Keep seeing posts about "plot holes" and I'd just like to explain what plot holes actually are, because it feels like 90% of the internet has no clue.
Plot holes are things that go against a pre-established rule of the world it lives in, or an error in continuity. In essence, it's something that is physically impossible for the world the work is set in.
For example, if it's established that it's Character A cannot swim, Character A should keep this trait until they learn how to. If Character A is suddenly able to swim, and there's no reason as to why they can, that is a plot hole.
If you want a bigger plot hole example, let's say that Character A is separated from Character B and Character C, and cannot reasonably join them in a small time frame. If they suddenly appear with Character B and Character C, with no explanation, that is a plot hole.
What people keep calling "plot holes" are more-often plot contrivances. Things that happen or don't happen within a plot for the sake of convenience.
For example, if characters act out-of-character so that a certain plot point can happen, that is a plot contrivance. Makes no sense for the characters to act that way, but it's also not impossible.
Or, if Character A pushes their attacker away, and the attacker just so happens to fall on a knife that was not previously established to be there, yet wasn't established to not be there, that is a plot contrivance.
I think I should also mention that characters doing something you wouldn't personally do is not a plot hole nor a plot contrivance. No, it's not a plot hole that Character A just let the villain monologue instead of shooting them.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk. Peace ✌️
