EDITING THIS BOOK HAS TAKEN OVER MY LIFE | the journey to draft 3

The struggle to the THRID DRAFT of my next novel. Hope you enjoy! Pre-oder the Again But Better Paperback► smarturl.it/AB... ! Subscribe ► goo.gl/a4Mqk7 The Again but Better hardcover is available now: bit.ly/againbut...
Watch the journey to the first and second draft of book 2:
2nd draft: • I WROTE A BOOK DURING ...
1st draft: • I tried to write 30,00...
The book writing chronicles with xtinemay: • THE BOOK WRITING CHRON...
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I’m on Instagram: / xtinemay
I’m on TWITTER: / xtinemay
facebook page: / cmrproductionz
COMEDY CHANNEL: / polandbananas20
website: christinericcio...
i have TUMBLR: / polandbananas20
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i also have a goodreads: / xtinemay
music used from: Public Domain & the youtube creator tools library & the Jinglepunk Library My name is Christine Riccio! I love comedy and reading fantastic books. I make what I like to think are funny videos every Tuesday and other days of the week too about books and book related pop culture stuff! Hence the channel name polandbananasbooks. I also have a comedy channel if you're into that kind of thing winky face it's polandbananas20. I'D LOVE TO TALK ABOUT BOOKS WITH YOU. ALSO COMEDY. ALSO TV. ALSO MOVIES.
What do you use to make videos? :
Camera: goo.gl/WmwsSV
Microphone: goo.gl/rDIX60
Lights: goo.gl/EwAtMT
Tripod: goo.gl/OO5wQJ

[@queene1036]

Christine: Panicking and flailing Juan: Casually playing video games in the background with not a care in the world

[@dazaimaru5799]

And learning to draw so peacefully

[@elliepasquale5479]

John worriedly glancing over at 9:51 is a whole mood

[@mati_deborealbooks]

I actually had to rewatch it hahaha so funny

[@katiebeth1636]

Why do you write like you're running out of time?

[@fremzzplum5083]

Write day and night like your running out of time

[@anna-maymoon1001]

And keep on fighting in the mean time

[@AndromedaMoon888]

Noooonnnn- stop!

[@candacew2437]

Gentlemen of the jury, I'm curious, bear with me, are you aware that we're making history?

[@relc1705]

Candace Williams this is the first murder trial of our brand new nation

[@carmelapatalan7361]

Yay!! And the pink Again but Better cover looks beautiful!

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

[@nikiash620]

As someone who's also working on her third draft of a novel, this was both stressful to watch and reassuring. Christine, we got this! 😂

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

YES WE GOT THIS! XD GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR THIRD DRAFT !

[@aspiringauthorerinrail2890]

Yes! This right here! *points upward*

[@thenevermer]

I feel like the whole video is basically the "why do you write like you're running out of time" line from Hamilton

[@anerdybooklover5889]

Yaaaaassss

[@xLotteKBooks]

Yeah, I'm hella stoked for the food truck scene now 😍

[@metalandmagi6486]

I think I speak for everyone when I say... Show us John's avatar drawings!

[@harrypotteravenclaw]

Juan playing Infinity War instead of Hamilton 😂

[@ttpdsecretary]

*eagerly awaits food truck scene*

[@kieranmacri8190]

the last time I was this early Feyre was still in love with Tamlin!

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

LOL

[@lindsey9906]

As someone who is currently writing their first book, I LOVE all of your writing videos. It's always so reassuring when you talk about or stress about things that I can relate to. I absolutely adored ABB and can't wait for your second book!

[@ariannawright7586]

I love how Juan is just chilling playing video games (probably?) in the background half the time.

[@adotburr6494]

I was just rewatching Christine’s recent writing vlogs and wondering when another one will come out...? This is so weird but so amazing

[@xx__maggieg_xx]

I finally finished the first draft of my first novel and am now going through and as Neil Gaiman says, "making it look like I knew what I was doing in the first place." 😂

[@annelissacormier916]

You are honestly such an inspiration. I love you and everything you do and it’s so cool you get to live your writing dream

[@harryferguson1812]

OH MY GOSH! I JUST READ AGAIN BUT BETTER AND IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR NEXT BOOK! 😁💙

[@katierimmer6734]

“Everyone’s plans should be staying inside so no one else gets corona”😂

[@charlottebailey767]

I’m so excited for the next book to come out!

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

yay

[@isabellelovesbooks]

a thirty minute christine video? yes. just yesss 🥺❤️❤️

[@allisonsykes8851]

YAY CHRISTINE!!! You’re doing great sweetie!! I was so excited to watch this video! They inspire me so much! Tag yourself I’m John sitting around playing video games and watching Avatar 🤣 nice that John is learning how to draw! I want to do that too! Saw him drawing Toph 😁

[@sarahwilson4227]

Her writing vlogs always make me want to write. I love the motivation given from watching her talk about her book.

