Is it okay to have a third party try to pursue the love interest?

[CrimsonGenius]

And the love interest for some reason gets together with that third party for an arc or three until they break up? Would people hate that and hate the love interest, the mc, the third party, or all three.

Even if the third party pursues the protagonist throughout the series how would I make the love interest oblivious enough since they are interested in the mc

 

[2wordsperminute]

Some people probably wouldn't like that, but personally I think it's fine.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

It would depend more on how well it was handled and what the story around it was.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

I'd rather they turn it into polyamory, but that's just me.

 

[Zinless]

And the love interest for some reason gets together with that third party for an arc or three until they break up? Would people hate that and hate the love interest, the mc, the third party, or all three.

Even if the third party pursues the protagonist throughout the series how would I make the love interest oblivious enough since they are interested in the mc

Incels would hate that a lot. You'll get a lot of "I hate used goods" comments if you do that.

This is our world now.

 

[Leti]

Only if the third party is a psychopathic serial killer.

 

[Peter3135566]

Incels would hate that a lot. You'll get a lot of "I hate used goods" comments if you do that.

This is our world now.

Everyone is ether a virgin a used good or some kind of elderich horror beyond understanding nowdays... xD

 

[ThrillingHuman]

Y not. But if you lay it on too strong that mc and love interest are meant to get together I'd feel like I was tricked into reading ntr, so a warning would be nice.

 

[cabbag3]

Even if the third party pursues the protagonist throughout the series how would I make the love interest oblivious enough since they are interested in the mc

I'm confused at this part, I thought 3rd party was pursuing Love Interest, now they're pursuing the MC too? Make it poly! JK

It would probably depend on your audience. They might think it's unnecessary since they know that MC and LI would still end up together, especially if they thought that the 2nd party is your intended LI.
I myself have a love-and-hate relationship with drama so I'm cool with it and would still read that story~
The only time I'd really dislike a story is when the writer is insulting my intellect or when they're some all-powerful eldritch dragon void MC ranting around on how worthless humans are for 30 chapters all the way deep into the story. Like btch, if you feel that way then why are you hanging out in my backyard, you don't even pay gas money and you can hang around with wookiees if you want.

Anyway, if it's a webnovel fantasy genre, I think I would probably wait for that arc to finish so the cliffhanger and drama don't piss me off all together lol. In the end, I'm not an author so I don't know how much my opinion would hold in this forum.

 

[Tsuru]

And the love interest for some reason gets together with that third party for an arc or three until they break up? Would people hate that and hate the love interest, the mc, the third party, or all three.

Even if the third party pursues the protagonist throughout the series how would I make the love interest oblivious enough since they are interested in the mc

Most KR/CN TVlovedrama : You called ?

 

[Sabruness]

smells like set up for dog blood and melodrama, especially if it's clear that the LI is obvious the LI from the start/early on. some people like that sort of thing. me, no thanks.

echoing an above comment, at the very least give a warning about the likely resultant drama and shit.

 

[tiaf]

I'd rather they turn it into polyamory, but that's just me.

This is platinum.

I think it depends on the plot. If it’s modern slice of life romance then it’s natural that someone has some dating history.

If third party is just there for additional drama, then no.
If third party has a better ship dynamic than MC and love interest then I’d boycott the story.
If little three has more screen time than og love interest, then I’d question your writing.

Just be careful as there sometimes are purity idealist who doesn’t allow MC to have a thing with others, ever. (Especially in smut)

 

[corruption]

Maybe an early fling before main couple get together? Makes sense to me. I don't like how they seem to always get with their true love right first time.
Although, if it turns out both the MC and their first partner are interested in the same person . . . . I've seen it done reasonably good. And also very bad.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Hmm. In most of my stories there is a clear pairing of characters and outside stuff is generally in the past.
However, in Between Worlds, there are a bunch of odd pairings and things going on that complicate lives.
And in the romance novel I've been working on, the MC winds up torn between three different love interests for much of the first part.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Only if the MC is some masochist who likes it.

 

[LesserCodex]

Everyone is ether a virgin a used good or some kind of elderich horror beyond understanding nowdays... xD

I want an elderich horror beyond understanding. Imagine having a partner that knows cuthulu, it's a like normal day and you make a meme and your partner just like "oh that guys still influencing yous? Lol" and you pause trying to understand what they mean by influence and are like oh shit.

 

[Rezcore]

Sure. Go after my love interest. I won't mind, after they're in the grave

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Sure. Go after my love interest. I won't mind, after they're in the grave

Putting the Romance back in Necromancy?

 

[Rezcore]

Putting the Romance back in Necromancy?

Sure. After they're dead I won't care.

 

[BearlyAlive]

Someone that isn't the MC pursuing a character in current year?!?!?!?

Go for it unless it's braindead will-they-won't-they drama to elongate the story for a few arcs.