The previously mentioned article about spying on others in order to get good things for your characters is on its way. It has expanded from the simple concept of just spying on friends and family, to include the more direct routes I've taken to get information from other people. In the process of reviewing my knowledge for the article I've found that I employ a host of different approaches; I won't cover all of them, but I do believe I have something to share with you on this subject.

I'm also ditching all my previous novel ideas and attempts, not for ever, but I've started researching a story which I hope will be disturbing to most people. The research is including direct interviews with people around the globe. This technique of gaining insight will not make it into the article, but it is something to consider if you want to have more input from different cultures, not just your own "little" world.

The disturbing elements in what I'm writing is an extension of the thought: "How far would I be willing to go?" I've noticed that I tend to attract people as a conversation partner and a confessor. What could I achieve if I took advantage of this? What if I went totally egocentrical and started manipulating people?

The thought "How far would I be willing to go?" has been kindled in me recently because I feel I've lost some grip on my personal life, and been wondering how far will I let things slide, and what will I do to correct them?

It will also be a departure from my wish to write fantasy and science fiction, it'll be contemporary and I'm pretty sure it'll be first person. I'm not going to make it shocking for the shock-value, though, I can never truly shock someone who've been through the real equivalents of what I write, it will have to be based on the characters and their motivations, which I think I've begun to really know.