I love my job. I would never leave it. But if I were to quit…it would be for the Amtrak Writer Residency Program. Per the Amtrak blog, “#AmtrakResidency will allow for up to 24 writers to take long-distance trains to work on their projects. Each writer’s round-trip journey will include accommodations on board a sleeper car equipped with a bed, a desk and outlets.” How incredible does that sound? I had already started with my company at the inception of the residency in 2014, but if I had not been working, I would have been all over it.
I adore trains. There is something so nostalgic, so romantic about train travel. I want to eventually ride down both coasts by rail, and I feel quite sure if I were in the residency program, I would criss-cross the country many times.
I would love to do the Pacific Surfliner on the West Coast…that view…come on!
| Pacific Surfliner | San Luis Obispo – Santa Barbara – Los Angeles – San Diego |
On the East Coast, I might hop on the Acela Express in my beloved Boston and ride down to DC before heading down the coast of Florida.
Acela Express  |
Boston – New Haven – New York – Philadelphia – Baltimore – Washington, DC |
| Silver Service / Palmetto |
New York – Washington, DC – Charleston – Savannah – Jacksonville – Orlando – Tampa / Miami |
I don’t know what I would write. I’ve had several book ideas on the backburner for several years. Maybe I would use that time to create more blog content. I can’t say. I just know that I would love it.
Meet the 24 writers participating in the 2016 Amtrak Residency Program, (all of whom I envy), here.