Category: Writing

Writing a book in 365 days – My Story 44

The end is not the place to start finding plot holes

…

Third Edit, Big Plot Hole? It’s a Gift, Not a Disaster (and How to Fix It!)

You’re deep into your third edit. The words are starting to gleam, the narrative arc feels solid, and you can almost taste that “FIN” key. Then it hits you. A moment, a scene, a fundamental piece of your carefully constructed world… and it makes no sense.

Your stomach drops. Your heart sinks. A gaping, undeniable plot hole stares back at you from the page, like a canyon you somehow missed seeing until now. “Third edit?!” you scream internally. “How could I have missed this? My book is fundamentally broken! I’m a fraud! It’s over!”

Stop. Breathe. You’re not alone, and this isn’t the end. In fact, finding a big plot hole late in the game is not a disaster – it’s an opportunity.

Why You Absolutely Should NOT Panic

Let’s talk you off the ledge, writer. Here’s why this unexpected discovery is actually a good thing:

  1. You Found It! This is the single most important reason not to panic. Imagine if a reader found it after publication. Ouch. You, the diligent author, caught it before it became a problem for anyone else. Give yourself a pat on the back for your keen editorial eye.
  2. It Means You’re Getting Better. Spotting a plot hole on the third edit, rather than the first, shows your critical faculties are sharpening. You’re viewing your work with fresh, more discerning eyes, like a seasoned detective.
  3. It’s Fixable (Seriously). Very few plot holes are truly unfixable without rewriting the entire book. Most can be patched, rewoven, or even transformed into something stronger.
  4. It Can Make Your Story Stronger. Often, fixing a plot hole isn’t just about patching a flaw; it’s about deepening character motivation, adding a surprising twist, or solidifying your world-building in a way you hadn’t considered before. What felt like a weakness can become a new strength.
  5. It Happens to Everyone. Every single writer, from debut authors to multi-published bestsellers, grapples with plot logic. Stories are complex beasts, and human brains are fallible. This is part of the process.

How to Fix That Pesky Plot Hole: A Step-by-Step Guide

Okay, now that we’ve established your book isn’t doomed, let’s roll up our sleeves.

Step 1: Disengage and Diagnose

  • Step Away: The worst thing you can do is try to fix it immediately while you’re still in “panic mode.” Go for a walk, make some tea, watch an episode of your favorite show. Let your subconscious marinate.
  • Pinpoint the Genesis: Identify the exact moment or decision where the logic breaks. Is it a character doing something illogical? A timeline inconsistency? A magical rule being broken? A piece of information that shouldn’t exist yet?
  • Trace the Impact: How far does this plot hole ripple through your story? What other scenes, character motivations, or plot points does it implicitly invalidate? Don’t just look at the hole; look at what falls into it.

Step 2: Brainstorm Solutions (No Bad Ideas Yet!)

Get out a fresh notebook or open a blank document. For 15-20 minutes, just write down any idea that comes to mind, no matter how silly or impossible.

  • “Character X secretly had a twin!” (Probably too much, but write it down.)
  • “The magic system actually has this obscure loophole!”
  • “That scene never happened, it was a dream!” (Again, likely not the best, but capture it.)
  • “What if Character Y’s motivation was actually Z, which explains the moment?”
  • “Could I add a short scene earlier to explain this?”
  • “What if I just cut that entire problematic subplot?”

The goal here is quantity, not quality. Don’t filter.

Step 3: Employ Your Writer’s Toolbox

Now, let’s get strategic with some common plot-hole-fixing techniques:

