation Fail — when we can’t fathom why a character makes a particular choice, particularly surrounding their pursuit of certain goals (ie, a character bent on revenge suddenly pursues a side-quest of rescuing puppies), or some world-event takes place that we didn’t predict (ie, suddenly the world is at war, with no explanation given)

Continuity Holes — when we say one thing is happening and then say a different thing a few minutes later (ie, Character A is in the room, and then Character B is outside)

How do They Happen?

Put simply, authors are human. When writing a story, there are a lot of elements to track.

Sometimes a plot hole is major: it involves the very structure of the story itself.

But most of the time, plot holes are minor: small inconsistencies exist,

Major plot holes happen because of lazy or uncreative writing. (I’m sorry, I know, I had to say it though…)

How do We Fix Them?

An inch of prevention is worth a pound of cure… but this is not that article. (You can check out my Theme Based Fiction planning method to help you avoid plot holes in the future).

The first step to fixing plot holes is to recognize them…

1) Recognize Plot Holes

Many times, we are aware of a major plot hole as we are writing. We know that we introduced that last-minute ability to help us get out of an impossible situation, or that we didn’t really have a good reason for our character to act that way… But for those unknown plot holes, we need an objective eye.

Our best tool is going to be reading our story like a reader would. Sometimes a few days away from a story can give us the necessary perspective.

I personally like to go through the story several times, focussing on a different character or storyline each time. I track this specific aspect to ensure that all the plot points are linear, logical, and coherent.

For smaller plot holes, we need to track them the same way. Fact sheets or character timelines can help track small details (like hair and eye colour, or where a character is at a certain time) and keep things consistent.

And finally, a good beta reader or critique partner can be invaluable to read the story with an objective eye.

2) Explore Your Options

Once we have identified the plot holes, we need to come up with some options to fix them.

If our Plot Hole is a little thing, like one character having two different eye colours, we need to evaluate the two options, and pick which one we want to go with. Something small like green versus blue may not have any effect on the story and we can make our decision simply on which we like better.

But sometimes even small details can be important devices in the story (like in the Red Fever Trilogy, Augments are marked by their unusual eye colouring), so it is important to evaluate which option makes the most sense for the story we want to tell.

Bigger details, like character motivations or skills, need more attention, but are best handled in the same way. We need to come up with our options, understand the connotations of our options, and pick which one is best.

3) Add Details

My favourite way for filling a plot hole is to add details.

For example, if I need my character to be a sharpshooter for the climax of the story, I need to introduce this fact earlier in the story. I can add scenes or bits of dialogue throughout so that it becomes something that is part of this character from the beginning, instead of something tacked on at the end.

Similarly, if I need my character to be motivated by saving puppies instead of revenge, I need to show their devotion to puppies from the beginning, whether in events or backstory.

This is a quick and dirty hack that lets me get away with even the most wild Deus Ex Machina, without my readers being any the wiser. (In fact, it looks like you are brilliant and have planned it all along!)

Remember, you can do anything in story, so long as you make the reader believe it’s possible. Logic, motivations, character skills and flaws, even physics can be flexible. But you must who the reason why.

4) Rewrite Where Necessary

Depending on how much attention you paid to your story plan and plot, you may have some serious Plot Holes that require a full or partial rewrite. (Although, I find the more you plan, the less you rewrite, which is why I sit firmly to the Planning side of Plotter vs. Pantser.)

If you need a re-write (and if you are wondering if you do, you probably do…), not all is lost! You already have a solid foundation because you know where your story starts and how it ends. This is a great opportunity to plan the middle and create a great work of fiction.

Check out my Planning Guide.

5) Repeat

There is nothing more frustrating that fixing one plot hole only to create 5 more (and it happens more often than you think!)

Leave No Plot Hole Unfilled

As a writer, I know how tempting it can be to say, “Oh, the story is good enough.” We want to believe that the little details won’t be noticed. Or, worse, we tell ourselves that it’s too much work and we’re better just to move on.

But readers are smart. Readers notice plot holes, and they are frustrated by them, sometimes enough to put a book down and walk away.

The Bottom Line: Don’t leave plot holes unfilled.