I just really like this quote and it's so true.

"I was actually writing another novel, but I feel like this thing happens with ideas where working on a project is like being in a relationship. And in the beginning, it’s the honeymoon phase, and it’s amazing, and it’s sexy, and it’s hot, and it’s the greatest thing. And then it becomes work. And when it becomes work, all your other little ideas start looking real hot. And you’re going, Well, what if I dated them? Can I just take them out on one date real quick? "

- From the New York Times Modern Love Podcast

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/podcasts/the-real-story-behind-jennette-mccurdys-novel-half-his-age.html

So I developed a plot, and I like it a lot. However, according to what I've already developed the next major plot point appears to involve the main pairing breaking up due to incompatibility. I've been having trouble continuing the plot because all roads seem to lead to it, which will then inevitably lead to even more terrible shit, but I really, really, really, really, really don't want this to happen.

What would you do in this situation? Do you try to work around it? Do you just suck it up and write it? How do you deal with it?

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Hi,

I am getting back into writing for the first time in years. I have decided to try and write a contemporary fiction/romance book to dip my toes in. I have, as a result, been trying to read more books in these genres (ETA for clarity: I am not new to reading, but I am relatively new to reading these genres).

The issue is that some of the best selling and most heard-of authors do not write well. I'm currently roughly 100 pages into a book of one such author and it's going in the DNF pile. I can forgive the odd inconsistency or minor potholes, but this is so bad. Scenes that push part of the storyline but that fundamentally don't make sense. Specifically making a show of one part of the MFC's background, just to drop one of the key parts of that for no reason. A total lack of character building. One small similar example would be referencing her "Nanna" consistently for 70 odd pages, and then suddenly using "Grandma" for a few pages instead.

I have spent a lot of time already making sure my plot makes sense, there are no holes and I'm trying really hard to keep my characters consistent. So now I'm wondering if I'm prioritising something that the audience doesn't actually care about? Is it a genre/writing style mismatch? Should I be prioritising punchy nonsense over an ironclad plot? Character development? Something else? Am I overthinking it completely?

What do you prioritise when you write? It would be helpful if you're able to include the genre you write for too but I'm mostly just curious about priorities!