  1. The Foreshadow/Setup: This is often the cleanest solution. Can you add a small detail, a throwaway line, an earlier scene, or even a brief internal thought a few chapters (or even many chapters) before the plot hole appears, that subtly explains or justifies it?
    • Example: If your character can suddenly fly, have them dream about flying earlier, or overhear a strange comment about ancient powers.
  2. Reverse-Engineer the Logic: What needs to be true for the problematic moment to work? Can you build that truth into your world or character history?
    • Example: Character had to be at Location A, but they were established at Location B. What if the journey from B to A is shorter than you thought? Or what if there’s a secret tunnel? Or what if they sent a proxy?
  3. Deepen Character Motivation: Often, a plot hole stems from a character making an inconsistent or illogical choice. Can you:
    • Give them a secret motivation for that action?
    • Add internal conflict or external pressure that forces their hand?
    • Show them making a flawed, very human decision under stress?
    • Sometimes a character’s mistake IS the plot point.
  4. World-Building Expansion/Clarification: If the hole is due to inconsistencies in your magic system, technology, or societal rules, can you:
    • Add a new rule or caveat that explains it?
    • Clarify an existing rule?
    • Show a character misunderstanding or misinterpreting a rule?
  5. The “Consequences” Approach: Instead of trying to erase the illogical moment, what if you embrace it and explore its consequences? The plot hole becomes a new catalyst for conflict.
    • Example: If a character’s decision was illogical, what are the immediate, negative repercussions? How do they deal with the fallout? This can be incredibly rich for storytelling.
  6. Information Management: Did you give the reader too much or too little information at a crucial point?
    • Too much: Can you withhold a detail for longer to maintain suspense and prevent the reader from spotting the flaw too soon?
    • Too little: Can you provide a key piece of information subtly earlier to make the problematic moment click into place?
  7. The Pruning Shears: Is the problematic scene, character, or subplot truly essential? Sometimes, the most elegant solution is to simply remove the offending element entirely. If it’s creating more problems than it solves, it might not belong.

Step 4: Implement and Re-read (with a Partner if Possible)

Once you’ve chosen a solution, carefully integrate it. This might mean adding a few lines, a paragraph, or even rewriting a small scene. Then, read through the entire section, or even the whole manuscript again, specifically looking for new inconsistencies your fix might have created.

If you have a trusted beta reader or critique partner, this is an excellent time to get their eyes on it. Explain the original plot hole and your proposed solution, and ask them if it now makes sense and feels organic.

You Got This.

Finding a big plot hole on your third edit isn’t a sign of failure; it’s a badge of honor. It means you care enough about your story, and your readers, to make it the absolute best it can be. Embrace the challenge, apply these strategies, and watch as that gaping chasm transforms into a seamlessly integrated, stronger part of your narrative.

In a word: well

At first, you would think this word has something to do with your health.

You’d be right.  “Are you well?” or “Are you well enough?”

Of course, it can cause some confusion, because how do you measure degrees of wellness.

Reasonably well, very well, not well, or just well.  Not a good descriptive word for the state of your health, maybe.

How about what if the team played well.  Not health this time, but a standard.

There’s ordinary, mediocre, as a team, brilliantly, and then there’s well.

It seems it can be used to describe an outcome.

Well, well.

Hang on, that’s something else again.

What about, then, we use the word to describe a hole in the ground with water at the bottom.

Or not if it is a drought.

A lot of people get water from a well, in fact in the olden days that was a common sight in a village.

What about those environment destroyers, oilmen.  They have oil wells, don’t they?

And when I went to school, there were ink wells on every desk.

Messy too, because I was once the ink monitor.

But if the well’s dried up?

It becomes a metaphor for a whole new bunch of stuff.

OR what about a stairwell?

And at the complexity of it all, for such a small word, tears well up in my eyes.

The story behind the story – Echoes from the Past

The novel ‘Echoes from the past’ started out as a short story I wrote about 30 years ago, titled ‘The birthday’.

My idea was to take a normal person out of their comfort zone and led on a short but very frightening journey to a place where a surprise birthday party had been arranged.

Thus the very large man with a scar and a red tie was created.

So was the friend with the limousine who worked as a pilot.

So were the two women, Wendy and Angelina, who were Flight Attendants that the pilot friend asked to join the conspiracy.

I was going to rework the short story, then about ten pages long, into something a little more.

And like all re-writes, especially those I have anything to do with, it turned into a novel.

There was motivation.  I had told some colleagues at the place where I worked at the time that I liked writing, and they wanted a sample.  I was going to give them the re-worked short story.  Instead, I gave them ‘Echoes from the past’

Originally it was not set anywhere in particular.

But when considering a location, I had, at the time, recently been to New York in December, and visited Brooklyn and Queens, as well as a lot of New York itself.  We were there for New Years, and it was an experience I’ll never forget.

