Plot holes are a gap or inconsistency that goes against the logic established in your story. The key part of that definition is the latter half: “the logic established in your story.”If all characters can fly, and that “fact” of your world is established, it isn’t a plot hole when one of the characters flies to safety. It is a plot hole if a character doesn’t fly to safety when they are clearly able to.
Plot holes are unintentional. This seems obvious by its definition but it’s easy to confuse plot holes with a character acting “irrationally.” A character acting irrationally is not a plot hole if the irrational action is within the established scope of the character. To continue our flying example, a character with the ability to fly but who does not fly to safety is not a plot hole if the character has a previously established fear of heights. Refusing to fly to safety may be irrational behavior but it is no longer a plot hole.
Here are the seven types of plot holes.
7 Types of Plot Holes
1. Factual Plot Hole
A factual plot hole is inaccurate information. For example, if your historical fiction novel is taking place in the 1700s, it would be a giant plot hole if they drove around in a car. A car hasn’t been invented it and thus it is a factual plot hole.
2. Impossible Events
If the event happening in your novel has no established basis of reasoning, it’s deemed impossible. If your character suddenly can fly, when they previously could not, that would be an impossible event. The reverse is true as well: if you character, who has been able to fly this entire novel, suddenly can’t for no reason, this is an impossible event.
3. Unbelievable Character Choices
Unbelievable character choices are when a character does something contrary to their beliefs and values, most often to progress the plot. Back to our flying character with a fear of heights (now named Sam), if Sam suddenly shoots off into the air without any explanation or growth, the readers will feel cheated. How did Sam get over their fear of heights? Was Sam’s fear of heights even real?
This is an incredibly difficult plot hole to unearth as an author, as all your character choices can feel believable to you. The key here is to make any contradictory choices a gradual growth over time. Throughout the novel, we would show Sam getting more comfortable with heights by going to the top of a skyscraper or looking out the window on a plane, etc. Then Sam’s choice to fly no longer feels unbelievable.
4. Illogical Plot Developments
An illogical plot development can look like an unbelievable character choice—or I should say an unbelievable character choice often leads to illogical plot developments and vice versa. For example, if Voldemort suddenly decided to have a change of heart and stops trying to kill Harry. This would be an unbelievable character choice that leads to an illogical plot development—the war is suddenly over and Voldemort surrenders peacefully.
Another way to catch yourself from making this mistake is to check if the plot development is something your characters would actually do or if this is just how you want your story to end!
5. Contradictions
Contradictions are when an author makes a rule and then breaks it with no consequences. If the characters can use a time machine, but cannot make any changes to the past then there must be consequences if the characters change the past. (Arms disappearing off photos is a good, weird example.)
The key here is to remember all the rules you make in your story and stick to them. And when you break them, you can’t ignore it—you must add a consistent consequence. (The consequences are like rules too!)
6. Continuity Errors
When a character leaves the bar on a bike and arrives home in a car, you have a continuity error. These can be the tiniest plot holes in your writing—you have a scene where the character has been pacing their office but then you write “and they stand up when the door opens.” That’s a continuity error if you don’t write that they sat down before then.
7. Unresolved Storylines
The line between plot holes and loose ends is thin here. If you introduce a problem without resolving it it, it is a loose end—but too many of those become plot holes. These can be the easiest to fix though—as long as you answer most (to all) of the questions you pose in your writing.
Curing all plot holes is difficult and can feel almost impossible. The key is not to try to fix every inconsistency every but to make sure the overarching story is complete. Because, after all, even famous books have plot holes in them.
Famous Plot Holes
There are plenty of plot holes in famous works to choose to highlight here. I’ve chosen just three to share with you because it’s important to remember that plot holes will always exist and that’s okay. Spoiler alert for Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Hamlet. But let’s be real, if you haven’t seen/read these three things yet…you’ve already been spoiled elsewhere.
Let’s start with Star Wars. At the end of Episode III, Obi Wan Kenobi and Senator Organa vow to hide the Skywalker twins from Darth Vader with Obi Wan forced into hiding as well. So where does he take Luke? Back to Anakin Skywalker’s home planet, to his step-brother, where Luke will grow up keeping his last name of Skywalker. Obi Wan hides nearby with the very conspicuous name of Ben Kenobi. This would be an illogical plot development.
A minor plot hole in Harry Potter is Harry Potter seeing the Thestrals starting in 5th Year, after he witnesses the death of Cedric at the end of book 4. Thestrals can only be seen by those who have seen death. This is an established rule. However, it had been previously established that Harry remembers the death of his parents in book 3. Harry also witnessed the death of Quirrell at the end of book 1. The rule is vague which leads to many contradictions.
Finally, we have Hamlet, who at one point has been kidnapped by pirates when he is sent off to England. And then somehow Hamlet ends back on Danish shores. Did the pirates drop him off? Did he fight off all the pirates and steer the ship back himself? This is an unresolved storyline. A minor one, so minor that it doesn’t detract from the brilliance, but it’s still technically a plot hole.
The point is that minor plot holes will occur. Don’t fret over every plot hole ever. Just fix the big ones and catch as many small ones as you can.
Fixing Plot Holes
Plot holes are fixed either by never existing or finding them after the fact. Both will happen, so let’s prepare for it.
1. Outline
Yup, this is why this blog post is coming out in the outlining stage not the editing stage. Plots holes can be fixed with an outline! Unbelievable character choices or illogical plot developments can be easily prevented by planning out the story and developing the character ahead of time.
Once your outline is complete, the story is set, put it away for a few days. When you come back with fresh eyes, look closely to see if you can find any plot holes!
2. Research
Researching is incredibly important for historical novels to prevent factual plot holes. Organize your research in your outline to easily come back and check all the facts.
3. Write Your Rules Down
And the consequences when you break them. This goes hand in hand with your outline but the point is to have an easy place to return to if/when you break a key rule. Your rules don’t have to be ironclad but you should know what all of them are and what the consequences are for breaking them!
4. Follow Your Logic
Your logic is different than “the logic” generally. Your logic can include flying characters. Follow it to the natural conclusion—flying characters can escape things by flying. Flying characters probably don’t use cars or planes for short trips. Flying characters would develop clothes for ease of flying. All of this and more is following your logic for your story. Take some time to sit down and develop the logic for your story.
5. TAKE BREAKS
I cannot stress this enough. You need fresh eyes to catch plot holes so take a break from your story. Take a break after you’re done outlining. Take a break after you’re done writing. Take a break after the first round of edits. Every time you take a break and then come back to a story, you’ll catch things you’ve missed before.
And finally, don’t sweat the small stuff. Does it really matter that Harry can see the threstals in year 5 but not before? No, not really. No book will be perfect—but that’s not what we’re aiming for.
Published, not perfect.
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