For most people writing is a lonely, frustrating and sometimes unhappy experience. The writer who actually enjoys the process of writing seems to be unusual; most writers enjoy having rewritten but get no joy whatever from the actual task of moving a pen across a sheet of paper or hitting one key after another on the computer.

Far from developing into a pedantic discussion of how to sharpen pencils before sitting down to write, Neil Gaiman gave forth some of the most interesting discussions on how to daydream, which it has ever been this columnist’s privilege to listen during a conversation with the master of the craft himself.

The essence of this business is putting effective words and phrases down on paper. And practically every writer of advertising, like every writer of anything else, goes through these horrible gyrations on his way to turning out a page of print copy, or a television commercial, or a set of instructions on how to assemble without losing either your patience or your thumb. Talk to this great and successful author about this mundane nut important matter of how Gaiman prepares himself to get at it. See if Gaiman has developed any little gimmicks for getting the productive juices to flow more freely. Ask him if he has learned anything in his rich experience which might help other aspiring writers to get there faster with less frustration and, perhaps, somewhat better results.

Armed with a tape recorder, a fistful of questions (some of them innocuous) and an inquiring and somewhat unconventional mind, this columnist gets up close with the dream master. The 47-year-old author underscored the importance of the imagination in creative processes, comparing it to a mirror which can show the world in different angles.

“Everyone can conceive great ideas. Creativity is not limited to the gifted. All of us daydream, but like writers, keep track of when and where our minds drift. An idea doesn’t have to be a plot notion, just a place to begin creating. Sometimes it’s a person, a place or an image. Often, ideas come from two things that never come together before,” Gaiman said.

Just like writing advertising, it must be straightforward, but it must also capture the attention of the consumer. “Before there were chairs, poems and fields they were imagined. Imagination is not special, magical and is only for the blessed.”

He urges everyone to imagine and keep the hugeness of one’s thoughts before finally measuring up with them. Occasional speculation and toying with stuff can lead to other discoveries and innovations.

Daydream and ask, “What if?” See things for the first time. Sometimes, you look at something 999 times, and think nothing of it. Then, on the thousandth time, you will suddenly see it for the very first time. When this happens, ponder and even question the very idea of that object.

According to Gaiman, escapism is good. Go to places you’ve never been before. Breathe new air, gain new skills and new points of view. “When you return to reality, you may realize it’s no longer the same place you left, because you see it through new eyes.”

Gaiman, who is labeled as among the top 10 living postmodern writers of the world, is the author of American Gods, Anansi Boys and Stardust, which has recently been adapted into a movie. He also created the DC Comics series Sandman, which is the first comic ever to receive a literary award.

Gaiman cowrote with Roger Avary the script for the 2007 motion picture Beowulf. He is currently helping out in producing the movie adaptation of his landmark novella for children, Coraline, which is set to come out next year.

With a deep respect for the critical importance of storytelling, his work probes the worlds of imagination and creativity to explore the metaphors by which we live our lives. Indeed, Gaiman’s mastery of myth and legend—and each respective role in the contemporary world—make his work as both a writer and a speaker unique.

Despite his stature in the writing world, he says he will never get enough of his fascination on bringing characters in his dreams to life through the pages of his books. For him, it will always be a very fulfilling feat. Bringing his readers to other dimensions and places where others have not been before will remain to be just added bonuses.

Go ahead, daydream!

Companies in every category are ready to strike out in the new direction and are eager to know how to succeed. There is a need for a new look at what leads to business success in the current shift from the industrial age economy to the information age—from the time when most business was production-based and dealt with the customer at arm’s length to a time when what you do to interact with your customers can be critical to your company’s future.

For most people writing is a lonely, frustrating and sometimes unhappy experience. The writer who actually enjoys the process of writing seems to be unusual; most writers enjoy having rewritten but get no joy whatever from the actual task of moving a pen across a sheet of paper or hitting one key after another on the computer.

This marketing manager has a dream. He sees himself at the head of the conference table issuing orders to a host of underlings.

Recognized by Forbes as the 34th richest person in Southeast Asia in 2005, renowned business tycoon John Gokongwei instilled the importance of taking risks, braving the odds and gracing great challenges amid the fiercest competition among more than 3,000 delegates at the 20th Philippine Advertising Congress.