# Find and fix plot holes and pacing problems in my story

A structural read of your story that pinpoints plot holes, slow stretches, and weak stakes, with fixes to choose from.

- Topic: Creative Writing
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Writing, Rewrite & Edit, Analyze, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/find-and-fix-plot-holes-and-pacing-problems-in-my-story

## Prompt

```text
Review the structure of my story and help me fix plot and pacing problems. Focus on the big picture, not line edits.

**Genre and length:** [e.g. "cozy mystery, about 60,000 words", "short story, 4,000 words"]
**Story summary or outline:** [PASTE A CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER OR SCENE-BY-SCENE SUMMARY]
**Main character and what they want:** [DETAILS]
**What I think is wrong:** [e.g. "the middle drags", "the ending feels unearned", "not sure"]

Check for:
1. Plot holes: events that contradict earlier facts, characters who know things they couldn't, problems solved by coincidence.
2. Stakes: is it clear what the character risks losing, and do the stakes rise?
3. Cause and effect: does each scene lead to the next ("therefore" / "but"), or are scenes just "and then"?
4. Pacing: stretches with no change, rushed key moments, a late or slow inciting incident.
5. Setups and payoffs: things introduced and never used, or payoffs with no setup.
6. The ending: does it answer the story's central question and follow from the character's choices?

Return:
- A table: Problem | Where it happens | Why it hurts the story | 2-3 possible fixes.
- The 3 changes that would improve the story most, in order.
- Anything that is working well and should be protected during revision.

Offer fixes as options; keep my characters, voice, and intent.
```

## What to fill in

- PASTE A CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER OR SCENE-BY-SCENE SUMMARY
- DETAILS

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.