One evening we were out late, and finished up in Brooklyn Heights, near the waterfront, and there was rain and snow, it was cold and wet, and there were apartment buildings shimmering in the street light, and I thought, this is the place where my main character will live.

It had a very spooky atmosphere, the sort where ghosts would not be unexpected.  I felt more than one shiver go up and down my spine in the few minutes I was there.

I had taken notes, as I always do, of everywhere we went so I had a ready supply of locations I could use, changing the names in some cases.

Fifth Avenue near the Rockefeller center is amazing at first light, and late at night with the Seasonal decorations and lights.

The original main character was a shy and man of few friends, hence not expecting the surprise party.  I enhanced that shyness into purposely lonely because of an issue from his past that leaves him always looking over his shoulder and ready to move on at the slightest hint of trouble.  No friends, no relationships, just a very low profile.

Then I thought, what if he breaks the cardinal rule, and begins a relationship?

But it is also as much an exploration of a damaged soul, as it is the search for a normal life, without having any idea what normal was, and how the understanding of one person can sometimes make all the difference in what we may think or feel.

And, of course, I wanted a happy ending.

Except for the bad guys.

Get it here:  https://amzn.to/2CYKxu4

newechocover5rs

NANOWRIMO – November 2025 – Day 3

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The Third Son of a Duke

…

I get started on the first few chapters

…

We need a central character around whom the story will revolve.  For the moment, it is in the first person.  This might change later.

We need a reason for him to travel on the ship, other than it was the same one my grandmother on my father’s side travelled to Australia on.  I have access to diaries, and I have a very good idea of what it was like on board, where everything is, samples of the menu for dining, and activities.

I know when it was stormy, when it was calm, what ports they stopped at, and when it was hot.  I can also see in my mind what it was like travelling from Port Said to Aden through both the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, and how hot it could be.

When I close my eyes, I am on the ship.

But we’re not there yet.

Our third son of a duke, is home for Christmas when he gets the news he’s going to Australia to check on his father’s investment, and one in particular, a cattle station in remote Queensland. 

His girlfriend, the woman that his parents had made arrangements for him to marry, is there, knows of his travel plans, and she is not going with him.  It is, perhaps, the death knell of that arranged marriage.

Christmas 1913 will be memorable.

…

1955 words, for a total of 4980 words.

Writing about writing a book – Day 18

It’s time to go back to working on Bill’s backstory now that we’ve filled in some of the gaps.

Like some TV shows and books, some of the action sometimes takes the form of flashbacks.

In Starburst, Bill has a complete backstory, of a time that he had mainly forced into the deep dark part of his memory, waiting for something or someone to trigger it.

This whole back story, from the moment he entered the war zone, to the moment his war ended, and those that participated throughout that time, will be in the form of flashbacks, the first of which is triggered by the painkiller Bill is given after being shot in the Aitcheson incident.

These flashbacks will not necessarily be in any sort of order, but I have been thinking about this part of the story and produced an outline of the sequences I will require, give or take.  There may be more, or less, depending on how the story progresses.

…

Part 1 – From arrival in the war zone to being assigned to Davenport’s squad

Being sent to, and the first patrol in Vietnam

Death and mayhem some months after sent to Vietnam

First meeting Barry in army mobile hospital

R and R in Saigon, with the first of the Vietnamese girls

Psychiatric help, time in the stockade

No soldier who trains for war, nor can they have a real idea what war is like, and certainly a war in the jungle, on the enemy’s terms.  Bill is like any other soldier, happy to go into service, but soon the reality, and death becomes apparent.

Endless rain, endless heat, endless and sometimes needless death, and a deep mistrust of those whom you are supposed to protect, start to work on the mind of a person young enough not to understand what is going on.

Then, when trying to blot out the memories of death, enemy and friend alike, something has to give.  Of course, the last place you want to end up in the stockade.

…

Part 2 – A lifeline, and a pass into the so-called Davenport Operation

Training as a spy?

Colonel, calling Bill into a briefing on the Davenport operation

Talking to the Commanding officer in Stockade, as a preliminary to Davenport service

…

Was Bill sent to the stockade because he committed an act of folly, or his incarceration a part of a much larger plan, a plan to have an inside man to report on Davenport?

