Amtrak’s Writer in Residence Program is a great idea. I did this informally and on my own dime in the train equivalent of coach class in the 80s numerous times when I traveled between Seattle and Chicago on the Empire Builder, a train with a stout and classic name, and recorded the straight fire angst of a crazed, directionless twentysomething who was bored stiffless in North Dakota and tired of re-reading The Seven Storey Mountain. This was long before my first laptop, long before I had computer processed a single word. To record the journeys I actually printed words longhand on a page, always skipping a line to leave room for revisions, of which there were many. Such was my process for manual word processing in the 80s. At least one of my trip screeds wound up in the Post-College News as an essay in which I used the word “hardscrabble.” It was the only other time I’ve ever used that word. Writing was much more fun in those days. Living was much more fun in those days. Computers have increased the efficiency of everything just as they’ve evaporated the fun in just about anything.
http://blog.amtrak.com/amtrakresidency/
Amtrak is excited to announce the official launch of the #AmtrakResidency program.
#AmtrakResidency was designed to allow creative professionals who are passionate about train travel and writing to work on their craft in an inspiring environment. Round-trip train travel will be provided on an Amtrak long-distance route. Each resident will be given a private sleeper car, equipped with a desk, a bed and a window to watch the American countryside roll by for inspiration. Routes will be determined based on availability.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by a panel. Up to 24 writers will be selected for the program starting March 17, 2014 through March 31, 2015. A passion for writing and an aspiration to travel with Amtrak for inspiration are the sole criteria for selection. Both emerging and established writers will be considered.
Residencies will be anywhere from 2-5 days, with exceptions for special projects.
To apply, go here http://blog.amtrak.com/amtrakresidency/
And here’s an entirely unrelated video from Dave the Usher
