For my last five or so essays, I’ve settled into this writing process where each morning I’ll write 500 words, which may or may not build on the previous morning’s draft.

I do this until I have about three thousand words, and then I look for a common thread. If I find it, I edit. If I don’t, I keep writing, or I throw it in drafts.

Or I cry. It’s a coin toss, really.