It’s not the first time someone higher up the chain of command has had ideas of trying to find out what Davenport is doing, and where only rumors abound of his ‘interests’.  Agents had been sent in before, and those agents had disappeared.

Was Bill about to be the next, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time?

There is more, but I’m still working on it.

…

© Charles Heath 2015-2023

The cinema of my dreams – I never wanted to go to Africa – Episode 26

Our hero knows he’s in serious trouble.

The problem is, there are familiar faces and a question of who is a friend and who is foe made all the more difficult because of the enemy, if it was the enemy, simply because it didn’t look or sound or act like the enemy.

Now, it appears, his problems stem from another operation he participated in.

 

I could truthfully say I was blinded by the light.  Whoever my next visitor was, came in and turned on the lights just about blinding me after the ethereal darkness I’d been in for several hours.

Of course, it had to be Lallo.

“I trust you had an uneventful journey and got plenty of rest.”  He seemed to be in what might be called a jovial mood.

Perhaps they were going to let him use his instruments of torture on me now we had arrived.  I was sure that the Geneva Convention, if we were still a signatory to it, was left outside the door to this building.

“Well enough.  Whose idea was it to put me in casts and make me think I had been severely injured?”

“I doubt that would be of interest to you now.  Just be thankful it wasn’t purposely done to you.  I had been an option, but Colonel Bamfield apparently has you in mind for a job he needs doing, so we opted for subterfuge.  You can thank us later.”

Or not at all.  I was right.  Bamfield, or they, whoever they were, needed me alive.  And in one piece.  I was not sure I liked the sound of that.

“More questions?”

“No, not at the moment.  I’m going to have a chat to the source, you remember me telling you we were bringing him over with us.  He was not so lucky as you, as you’ll soon discover.  I want you to sit in on the session, I want you to listen and assess what you think about what he tells us.”

“In what capacity?”

“Just listen.  I’m told that you have conducted a few interrogations, and have a sense about the target, whether they’re lying or telling the truth.  We won’t be using force initially, so let’s hope he opts to tell the truth.”

So did I.  The last thing I wanted to see was a messy interrogation. Those I’d been on were relatively simple.  A man at the end of a gun usually told the truth or felt a great deal of pain and suffering if he didn’t.

It had never been my favourite job, which is why I’d not done very many, and I had hoped I’d never see Lallo at his worst.  Perhaps, then, that was the point of this exercise.  They were not finished with me, so he’d make an example out of someone else, letting me know the extent to which he would go, thus making me more co-operative.

A bit pointless, really, because I didn’t know very much.  Maybe the Colonel forgot to tell him that.

“There are clothes in the cupboard over there,” he nodded towards the corner of the room where there were two doors.  One I figured was the bathroom.  “Clean yourself up, get dressed, and let Monroe know when you’re ready.  Oh, and take it easy for the first few minutes, the serum we gave you tends to make your legs turn to jelly when you first try to stand up.  It’ll pass.  Just be careful.”

 

© Charles Heath 2019

Writing a book in 365 days – 290

Day 290

There’s always a reason to learn more

…

The Unending Classroom: Why Even Experts Never Stop Learning

You’ve done it. You’ve reached that career pinnacle, published that book, mastered a skill, or achieved a long-sought goal. You’re an expert, an authority, a “somebody.” The world might even be looking to you for answers. It’s a fantastic feeling, a testament to hard work, talent, and dedication.

But then what?

The common wisdom often implies that once you’ve “arrived,” the hard part is over. The learning, surely, is mostly done. You’ve earned the right to simply be the expert.

Here’s the radical truth: No matter how accomplished you are – whether you’re a published author with a string of bestsellers or a seasoned professional at the top of your field – there is always, always, always a reason to learn more.

This isn’t just about staying relevant in a rapidly changing world (though that’s certainly part of it). It’s about something far more profound.

The World Doesn’t Stand Still (And Neither Should You)

Think about it. Technology evolves at warp speed. New research constantly reshapes our understanding of everything from psychology to physics. Industries pivot, methodologies are refined, and cultural landscapes shift. The “best practice” of yesterday might be obsolete tomorrow.

