My whole novel outline fell apart when I hit chapter 12

I was writing a mystery set in a small town, and my main clue just stopped making sense. The character who was supposed to be the villain had a perfect alibi I forgot I wrote three chapters earlier. This happened two days ago, and I spent all night staring at my notes. Has anyone else had a plot point completely fail on them halfway through?

3 comments

3 Comments

sean_foster522mo ago

But isnt forgetting your own clues kind of a sign the story NEEDS to change?

ben4363mo ago

You forgot your own villain's alibi from chapter nine.

alexlewis3mo ago

Oh man, @ben436, you got me. My own plot notes are a mess. I had the villain at the gala, then at the docks, and I wrote a whole scene about his mom confirming he was at home. I'm out here building a mystery while forgetting my own clues. It's like I'm my editor's worst nightmare.