Plot holes, logic tangles, conflicting character motivations... right now, a friend and I are about halfway through edits of a novel, as I've mentioned before, and I've noticed we're definitely running into snags. Nothing we can't fix, thankfully, and I'm glad we're noticing some elements that we maayyyybe didn't think all the way through in the first draft.... but that's what edits are for, right?
When this happens, my friend and I generally go back to the beginning of the plot/character backstories and work through what we've already revealed, and so far that's been OK for us.
We've also decided on a format where we do one chapter per character POV, so it's a 3-character rotating perspective - it gives us a lot to work with, which is great, but I'm noticing there's a couple chapters that could, quite honestly, probably be axed entirely, but it would mess up the entire format.
So, while it's a bit discouraging, it's also kind of neat to be able to tackle the plot and characters from a different point of view.
What are your strategies for untangling pieces of plot or details in your own writing? How do you feel about sticking to specific formats/formulas?
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Congratulations to you and your friend on getting about halfway through the edits, Dawn Prato!
I go back to my outline when I write myself into a corner. Or I'll write different versions of a scene until I write myself out the corner.
Some stories don't fit in certain formats/formulas. That's why I think a writer should use whatever format/formula that's best for the story they're writing.
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I agree with Maurice, I never used to be an outline kind of guy because I whole heartedly believed in the free spirit of writing, but the longer a story is and the more complex the plot, I have come to find outlines very useful for staying on track. Even for simple stories, it helps me to quickly identify loose ends or opportunities for more character building that makes the arcs stronger.
I love the idea of writing different versions of scenes Maurice Vaughan I have only done that as a consequence of editing or re-writes, never on its own. I like that idea. I would also recommend mind mapping the possibilities for a scene before exploring different versions. I find it saves a lot of time especially if you mind map with other people.
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That's a great idea, Kevin Jackson. I do it sometimes when I outline. I map out the possibilities for a scene (especially the end scene) and put them in a bullet list underneath the main idea for the scene.
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Fantastic ideas! I'll definitely bring this up with my writing partner, thank you both :)
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You're welcome, Dawn Prato. Hope it helps!
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Wish I could help with that Dawn Prato, apparently, I'm a "pantser" when I write. Don't do outlines or stick to formats. At least not on purpose. At the end of the day, I think my novels do have the classic rhythm for their style. But I didn't build them out that way first. So, as far as "sticking to specific formulas" goes, I'm a rebel. I like to keep people guessing. And I hate rules hahahaha. If something feels off when you look back at it, listen to your gut and cut it or move it. If you need another set of eyes, I'm happy to help.
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Best of luck Dawn Prato
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Plot holes can't be helped -- but their size and amount can be reduced. I've been experimenting with using Ai tools like Google's Notebook LM to analyze my writing and flag potential plot holes or problems. Then I can brainstorm how to fix them. But if you're lucky to have a writing partner, I think they're a better collaborator than Ai, especially if the two of you gel well. I find once I get my first draft done, I can then try to apply structure.
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Nice William Joseph Hill
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Dawn Prato, it’s so relatable to hit those mid-edit snags, especially with a multi-POV format where every chapter has a specific role to play in the structure. I love that you and your co-writer are going back to the beginning and reevaluating character backstories and plot reveals. That foundational work can make all the difference. When I run into logic issues or conflicting motivations, I usually create a visual roadmap or timeline to track what each character knows and wants at every major beat. It helps me spot where things veer off or contradict. As for structure, I’m a fan of using it as a guide but not a cage. If a chapter doesn’t serve the story, I try to find a creative workaround, like combining perspectives or shifting the order slightly, so the rhythm stays intact, but the momentum doesn’t suffer. I’m curious to hear how you two decide what to keep and what to let go.
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I remember reading that the writer of Death Note had to kill off a character, Naomi Misora, because she was too clever against the villain protagonist Light that she basically would have derailed the entire story. Since Death Note is a serialised manga of course the fix was pretty jarring but nonetheless it needed to happen in order to keep the story going.
I know in my second life's work Petal I've written myself into quite a few corners and most times the solution was to go back and remove the corner and try new directions. If the previous direction was the way then I had to figure out where it bottlenecked and have setups that organically lead the way out of said bottleneck.
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Hey Dawn Prato - I usually go through the document and highlight any plot holes or lingering questions. Normally, I add those to the outline but in a case like this where there was something I missed, I create a new word doc that lists all of the plot holes or unanswered questions. Then I search through the doc to see where those can either possibly be handled or inserted. Hope that helps.
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This is all fantastic advice (and commiseration - it's nice to know it's not just us!), thank you everyone :) In a way, I'm almost glad we're bumping into these snags, because it means we've fleshed out parts of the world and backstories - at least, in this case. So it's a good thing, in the long run, and it definitely gives us a lot to talk through and strengthen.
There may be consolation popcorn mixed with chocolate, from time to time..... but it's all going to work out in the end :)