For a published author, this could mean learning about new marketing channels, experimenting with different narrative structures, or even delving into the latest scientific discoveries to add depth to their next fictional world. For a CEO, it might be understanding emerging leadership theories, mastering a new data analytics tool, or exploring the intricacies of global economies. Stagnation, even for a moment, means falling behind.

The Humility of True Mastery

Paradoxically, the more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know. This isn’t disheartening; it’s liberating. True masters often possess a deep sense of humility, recognizing that their expertise is merely a lighthouse in an infinite ocean of knowledge.

This humility fuels curiosity. It allows open-mindedness to new ideas, even those that challenge deeply held beliefs. It prevents intellectual arrogance and the dangerous assumption that you have all the answers. The most accomplished individuals are often the most ardent students, perpetually seeking to refine their craft, broaden their understanding, and test their own assumptions.

Fueling Creativity and Innovation

Learning isn’t just about accumulating facts; it’s about making new connections. When you expose yourself to diverse fields, new theories, or different cultural perspectives, you create fertile ground for innovation. A solution to a problem in your industry might come from an insight gained from studying ancient philosophy, quantum mechanics, or even a completely unrelated hobby.

Think of an acclaimed artist who studies engineering, or a top chef who delves into the science of fermentation. This cross-pollination of ideas is where true breakthroughs happen, allowing you to approach challenges with fresh eyes and discover novel solutions.

The Sheer Joy of Growth

Beyond all the practical benefits, there’s a simple, undeniable joy in learning. It keeps your mind sharp, your spirit engaged, and your life enriched. It’s about personal growth, challenging yourself, and experiencing the thrill of mastering something new – even if it’s just a tiny piece of a vast puzzle.

That feeling you had when you first accomplished something significant? You can tap into that feeling again and again, simply by choosing to remain a student.

So, What’s Your Next Lesson?

No matter where you are on your journey, take a moment to consider:

  • What’s one thing you’re genuinely curious about, even if it seems unrelated to your primary expertise?
  • What new skill could enhance your current capabilities, even slightly?
  • Whose perspective could you seek out to challenge your own understanding?

Pick up that book, enroll in that course, listen to that podcast, or engage in that conversation. Embrace the unending classroom. Because the most profound accomplishment isn’t just reaching a destination; it’s recognizing that the journey of learning never truly ends, and that’s precisely where the magic happens.

Searching for locations: Shanghai, China, by night.

When we arrive at the embarkation site we find at least 100 buses all lined up and parked, and literally thousands of Chinese and other Asians streaming through the turnstiles to get on another boat leaving earlier than ours.

Buses were just literally arriving one after the other stopping near where we were standing with a dozen or so other groups waiting patiently, and with people were everywhere it could only be described as organized chaos.

Someone obviously knew where everyone was supposed to go, and when it was our turn, we joined the queue.  There were a lot of people in front of us, and a lot more behind, so I had to wonder just how big the boat was.

We soon found out.

And it was amusing to watch people running, yes, they were actually running, to get to the third level, or found available seating.  Being around the first to board, we had no trouble finding a seat on the second level.

I was not quite sure what the name of the boat was, but it had 3 decks and VIP rooms and it was huge, with marble staircases, the sort you could make a grand entrance on.  The last such ornate marble staircase we had seen was in a hotel in Hong Kong, and that was some staircase.

But who has marble staircases in a boat?

We’re going out across the water as far as the Bund and then turn around and come back about 30 to 40 minutes.   By the time everyone was on board, there was no room left on the third level, no seats on the second level nor standing room at the end of the second level where the stairs up to the third level were.

No one wanted to pay the extra to go into the VIP lounge.

We were sitting by very large windows where it was warm enough watching the steady procession of the colored lights of other vessels, and outside the buildings.

It was quite spectacular, as were some of the other boats going out on the harbor.

All the buildings of the Bund were lit up

And along that part of the Bund was a number of old English style buildings made from sandstone, and very impressive to say the least.

On the other side of the harbour were the more modern buildings, including the communications tower, a rather impressive structure.

I had to go to the rear of the vessel to get a photo, a very difficult proposition given here was no space on the railing, not even on the stairs going up or down.  It was just luck I managed to get some photos between passengers heads.

