Monthly Archives: March 2010

Everything that Never Happened

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…is a go. I finished the high-level outline of the novel last night. I printed the outline this morning — 18 pages — and at lunch hour today I’m going to start into writing the actual first draft. Even after two months of outlining, I’m still really excited about this project, which is a good sign.

Here are the two choices for the epigraph:

Inne ye Ocean yre is an Iland,
On ye Iland yre is a Stone,
Inne ye Stone, a Seed,
Inne ye Seed, the Death of us Alle.
– From the Rutherford Codex, largely considered to be a fake

or

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
– Matthew 16:26

Any preferences out there in Reader Land?

Most novel updates will probably happen on the ETNH site: http://patrickjohanneson.com/everything/ .

Notes from judo class tonight

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  • I may need to order some belts before the next grading.
  • Basketball practice downstairs is loud enough without the stereo.
  • It’s really nice to hear someone tell you they appreciate all the years you’ve been volunteering.
  • It never occurred to me that instructing at judo is volunteering, but of course it is.
  • Since when is Europe’s “The Final Countdown” a big hit again?
  • Half an hour of ne-waza randori is lots, thanks.

Touring the Nonsuch

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Nonsuch from starboard stern

My current WiP, Everything that Never Happened, is set mainly aboard a small 17th-century sailing vessel, a square-rigged ketch named the Mandalay. It’s not a coincidence that it’s a square-rigged ketch, just like the historical Nonsuch; ever since the first time I visited the Nonsuch gallery in the Manitoba Museum, I’ve been fascinated by the ship. I’m not a nautical type; I’ve spent my entire life on the prairies, and have seen ocean a total of three times. But something about the ship has always stuck in my mind, and I find myself constantly returning to it.

Maybe it’s just the name. I’m a sucker for a good name.

Tiller

Anyways, sometime in February it occurred to me that, to really understand the Mandalay and her crew, I might be wise to learn more about the Nonsuch. I sent an email to someone at the Manitoba Museum, asking for any information they could give me, and also asking about tours. I received some information in the mail, a recommendation that I check out a book by Laird Rankin, who’s something of an expert on the Nonsuch, and an offer of a tour. To trim a long story to a short one, I went on a tour of the ship on Monday. Since the museum was closed, it was a quite private tour.

I spent three hours on and around the ship, asking questions of Robert, the museum’s resident Nonsuch expert. I learned a lot, and I took a lot of pictures. Some aspects of my story are greatly clarified for me now. Some of the things Robert told me will find their way quite directly into the novel.

And now I’ll get back to writing it…

All my Nonsuch photos