elumish:

If your plot relies on something that doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t work.

I know this sounds obvious, but I have seen countless films and read countless books where the plot hinges on one or more points/incidents that are either entirely unexplained or make absolutely no sense. Here are some things to look out for:

• Lack of communication that only exists because you need it to move the plot forward
• A character doing something against their self interest for no apparent reason
• A character doing something that doesn’t fit with their previous actions for no apparent reason
• People meeting when they should never reasonably have been able or likely to meet
• A complicated in-universe plan that relies on factors outside of anyone’s control succeeding (ie Gambit Roulette)