Finding the Thread

Making the Story Whole Again

Sometimes, a story just loses its way. You reach a chapter and realize the magic has gone a bit thin, or a character does something that just doesn’t feel right. Most people call these “plot holes,” but I like to think of them as loose threads.

When I’m looking at a story that feels “stuck,” I don’t look for a mistake. I look for the moment the writer stopped listening to the characters and started forcing the plot.

It usually comes down to “Common Sense.” If a character knows something they shouldn’t, or if they are in two places at once, the reader feels that little jolt of disbelief. The best way to fix it isn’t to add a fancy explanation. It’s usually to go back to the last moment the story felt “true” and take a different turn.

The Monroe Minute: If you’re stuck, ask your character: “If I weren’t here forcing you to go to the next scene, what would you actually do right now?” Usually, their answer is much more interesting than your outline.

Until the next page,
Sloane S. Monroe

Sloane Shay Monroe

I don’t write to idealize love, but to explore it honestly, with emotional precision and depth.