What is a retcon?
A retcon (retroactive continuity) is when a detail that was already published or finalized in a fictional universe is later changed or reinterpreted. The goal is usually to resolve a contradiction or to fit the story to a new direction.
How does a retcon work?
The author presents information that was already told (a character's past, the cause of an event, a magic rule) in a different way afterwards, and writes what follows according to the new version. The old telling is either ignored or reinterpreted to fit the new information.
When is a retcon sensible, and when is it risky?
A retcon can make sense to resolve a contradiction or to make room for a later direction of the story. But frequent, unjustified retcons erode the reader's trust in the world; every time a detail changes, the question 'could what comes next change too?' appears. That's why a retcon is best treated as an exception to the effort of protecting canon.
Is a retcon the same as a plot twist?
No. A plot twist changes how the reader sees what was already told without changing it; a retcon changes the previously told information itself.
What should I check before doing a retcon?
Every chapter, character, and place that refers to the detail you're about to change. Keeping your records linked to each other makes it easier to find where a detail appears and to check for leftover contradictions afterwards.
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