Plot holes are among the most talked-about elements in storytelling, whether they are found in books, movies, TV shows, or even video games. They can frustrate audiences, confuse viewers, and sometimes ruin the experience of an otherwise well-told story. But what are plot holes, and why do they matter so much in the world of fiction? Why should they matter to you as an author?

Plot is the skeleton of storytelling. You can be an amazing writer with a captivating style of prose and relatable characters, but without a compelling plot, your story will fall flat. Most stories use one of two conventions to propel the narrative forward: a plot-driven approach reliant on external events or a character-driven that relies on the internal development of characters.