Plot Holes, and how to patch them

No matter what you do, every story you write will encounter a few plot holes. Your story's tires will bump over inconsistencies and impossibilities as it moves from beginning to end, and the more complex your plot is, the more likely your story will have to negotiate gaping, yawning pitfalls of logic.

So how do you deal with it?

That depends on what kind of plot holes you've got. Simple inconsistencies in descriptive detail are the easiest to fix. Does a character have blue eyes in one chapter and brown eyes in the next? Pick brown or blue and revise.

When a plot hole has to do with character motivations, that can be more difficult to patch up. Say your plot requires Bobby to murder dear old Uncle George in chapter three, but you never mention why Bobby would do such a thing. Depending on the outcome you want for your story, here are a few options:

1. Ignore the plot hole: This works best for minor things the reader is not likely to notice. If Uncle George's murder is a tiny sub-plot, maybe we don't need to go into Bobby's reasons. On the other hand, if the murder is the main story, you'd better not ignore the motive.
2. Patch the plot hole: If a plot hole is too big to ignore, add something to the story, like a piece of character history. Maybe Uncle George accidentally ran over Bobby's puppy when Bobby was a boy, and now Bobby wants revenge. But watch out! Make sure your patch fits with the rest of the story. And make sure your patch for one plot hole doesn't create other plot holes.
3. Dig up the plot and make a new one: If you can't find a good patch for a big plot hole, you may need to re-do the whole plot. Maybe it isn't Bobby who murders Uncle George after all. Maybe Uncle George doesn't get murdered. Think of new ways to plot your story and see if you can find one with fewer plot holes.
4. Point out the plot hole: If you just can't figure out why Bobby murdered Uncle George, have the whole family aghast. No one can figure out why Bobby would do such a thing. It's a mystery. That way the reader knows you're making this plot choice on purpose. It's not just a lazy mistake.
5. Distract the reader from the plot hole: Okay, so maybe we don't know why Bobby murdered Uncle George, but as cousin Emily investigates she uncovers Uncle George's secret life as a circus clown, which is so intriguing we forget to wonder why he got murdered. Once again, as with ignoring a plot hole, this only works for holes in minor plot lines.

A last piece of advice. Do not become obsessed with eliminating plot holes. Story is more important than plot, and if you can't tell the story you want to tell without a few little plot holes your reader will probably forgive you. On the other hand, a plot with minimal plot holes is a joy to ride. Do your best to keep the story running smoothly.

Happy Writing!