And, another view of that communications tower:

There was no doubt this was one of the most colourful night-time boat tours I’ve ever been on.  Certainly, when we saw the same buildings the following day, they were not half as spectacular in daylight.

I never did get up to the third level to see what the view was like.

Searching for locations: Shanghai, China, by night.

When we arrive at the embarkation site we find at least 100 buses all lined up and parked, and literally thousands of Chinese and other Asians streaming through the turnstiles to get on another boat leaving earlier than ours.

Buses were just literally arriving one after the other stopping near where we were standing with a dozen or so other groups waiting patiently, and with people were everywhere it could only be described as organized chaos.

Someone obviously knew where everyone was supposed to go, and when it was our turn, we joined the queue.  There were a lot of people in front of us, and a lot more behind, so I had to wonder just how big the boat was.

We soon found out.

And it was amusing to watch people running, yes, they were actually running, to get to the third level, or found available seating.  Being around the first to board, we had no trouble finding a seat on the second level.

I was not quite sure what the name of the boat was, but it had 3 decks and VIP rooms and it was huge, with marble staircases, the sort you could make a grand entrance on.  The last such ornate marble staircase we had seen was in a hotel in Hong Kong, and that was some staircase.

But who has marble staircases in a boat?

We’re going out across the water as far as the Bund and then turn around and come back about 30 to 40 minutes.   By the time everyone was on board, there was no room left on the third level, no seats on the second level nor standing room at the end of the second level where the stairs up to the third level were.

No one wanted to pay the extra to go into the VIP lounge.

We were sitting by very large windows where it was warm enough watching the steady procession of the colored lights of other vessels, and outside the buildings.

It was quite spectacular, as were some of the other boats going out on the harbor.

All the buildings of the Bund were lit up

And along that part of the Bund was a number of old English style buildings made from sandstone, and very impressive to say the least.

On the other side of the harbour were the more modern buildings, including the communications tower, a rather impressive structure.

I had to go to the rear of the vessel to get a photo, a very difficult proposition given here was no space on the railing, not even on the stairs going up or down.  It was just luck I managed to get some photos between passengers heads.

And, another view of that communications tower:

There was no doubt this was one of the most colourful night-time boat tours I’ve ever been on.  Certainly, when we saw the same buildings the following day, they were not half as spectacular in daylight.

I never did get up to the third level to see what the view was like.

What I learned about writing – How to manage social media

I’m back to writing, sitting at the desk, pad in front of me, pen in hand.

The only thing lacking is an idea.

It’s 9:03 am, too early to start on a six-pack.

I need a distraction.

Blogging, websites, Twitter, and Facebook, all of these social media problems are swirling around in my mind.

The more I read the more it bothers me that if I don’t have the right social media presence if I do not start to build an email list, all of my efforts in writing a book will come to naught.

Then I start trawling the internet for information on marketing and found a plethora of people offering any amount of advice for anything between a ‘small amount’ to a rather large amount that gives comprehensive coverage of most social media platforms for periods of a day, a week or a month.  I don’t have a book so it’s a bit early to be worrying about that.

I move on to the people who offer advice for a cost on how to build a following, how to build a web presence, how to get a thousand Twitter followers, and how to get thousands of email followers before the launch.

The trouble is I’m writing a novel, not a nonfiction book, or have some marvellous 30 page ebook on how to do something, for free just to drive people to my site.

I’m a novelist, not a handyman so those ideas while good are not going to help me.

Yet another problem to wrestle with along with actually creating a product to sell in the first place.

Except I’m supposed to be writing for the love of it without the premeditated idea of writing for gain or getting rich quick.

What am I missing here?

So should l be writing short stories and offering them for free to drive people to my site?  These would have to be genre-specific so it needs time and effort and fit into a convenient size story that will highlight or showcase my talent.

Or should I create a website for the novel and set up pages for the characters and get some interaction going that way?

It will be difficult without giving the whole plot away so if I do it will have to be carefully managed.

I don’t think I will have a good night’s sleep again with all of these social media problems I’m going to have.

Oh well, back to the book.  It’s time to have a nightmare of a different sort!