#1: Edit with objectivity.

The surest way to catch plot holes when revising is to first take some time to gain a little objectivity, to step away from your manuscript in order to review it later with fresh eyes. We talked about even more tips for gaining objectivity in this article, so make sure to check that out.

#2: Draft With intention.

Every writer's pre-writing process will look a little different, so don't feel pressured to outline your novel scene-by-scene before writing if doing so doesn't work well for you. Generally speaking, however, the more you develop your story before writing, the better your chance of catching plot holes early.

For more guidance as you pre-write, make sure to check out The Pre-Write Project or read through our article on developing your story in eleven simple steps.

#3: Examine your plot.

As you read through your story before revising, take some time to question the logic of your plot. Do the events in your story build upon those prior? Do instances of conflict have meaningful consequences? Do your characters make choices that are true to their personalities and beliefs?

Think about some of the most glaring plot holes you've found in stories you've read or films you've watched, and don't be afraid to interrogate your story for similar mistakes.

#4: Stay true to your characters.

As I've often said, characters are the backbone of plot. It's their desires and motivations that drive stories forward and their flaws and failures that lend to conflict. As writers, however, it's all too easy to use our characters as wish fulfillment, playing out events as we'd ideally like them to occur rather than staying true to the characters we've developed.

This reality always makes me think of A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. The reason that Martin was able to successfully execute his protagonist at the end of the first book in his series was that doing so was the most logical result of several characters' personalities and beliefs.

We, too, can work to stay true to our characters as we find and fix our story's plot holes by first taking the time to develop our characters fully, then interrogating our characters' choices throughout our stories in much the same way we did with our plots in the tip above.

#5: Create a subplot checklist.

It's surprisingly easy to drop small subplots as we write, especially in stories with multiple points-of-view and complex storylines. The easiest way I've found to keep all of these story threads in check is to quite literally keep a checklist.

Every time I introduce a new plot or character arc, I write it down in a document called "story threads", which I then review as I write and edit to ensure I haven't accidentally created any plot holes.

#6: Know the laws of your story world.

If you're writing any form of speculative fiction — stories that include fantastical, supernatural, or futuristic elements — it's all too easy to create plot holes that concern your world-building: magic systems with no boundaries, space cadets who can't fire a phaser to save their lives, vampires that sparkle...

You get the idea, right? Taking the time to develop the framework of your story world is vital. There are many ways to go about world-building, but putting in the time and effort is key to both avoiding plot holes as you write and knowing where to look for potential plot holes as you edit.

For more information on world-building, make sure to check out our blog series or download your copy of our step-by-step workbook, World-Building Warrior.

#7: Keep detailed revision notes.

You may patch up many plot holes as you revise, but even the smallest of changes to your plot, characters, or world-building can result in a butterfly effect that only creates more plot holes. For this reason, I'd encourage you to keep detailed revision notes as you work.

Once you've finished a new draft, review the changes you've made and identify any potential problem areas in your story. Take a few weeks' break to regain your objectivity, then work through your story once again to catch any new plot holes you may have created.

#8: Work with beta-readers or an editor.

We may work hard to gain an objective eye. But, at the end of the day, chances are that we won't catch all the plot holes we've created. We're simply too close to our work. This is where the aid of beta readers or a fantastic editor comes into play.

Bringing a manuscript to life is far more of a group effort than you may at first realize. Where our own objectivity falls short, getting a few secondary eyes on our manuscripts can make all the difference in catching those pesky plot holes. So, don't be afraid to reach out for help!

