A new writers hope.

I subscribe to the Daily Good and today’s or maybe it was yesterday’s inbox delivery included a link to the Amtrak promotion for 24 writers in residence. You have to apply, tell them why you want a chance to be a writer in residence, submit a sample of your work and hope that a panel picks you. If you are chosen you get a 2 – 5 day trip on one of their trains so that you can write. Sounds like bliss.

I took my first train trip when I was about 5 years old and have loved trains ever since. I enjoy the relaxed pace of train travel even though many of them travel very fast. It always feel like a lazy, vacation trip whenever I ride one even when I am not on vacation. This would be such a cool experience, so cool, I may have to pay to do it even if I don’t get chosen.

If you want to learn more about writing on trains and how Amtrak’s promotion  was started, here is a link to Jessica Gross’s story “Writing the Lake Shore Limited” in the Paris Review where she writes about the experience that Amtrak gave her and how she was inspired to ask on Twitter.

If you are a writer and want to apply or if you want to read more about Amtrak check out their blog post on the residency program.