No “good” or “bad“ writing days

Since August 5th, I've been waking up just before 5am to write a second novel before my partner and kid wake up and I have to head to work. No matter the late hour I went to bed or the quality of sleep, I wake without an alarm, climb down the stairs, and scribble in my notebook. Whether curse or blessing, I enjoy every minute of it. In the dark, the wind howling, feeling like I'm cheating the big loud obnoxious world, telling its secrets before dawn breaks.

When I wrote my first novel (currently on a break from working on it, in the 9th draft), I wrote early too. But it was easier without caretaking demands. I’ve tried writing in the evenings, but I like to spend time with my partner after the kid goes to bed. Life, what a balancing act!

But I've stopped calling certain writing days "bad" or "good." Certainly there are days when the words flow easier than others, but by not labeling good or bad, I'm giving myself the reward of being happy that I wrote at all. That I did it.