[@hannah-rm4pb]

Christine: Sometimes i look up and its already one a.m Me: i do the same thing but wth animeee

[@xLotteKBooks]

Girl I love you so much, I always get happy when I get the announcement for your new video!!

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

[@anna-maymoon1001]

I've been chipping away at my novel, it has to be paced slow for it to work and omg it. Is. Killing. Me. Its this complicated fantasy thing and I'm never really in the mood to write the filling in bits so these scenes that are supposed to be like character exploration and bond building go from 0 - 60 real fast and so I work on it, delete the 60, work on it and we get to an acceptable 30 and it's like I could have just kept it to a nice simple melodramatic 5SOS fanfic the way it started out but no, we're here now. 🙄 #writingishard

[@bellab5680]

I feel that. I’m doing a draft 2 for my novel rn and I’m writing a bunch of “filler” stuff for character development and it’s KILLING ME

[@anna-maymoon1001]

@@bellab5680 i feel your pain, we got this though 💪💪💪

[@JacquieVlogsHere]

Omg what a roller coaster. I was getting so stressed for you, but like the pride & the triumph I felt as soon as you got under 130k and it seemed like the end could actually be in sight??? Inspirational honestly, lol. Even though you quite didn't get to where you wanted, getting under 125k is SO MUCH and such an accomplishment!! YOURE DOING SO GREAT CHRISTINE!!

[@helenakohlhoff]

Love that you were listening to Cornelia Street Live!!! Such taste!!!

[@aspiringauthorerinrail2890]

Ah, when you were cutting the words down, I felt that! Lol! I stopped at 128,000 with my book, I used the Mortal Instruments, as a guide. When applying to agents, it's harder, lol! And with the hiding the word count, same girl, same. Lol. I did the same thing. Lol. I waited until I was done with my draft, to look, lol. It was nerve racking. With my short stories, which I was on deadline for, I said f**k it, lol! It was just for a project, at the time. Lol. Loved this video Christine! You rock! Keep them coming!

[@noannellesky9360]

I am currently writing my master's thesis. I have slightly under a month left. It feels good to see that anyone writing or doing big project goes through those ups and downs and panic moments! Thank you for sharing your writing journey with us

[@TasneemChoudhury362]

Good luck with your thesis!!!

[@DirectlyHere]

I have never understood authors needing to cut things that may still be important. Honestly I think the publishing company needs to be revamped and authors need more control over their own work.

[@davidmtgregorio]

It's called self publishing. And tbh sometimes publishing companies don't cut enough.

[@DirectlyHere]

@@davidmtgregorio yes but self publishing is an extremely difficult road to take. There needs to be better paycuts for authors and more control.

[@dustypage2704]

Christine: *sneezes* Me: CORONA VIRUS! *cardi B style*

[@gracezimmerman6384]

Love the pink cover! Can’t wait to get my hands on it 💕

[@lanadelgay7765]

Will you ever write any fantasy/sci if books✨❤️

[@StarsAndEmbers]

YES That Charlie's Angels reference! I'm in such a writing slump right now. I've written the beginning and I know what I want to happen at the end, but I don't know what to do in the middle

[@onyxgate1]

Oh my god I have been waiting for these video ever since the last one came out. I literally did the math in my head, If Christine finished on May first then May was her month of rest, so she was working on the book in June so it will come out in July! I know it's a little extreme but for someone currently working on there own book I like watching you discover your process. Thank you!

[@teatimewitht6937]

I love watching these videos as I write.

[@bethsuters2053]

Watching someone being productive makes you feel less bad for not being productive

[@TheDailyDanny]

22:00 i'm watching this at 3:30am so i might be a lil drowsy but, does John & Christine sleep in separate rooms or is John just not in the room yet?

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

he's just not in the room yet, he ended up on my same super late schedule

[@TheDailyDanny]

polandbananasBOOKS Got it!

[@alissamolder]

Please never stop making these videos! They are so encouraging to newbie writers (🙋🏻‍♀️) I’m so excited for your next book 💙

[@megoosediaries8069]

I just recently sent out my first round of query letters for my first novel and I can relate to so much of this. I am excited for the days when I have deadlines that are not self-imposed and watching you panic, but get through has me confident that I can do this. I CAN DO THIS! YOU CAN DO THIS! I am so excited for this book to be done and out and beautiful and aaaaaaaaahhhh!

[@harriet_frances]

I’m definitely but this when it comes out! And I can’t wait for your midnight sun review!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@celinapeters6175]

YAYYY!!!! Writing!!! Can’t wait to read book 2 and buy wayyy to many compiles of the ABB paperback!!

