Plot holes are something that no writer wants to find in their manuscript. Not only can they be extremely embarrassing if you discover them after publishing, but fixing them increases the amount of rewriting that has to be done. Sometimes they are minor and easily fixed, other times they’re major and end up costing us big time in terms of having to do major revisions or deletions. No one likes to find plot holes in their work, but sometimes they will happen no matter how careful we try to be. 

But here are a few tips that might make them easier to spot:

Don’t edit before you finish. This is a hard one. It’s almost impossible not to want to edit as you write, but it’s important that you resist. You could actually end up doing more damage to your manuscript trying to fix potential plot holes along the way. If you fix a plot hole before you even finish writing your story you will inevitably end up with several more plot holes that you’ll have to fix by the time you’re finished writing. 

Notes and lists are great. While you shouldn’t edit as you go, there are other ways that you can ensure that plot holes don’t happen in your work. By making copious lists or notes related to the plot – especially before you start actually writing – you can help yourself to cut down on the potential plot holes that may arise. 

Beta readers are your new best friends. Having a second pair of eyes on your manuscript is so incredibly important. Sometimes, there are some plot holes that are so minor, they can slip through the cracks – especially when you’ve been staring at the same story for months on end. Bringing in a fresh pair of eyes from someone who has never read your story before can be wonderful for finding plot holes – particularly those that might have been overlooked. Beta readers are free and they can be so invaluable, especially since they can also make helpful suggestions as to how to fix any potential plot holes.