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7 Plot Mistakes That Are Killing Your Story

Alyssa Matesic

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As a developmental book editor, I've edited hundreds of manuscripts — and 9 out of 10 have plot issues. The result? A weak story that won't hold readers' interest. Here are the 7 most common plot mistakes along with tactical solutions to help you craft a compelling and captivating novel that delivers from beginning to end.

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MORE WRITING AND PUBLISHING ADVICE:
The ONLY Way to Plot a Novel (It's Easier Than You Think!): The ONLY Way to Plot a Novel (It's Easier ...
Does Your Plot Suck? Does Your Plot Suck?
How to Write Conflict That Doesn't Suck: How to Write Conflict That Doesn't Suck

7 MOST COMMON PLOT MISTAKES:
00:00 Intro
00:44 Slow start
02:38 Convenient discoveries
04:04 Runaway train
05:29 Deflating balloon
07:13 Bait and switch
09:05 Messy middle
10:38 Abrupt ending

ABOUT ME:
My name is Alyssa Matesic, and I’m a professional book editor with nearly a decade of book publishing and editorial experience. Throughout my career, I’ve held editorial roles across both sides of the publishing industry: Big Five publishing houses and literary agencies. The goal of this channel is to help writers throughout the book writing journey—whether you're working on your manuscript or you're looking for publishing advice.

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20 Comments

@AlyssaMatesic Creator 1 year ago Pinned

If you're considering working with an editor, I'd love to chat about your story! https://www.alyssamatesic.com/inquire#inquire-2

@farmtalk491 1 year ago

Some of the best advice I've gotten is to write what you want to read. Because you will be reading it 75 times.

@caseymcpherson5658 1 year ago

Alyssa: "I'm not saying an explosion needs to happen on page one..."
Me: "But... I did though..."

@sam_hval 1 year ago

Some great advice from Vince Gilligan (writer of Breaking Bad) regarding coincidences: only use them if they end up negatively affecting the character somewhere down the line.

@braedonbourque8327 1 year ago

1:20 when shrek comes out of the outhouse and All star starts playing

@Tulikkin 1 year ago (edited)

I diagree with deflating balloon. Some of the best stories have peaceful times. It's a great way to show the character in a way we normally don't see. To really feel happy with them for some time before the next big shift comes.

Personal opinion, of course.

@enonknives5449 1 year ago

I'm pretty sure that an abrupt ending won't cause a reader to DNF a novel. After all, they had to get to the end to be disappointed.

@D.E.L.Dopler.2322 1 year ago (edited)

6:02 An idea to help keep the balloon from deflating would be to integrate the development into the sentence of the coasting, instead of "Two weeks later, there were still no new developments in the case." "After two weeks of the case being dead silent. Nolan's phone rang, and a regretful Anna Sinclair spoke to him, her voice infused with fear..."

@studiozealot 1 year ago

Very good points here! But I think I also disagree with the "Deflating Balloon" point. There's nothing wrong with skipping forward in time— in fact I would much prefer to be told "time has passed" in summary and then jump straight back into the action than derail into a sub plot. Just because I'm told time has passed doesn't mean the story has become boring, it just means you cut out the boring parts (something that Alyssa recommended earlier in this very video!). It took me five seconds to read; you're not gonna lose me.
I agree that it's something you want to do thoughtfully and carefully, but that goes for pretty much all of these. I strongly disagree that it's a technique that will "kill your story." It feels out of place on this list, personally.

@daviddetwiler3770 1 year ago

What if bait and switch is the point? Make the reader really want what the character wants (finish hogwarts/battle school/random pedestrian but "wantable" goal) then kick them right in the feelings by taking it all away in the final chapters. I feel like if you let them REALLY invest in your characters they could come to terms with it. Someone in Hiroshima probably opened their dream ramen shop on the worst day IRL. I'd read that.

@nicholashernandez4612 1 year ago

As someone who's taking their first real crack at writing a novel (and potentially kickoff of a series) to be proud of, I always appreciate seeing a new vid on your channel! Thanks for all the wonderful advice. Happy writing, all!

@sebastianrivera6976 1 year ago

Alyssa is the mentor any aspiring writer wishes to have!

@AsiyaAnwersdth 1 year ago

I’m only eleven yet writing a book
You’ve helped me soo much

@mikkoviitanen773 1 year ago

Hahaha Bilbo gives Frodo the ring like on a page 100

@labyrinthofallthings 1 year ago (edited)

Personally as a reader I prefer slower starts. It's easier to digest as a reader at least to me. Also disagree with convenient discoveries I don't mind them and sometimes that surprise I've found it more interesting. But that is just me.

@foxzero99EXTRAS 10 months ago

I absolutely agree with abrupt ending! I was reading a web story, and I swear to you they just END the story in THE MIDDLE. Like, we got some important discoveries, we got cool new information, it was building to a really really good climax! Then, the characters decide its a day, and dont investigate further, the end. LIKE WHAT!? I may have forgotten what the name of the story was, but the abrupt endingwill never fail to make me remember how I felt.

@vekazu_uuh 1 year ago

For me i think my plot is pretty good but my writing and explaining itself isnt

@kenchance562 1 year ago

I kind of agree with the deflating balloon point. You don't want to leave a good plot in the air with nothing to go on until the end. And I think it's like a bouncing ball. You want it to keep bouncing enough to put it in the hoop. It won't kill your story but it'll make it harder to get your readers to the finish line. Good tips!

@OznarfOmis 1 year ago

I see quite a few comments about the deflating balloon, and I mostly agree that a timeskip isn't a bad thing in itself, but it needs to be motivated and well-balanced. Whenever there's a time skip, you inevitably lose a bit of empathy with the protagonist, time has passed, they've changed, and there's a risk of losing the reader's interest and having to win them over again. That said, I do believe that if it's necessary for the plot, a timeskip becomes essential. The real question is whether it's truly needed or just a tool we use to make things easier for ourselves. If the timeskip isn’t essential, it’s better to have the events unfold closer together.

@TheRobTV 1 year ago

This is why I almost put down the first wheel of Time book. The first 5 chapters or so is just characters sitting around in a small town giving world building exposition.