there are some stories that I didn't put as much effort into as others

I think every writer experiences this to some degree......Even in the case of published writers e.g. Michael Connelly and others who sometimes are not up to snuff when it comes to a character who I particularly love, in Connelly's case, Harry Bosch........and that bothers me as I really have Bosch in my sights
I have also noticed it in Crais. Sometimes his Cole and Pike are not
up to inspection either.........