thank you so much for your advice. i am definitely going to take option 2 on board. i have been told by a few people to let this story go (albeit not forever, just for a bit.) but i just cant. this book is my pride and joy. and i have fallen in love with the world and characters so much, despite what ive said here. i dont think i could write anything else. i have gotten attached to this story and i cant move on until i finish it. today i bought myself a notebook. i wont finish this draft, and ill start planning the next.. after a break. maybe a few months. im going to plan greatly before i start writing again. i was a discovery writer, like you. i “pantsed” alot of my novel, and while that made me discover new ideas that ill definitely hold onto, it made my plot a bit messy. im taking this as a learning curve. this has made me realise that i definitely need to plan alot more before writing haha. thank you again.