5 Quotes About Trains

Inspired by the #AmtrakResidency, of course!

1. “Trains tap into some deep American collective memory.”― Dana Frank, Local Girl Makes History: Exploring Northern California's Kitsch Monuments
2. “...what thrills me about trains is not their size or their equipment but the fact that they are moving, that they embody a connection between unseen places.” ― Marianne Wiggins
3. “Trains are beautiful. They take people to places they've never been, faster than they could ever go themselves. Everyone who works on trains knows they have personalities, they're like people. They have their own mysteries.” ― Sam Starbuck, The Dead Isle
4. “It's my experience that most folk who ride trains could care less where they're going. For them it's the journey itself and the people they meet along the way. You see, at every stop this train makes, a little bit of America, a little bit of your country, gets on and says hello.” ― David Baldacci, The Christmas Train
5. “I like trains. I like their rhythm, and I like the freedom of being suspended between two places, all anxieties of purpose taken care of: for this moment I know where I am going.” ― Anna Funder, Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall

#AmtrakResidency #throwmamaonthetrain

Three Things I Learned from the #AmtrakResidency for Writers

No, I haven’t been accepted. Given the odds, I might get a letter to Hogwarts before Amtrak gives me a ride on the rails. No matter: It’s already benefited my writing in three valuable ways.

1. I updated my blog...for the first time in almost a year. (I call myself a writer?) The social nature of the #AmtrakResidency reminded me of how awful I am about blogging. To be fair, I’ve been writing a lot. And blogging isn’t for everyone. Yet I rarely write for myself. Writing this shameless and self-promoting post reminded me how fun it is to play with my own words.
2. I connected with other writers. Writers are a funny bunch. Programs like #AmtrakResidency set us up as competitors. Yet the writers I know are incredibly supportive. I've been propped up more times than I can count. I hope I do the same for other writers.
3. I counted my blessings. The #AmtrakResidency reminded me that I’m already living the dream. I make a living as a writer. Sure, I have plenty of room to grow. And the dedicated time and space the program provides could help push my writing to the next level. But I’m darn lucky, even if Amtrak tells me I’m staying put. 

Thanks for the opportunity for reflection, #AmtrakResidency. Cheers to the writers you select, and *fingers crossed* maybe one will be me.

#throwmamaonthetrain