[@jenniferramirez5618]

Your references to High School Musical are the best!!❤️🎉🎂

[@A.H._]

Scrivener would be great for you, girl! And you're totally relatable I love you so much.

[@Heytheresaan]

I really enjoy your writing vlogs. I'm actually writing my first draft and feeling a little bit desmotivated and this brings me joy!

[@mollyb3406]

Ok so this may be a silly question but why do you have to cut words? Like I understand editing and cleaning things up but why do you have to cut words and scenes out. I guess as a reader I always want more of my favorite books🤷🏼‍♀️

[@onyxgate1]

Same!

[@ayyahi]

Because sadly big books don’t typically sell well, I think people get intimidated.😢

[@sydneyyoung3]

Big books don’t sell as well, but also: authors usually over write their books in the first draft and you don’t need as many words/scenes to actually tell your story well

[@casarive14]

God I’m ready for this book to be out

[@edensylvester13]

I'm ready to find out the new title at least

[@evelyncux1361]

I am currently editing my book and I also have so many words and I’m struggling to cut it down, and watching this inspires me to keep going

[@KPopLandia49]

I literally stopped filming my first video to watch this video.💖 And I just pre-ordered it.

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

[@emmaclare9066]

As an underwriter this is so interesting to watch like the inverse of my struggles...it's a weird kinship I'm feeling even though all these word count numbers are so foreign to me.

[@dannydewispelare]

So happy for you!! Can’t wait to read it when it’s released!! My project has been just so hard lately, been contacting agents still and been just getting rejection after rejection and I finally contacted a few more but trying to stay positive in this. Worked on other projects that make me happy, a screenplay and my next book, just needed to keep myself busy. Also finally getting around to Crescent City, and loving it! Also, have you listened to Chromatica by Lady Gaga?

[@chelseahahn5763]

Christine...I feel like you should get Scrivener?? Or some similar writing program that makes it easy to find the chapters/sections of the draft

[@katiekress5787]

I always look forward to these vlogs so much! I really appreciate how you show all the real sides of being creative and being a writer: good, bad, and ugly

[@basiccarstairs8502]

I can’t wait for the paperback to be released😆it’s gorgeous.

[@kaylinpaiges]

I, for one, can assure you that I am hella excited for the food truck scene. You're doing amazing sweetie! I believe in you Christine, and I can't wait for this book!

[@anna-maymoon1001]

Oh man this gave me anxiety in a bad way and then anxiety in a good way and all of it was chaotic good and I'm here for it ❤💪

[@anonymous_penguin2206]

OMG i died when juan said you guys were watching the beach that's one of my favorite episodes. i hope you've finished season 3 by now it's so good i love that show so much

[@livsterlove5681]

Christine *walks stressfully around a spinny chair in a panic* I feel you girl, been there

[@emmahippe5058]

Currently using this video to procrastinate on writing :)

[@Lyndseyhearnauthor]

This whole thing is such a mood! I feel you Christine 😂 I’m on draft one the writing part so um yeah 😂😂

[@mim1457]

You should use the Scrivener app. It’s $50, but it’s sooooo worth it. I don’t know how I ever wrote without it

[@ncphloridis4074]

I am very excited for this book!!!

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

YAY

[@magsd8300]

Watching your writing videos while working on my own project makes me feel so much better about the whole process! I feel like we are in this together, haha! I am working on the outline of my first novel to be written in November!

[@angela7017]

i've never been SO EARLY

[@lifeisabeautifulrisk]

I Ioved Eurovision! One of my new favorite movies

[@Sims3apple]

ITS PINK?! I WANT IIIIIIT

[@SummerShepherd-4]

Finally a video from xtinemay 😍

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

i know seriously it's been 500 years

[@madalynstonebraker4255]

she cracks me up reminds me so much of myself 😂 I love her energy

[@adrianmora6199]

i already have the barnes & noble edition of ABB but i kind of want the target one and now i definitely want the paperback one so i'm going to try & convince my parents to let me have three different copies of the same book wish me luck lol but also congrats on cutting all those words christine!!! i'm proud of you. s2 of book writing is very different but i kind of love it, like whenever i get a notification that one of these long vlog type vids has been uploaded i'm like yess because i can just sit back and hang out with you for half an hour and its really fun. also watching this has made me really want to write an original story again because recently i've just been writing fanfiction lol and i miss working like this. i don't currently have any solid ideas for a novel but i'm pretty sure that can change. good luck w draft 4!

