Update

It’s about time I reported on the progress of novel number two, which is probably going to be novel number one in terms of the writing order.

A little while after I announced here that the characters were materializing inside my head and holding their own conversations, they disappeared. Perhaps they were shy or just a bit pissed off that I’d broadcast their appearance. I had a mild panic at their departure, tried to conjure them and then spent a few days thinking about giving up. I mean, really properly giving up.

See, I’ve got this writing course coming up, at the end of September that Husband is willing for me to go on, it’s not cheap and I feel it’s for serious writers. I don’t want to waste money. If I can’t make myself write fiction … what is the point of doing the course? What is the point if I want to write fiction but I cannot actually do it? I keep reading on the blogs that people are finishing drafts and making progress, and I wonder why you are all putting up with me. Why haven’t I been asked to relinquish my Novel Racer place to somebody more serious?

I am writing my blog and I’m writing my regular and one off articles but it’s still not enough. If I think about not writing the fiction I spontaneously weep. It appears I cannot give up which is rather a good thing, given I don’t think there is another thing in the world I want to do!

And then somewhere along the line, the cast of characters reappeared in my head. So now I am furiously scribbling notes, I’m reading well and I’m sort of hoping it’s going to be okay. I think the plan is to gather information now, find out who the characters are, and then write, write, write over July while I’m in England.

I say this a lot...

One of my favourite places to go in Bangkok is the monthly Thaicraft sale at the Ambassador Hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11. I always go on my own so I get a Saturday morning to myself; I often bump into friends and I get to lust over stunning crafts. And quite often I buy some. Oh alright, I always buy something.

Their range of goods is fantastic: cutlery, jewelry, hand woven silk, baskets, toys, beauty products, tea and coffee and lots more. It's a Fair Trade organisation and the prices are pretty much the same as you'd pay anywhere else in Bangkok ... except more of the money I pay goes to the craftpeople. No middle man.

Each month they feature one of the groups in more detail and the some of the craftpeople will come and do demonstrations of their work. Today they featured Ban Nong Takai, from the Buriram Province who spin and weave silk using traditional methods. The women here have developed products which are different from other communities' work, but that embrace cultural styles. Now I'm thinking about it, the last time we saw the silk weavers here, Husband was with me, and the lady spinning the silk offered Husband boiled silk worm. It's a delicacy, apparently.

Back in March I spoke to the Thaicraft Director about writing articles about them. I keep thinking I haven't the time ... but whenever I go back to a sale I just want to do it again. I think this time I will commit to it.