Been writing a column for more than three years now, and I have not missed a single week. I have been pretty much reliable and have managed to come out with something for my column in Philippine Star each Sunday for the past 168 weeks or so. My editor must be happy.

Yet every week, I go through the ritual where I stare at the computer screen wondering what to write and worrying whether I will be able to write anything at all. But sure enough, I always come up with something. Of course I can’t say I will ALWAYS come up with something decent but this process has delivered the articles for as long as I have had a column. Based on the outcome, the output seems a sure thing. But based on the process, it is still iffy, at least to me. It’s a real problem for writers, this waiting for inspiration, or the alignment of the planets and stars so that spirit wakes up and animates my laptop screen with words

Writers and God have at least one thing in common. We can both create something out of nothing. The difference is, I don’t think God worries whether the sun will come out, or night will follow day as scheduled while writers move heaven and earth each time to meet their deadline.