[@fremzzplum5083]

You always inspire me to write. Thank you so much you are the best

[@davidblanco0911]

Hi! From Panama 🇵🇦🇵🇦🇵🇦🇵🇦

[@emilienasrallah1395]

I haven't finished your video yet, but I just want to say that cutting off words IS THE BIGGEST STRUGGLE! Like, I'm editing my own book and I went from 96 000 words to 100 000 words and I have no idea how I did it and what to take out. So respect to you! Edit: Recommendation: I think it would be cool if instead of saying how many words you have, you should say how many words you have in comparison to the same place with the previous draft... I don't know if it makes sense

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

AHH GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BOOK! I FEEL YOUR STRUGGLE

[@emilienasrallah1395]

@@polandbananasBOOKS Thanks!!! // (I like the idea of putting //, I never thought about it before) Ohhh! Got it! // Also I just finished the video and OMG YOU CUT SO MANY WORDS I'M SO PROUD *** applauding emoji I don't know how to insert with my computer ***

[@jasperappler8472]

Love, love, loved this. and totally on board with that Taylor Swift Cornelia st vibes. Lover is such a good album to write to.

[@madisondanielle1355]

Omg I LOVE her!!!💜

[@divergentgurl1414]

i literally enjoy these videos so much, it feels like i'm making progress with you when i'm actually just staring at the screen for 30 minutes without doing MY stuff sldfgjhdkslsdjfh it's sO ENTERTAINING THO

[@nidhireddyreads]

the thumbnails for the draft series>>>

[@libraryfordreamers]

So proud of you Xtine

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

[@rachelfisken8965]

As someone who's two weeks away from submitting their thesis this made me feel better, like thank God I'm not the only one panicking hahaha

[@livdanielle]

Why does it have to be 130k words specifically like how many pages is that

[@malaya9621]

bc huge, huge books don't usually sell well :)

[@davidmtgregorio]

So, there's more or less 250 words in a page, which makes 1,000 words = 4 pages. So 130k is somewhere between 400 and 500 words, which is a medium sized book, verging on longish.

[@clarecarter9172]

I’m glad there’s someone else in this world who always needs to cut words in their manuscripts my WIP is 160,000 hahahahaHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

[@xJxaxsxix]

I was literally about to work on my book this very minute. Then this video came along. You can bet I'll watch this before writing xD

[@mirandamiskel2086]

Now I’m gonna own three copies of ABB😂 I bought both special editions of the hardback and I HAVE to get this one!

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

[@booniebevins1311]

That pink ABB is GORGEOUS!!!💖

[@luciacanali9832]

Nice work! Cutting stuff is truly hard. My projects are doing ok, I guess? I mean, I did finish a book thanks to the quarantine, buuuuut... I started this one on October of last year, whilst the book I started in december of 2019 is still going (and that one has a stronger priority because is a sequel and I want the series complete and finished). Also I have a lot of revising to do, but oh well. We will see.

[@Lisa-pg9ej]

I clicked so fast omg

[@colleenwyrick2994]

Casually mentions book 2 has a new title and just.... doesn't.... tell us?!?!?!

[@sproutbliss]

Do you plot/outline or are you a pantser?? I’d be so curious to know and how your method impacts your editing process.

[@Createwithry]

Where, oh where, did you get that white piece of furniture in the background...The shelf at 5:42?!? Please let me know and thank you :) :)

[@alannasama777]

I’m just now watching this, even though it’s been in my Watch Later list since you posted it, and it actually made me realize that my own character’s name needed to change. Made me feel bad since it’s been what it was for a year now. I can’t wait for your second book!

[@tamimnoory2023]

I finished my first novel and I can understand your struggle the most annoying part is editing .....

[@tamimnoory2023]

I finished my first novel and I can understand your struggle the most annoying part is editing .....

[@JustaLittleBitRandom]

This was the most chaotic video ever and I loved every second of it

[@BohoBookworm]

Oh my Gosh it has been SO long since I watched your videos. I didn't realise how much I missed them haha. I published my 2nd novel last month and am currently on the first draft of my 3rd so your video gave me so much inspiration. Thank you!!

[@zenasarah220]

The ABB paperback is so beautiful!! **goes to preorder** and congrats on another draft!!!!

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

[@NathiHc]

Might be too early to ask, but will this book be recorded as an audiobook as well? Loved the ABB audiobook, I just got really excited thinking about listening to this one 😅

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

yes definitely !!! =D

[@MeganTrimble]

my bet is that she will cut... 30 words. twice as many from first to second draft!

[@harrypotteravenclaw]

I bet that Christine adds words

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

LOL

[@mati_deborealbooks]

Your writing videos are the breaks I take from working on my own draft xx juan in the background hahaha lololol

[@EdItTrAsHLIVE]

I guess you can say she writing the book Again, But Better!!

[@lania2246]

Im taking a summer online screenwriting class and i'm having a lot of fun so far.