Goddess of the Trees Series Book 3 Writing Challenges

As I jump back into writing the third and final novel in the Goddess of the Trees series, I find that I’m bumping up against myself. I’ve read a few trilogies over the past year, and in some cases, the ending felt disappointing. It’s not easy to write a series. Each book has its own demands, but the series itself requires tying up loose ends, clear transitions, consistency and, dare I say it, a satisfying ending.

Confronting the End

The ending of the Goddess of the Trees is tripping me up, and I fear that if I don’t stick the landing, the series will require four books instead of three. The hardest part for me right now is giving Beatrice the conclusion she deserves. Out of all the characters in the Goddess of the Trees series, she faces the most significant challenges. The happy-ending lover in me just wants her to have joy, but right now, the story leaves her hopeful but not quite settled.

There's often a tendency to rush endings, especially when the finish line feels so close. I could do the same. I could crust her story over with a saccharine sweetness where all is well in the end—she has love and the trees and has the Goddess’s permission to keep her vines. But life rarely gives us exactly what we want, even after round after round of hardship. These challenges change our journey, our trajectory, even what we want.

Finding My Flow

If I’m being honest, I feel a bit stagnant right now. I’m struggling to get my ideas down, much less into a more polished form. Despite having a rough outline, the fear of not meeting readers’ expectations feels overwhelming. It’s vital to me that I get this right. I’m trying to remind myself of two things: I’m not the first author to feel this way, and slow and steady wins the race. This final novel will be better because of the time I take to honor each character.

What should authors do in this case?

It’s not easy to keep going sometimes. Just like everything else, my fervor for writing waxes and wanes. I suspect this is true for other authors as well. While I don’t have all the answers, I can share a few things that work for me:

1. Set small goals: Instead of focusing on the entire book, break it down into manageable sections. Write a single chapter or even a scene each day. (Okay, if I’m being honest, sometimes I just set a small word count of 100 words.)

   
   

2. Change your environment: I confess that I do not capitalize on the opportunity to write out in the wild enough. It’s a whole trope, right? The vision of a writer sitting at a coffee shop, alone in a room full of people, sipping on something warm, pen and paper in hand. But I suspect there is merit to it. A change in scene can provide different inspiration. When I do this, though, I must remind myself to allow plenty of time for ordering and settling in and bathroom breaks.

   
   

3. Seek feedback early: One of the best things I feel that I did when working on Binds and Breath was to get the novel into the hands of someone who loved Vines and Fire. I hope to do the same for Book 3.

   
   

4. Read for inspiration: As a human being who loves to write, I find it important to stay immersed in a story most of the time. Audiobooks are imperative for me to keep up with consuming literature, and it still counts! I still experience the language, the plot, character development, etc. There are so many lessons we can learn through other authors.

Changing my environment to inspire creativity.

Embracing the Challenge

Yes, the obstacles and challenges of writing Book 3 are stressing me a bit, but I return over and over again to why I fell in love with writing in the first place: unique, round characters involved in relationships with one another, love stories, wordsmithing and playing with language, the process of moving through my own traumas, etc.

I know that the more effort I pour into refining the narrative, the more satisfying the end product feels. If it takes longer than expected, that’s perfectly okay. Deep care and thought are crucial in shaping a fulfilling conclusion that leaves readers yearning for more stories, even beyond the trilogy.

Connecting with My Community

I cherish the connection I share with my readers. Knowing that they invest time in my work fuels my determination to get things right. I enjoy hearing back from them, whether through social media or direct messages, and their feedback often provides the encouragement I need to push through difficult writing sessions.

My goal is to ramp up posts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and my blog, inviting readers and other authors along for the ride.