“I CAN SEE STRAIGHT THROUGH YOU”
Weak Plots & How to Fix Them Every writer has heard it at least once—“The plot feels thin,” or worse, “I saw everything coming.” Nothing deflates a story faster. Weak plot lines make readers feel like they can see straight through the narrative, and instead of being absorbed, they’re mentally rewriting the book you already worked so hard on. But here’s the good news: weak plots aren’t fatal. They’re fixable. And most of the time, the solution isn’t starting over from scratch—it’s strengthening what’s already there. Let’s break down why plot lines fall flat and how to rebuild them into something unforgettable. Why Plots Feel Weak A weak plot usually has one (or more) of these issues: 1. Nothing is at stake If the protagonist doesn’t risk losing something meaningful—life, love, reputation, family, identity—readers won’t care about the outcome. 2. The confli...
