At the EX panel at Anime Expo, I mentioned that I tried to write articles of a topical nature that I thought would be interesting to most of the readers. (All 3 readers I have, that is.) Someone asked what sort of subjects I don't write about and I explained that I don't really like to write about myself much or the things I do. A few people expressed interest in seeing a bit more behind the curtain so here is an explanation of the way I go about writing an EX article.
(Note: You may want to change to another more interesting page at this point.)

The Subject

First, I have to come up with a subject for the article. This is done in one of several ways:

Reactionary: Somebody writes something on the Web or in a magazine that hacks me off or I feel it necessary to comment further upon it.

Editorial Input: Often, I have to ask the editor of EX, Charles, what I should write. Charles sighs and comes up with a good idea.

Follow-up: Sometimes I can't think of anything so I follow up on previous articles.

Information: I think, "Hey, I can tell everybody about how writers are treated in the anime industry." (or something similar)

Original Idea: This hardly ever happens. I come up with something that is mildly interesting.

Once I decide what I want to write, I decide to write something else. This process is known as "indecision" and is often used by writers. After three or four changes, I sometimes end back with the original idea. Then I talk about it.

Me: "I'm going to write about the problem of there not being enough young directors with talent in the anime industry."
Charles: "OK, have it done by the 15th."

Two days later...

Me: "I'm writing about what would happen to the anime industry if all the carbohydrates in Japan suddenly disappeared."
Charles: "Hmm. OK."

Five days later...

Me: "I have this great article about how the hosiery you draw on characters defines their personalities."
Charles: "What about the director thing?"
Me: "Nobody wants to read about that."
Charles: "Uh huh. Have it done by the 15th."

The night of the 14th...

Me: "I'm a couple hours from finishing this article about directors who consume too many carbohydrates."
Charles: "I thought you were writing about hosiery."
Me: "I was but I got far too fetishistic in the article and that would weird all the readers out."
Charles: "Well, it's not like you're dreaming about living with the Brady girls or something. Send it to me tomorrow."
Me: "OK."

The 17th...

Me: "Um. I'm not done yet. I still need to scan in these pictures of socks."
Charles: "But I thought you weren't doing that article."
Me: "Well, I'm doing two articles at once so I won't have to worry about it next time."
Charles: "Well hurry up."
Me: "OK."

The 25th...

Charles: "Is the article done yet? You're holding up the issue."
Me: "Uh. no. I deleted everything because it sucked."
Charles: "So what are you going to do?"
Me: "Uh. I dunno. Give me an idea!"

The delays don't happen only because I am incompetent, they also happen because I get blocked, or more accurately blockaded.