The 7 Most Common Plot Holes in Fiction (And How to Fix Them)

Every fiction writer has been there: you're deep into your story, the characters are coming alive, and then suddenly you realize something doesn't add up. Your protagonist somehow knew information they shouldn't have, or a character disappeared for fifty pages without explanation. Welcome to the world of plot holes—those pesky gaps in logic that can pull readers right out of your carefully crafted story.

Plot holes aren't just minor inconveniences; they're trust-breakers. When readers spot them, they stop believing in your world and start questioning everything else. The good news? Most plot holes fall into predictable categories, and once you know what to look for, you can catch them before your readers do.

1. The Vanishing Character

The Problem: Secondary characters appear, serve their purpose, then disappear without explanation. Your protagonist's best friend who was crucial in chapter three is nowhere to be found during the climactic battle in chapter twenty.

The Fix: Create a character tracking sheet. List every named character and their last appearance. Before you finish your manuscript, account for everyone. They don't need lengthy explanations—a single line like "Sarah had moved to Denver the previous month" can close the loop.

2. The Convenient Skill

The Problem: Your character suddenly has exactly the skill needed to solve the current problem, despite no previous indication they possessed this ability. Your accountant protagonist suddenly knows how to pick locks, fly a helicopter, or speak fluent Mandarin.

The Fix: Plant seeds early. If your character will need a specific skill later, mention it in passing earlier in the story. Even better, make it part of their backstory or give them a believable reason to have learned it recently.

3. The Inconsistent Timeline

The Problem: Events don't line up chronologically. Your character attends a funeral on Tuesday, but later you mention the person died on Wednesday. Or seasons change without enough time passing.

The Fix: Create a timeline document. Track major events, character ages, seasons, and time references. When you mention "three days later," actually count three days forward from your last established date.

4. The Forgotten Injury

The Problem: Your character suffers a significant injury—broken ribs, a sprained ankle, a concussion—then acts perfectly normal in the next scene. Physical limitations disappear when they become inconvenient to the plot.

The Fix: Research recovery times for injuries you inflict on your characters. If you need them mobile quickly, either choose less severe injuries or provide realistic healing methods (medical treatment, supernatural healing, etc.).

5. The Omniscient Character

The Problem: A character knows something they shouldn't or couldn't know. They reference events they didn't witness, know details about other characters' private lives, or understand complex situations without explanation.

The Fix: Track information flow. Create a chart showing who knows what and when they learned it. If a character needs to know something, show them learning it through dialogue, observation, or research.

6. The Inconsistent World Rules

The Problem: Your story's world operates by certain rules—magic systems, technology limitations, social structures—but these rules change when convenient for your plot.

The Fix: Write out your world's rules and stick to them. If magic can't bring back the dead, it can't bring back the dead—even when it would solve your plot problems. If you need to break a rule, provide a compelling, previously established exception.

7. The Motivational Flip

The Problem: Characters act against their established motivations without explanation. Your pacifist character suddenly becomes violent, or your greedy character becomes generous, all because the plot demands it.

The Fix: Character development should be gradual and motivated. If you need a character to change, show the events and realizations that drive that change. Major personality shifts require major catalysts.

Prevention Strategies

Read Aloud: Plot holes often become obvious when you hear your story. Reading aloud forces you to slow down and catch inconsistencies.

Beta Readers: Fresh eyes catch what you've become blind to. Give your manuscript to people who haven't heard you talk about the plot.

Chapter Summaries: Write a one-paragraph summary of each chapter. This bird's-eye view often reveals gaps in logic or missing information.

Character Interviews: "Interview" your characters about their motivations, backgrounds, and knowledge. If you can't explain why they do something, neither can your readers.

The Bottom Line

Plot holes aren't creative failures—they're editing opportunities. Every published author has written plot holes in their first drafts. The difference between amateur and professional work isn't the absence of plot holes in early drafts; it's the commitment to finding and fixing them before publication.

Remember, readers want to believe in your story. They're not looking for reasons to stop reading. But when plot holes appear, they can't help but notice. By systematically hunting down these seven common culprits, you'll keep your readers immersed in your world from the first page to the last.

Your story deserves readers who are thinking about your characters and themes, not scratching their heads over inconsistencies. Take the time to plug the holes, and your readers will thank you with their continued attention and trust.