Amtrak Is Now Officially Taking Applications For Its Writers’ Residency Program

(Phillip Pessar)

What a difference a few weeks and a bunch of writers who want a free roundtrip train ride can make: After Amtrak’s initial writers’ residency stirred up interest at the end of February, Amtrak has officially unveiled its program and is now accepting applications.

Back then, Amtrak had said it wasn’t sure when, if ever, it’d put out a cattle call for applications, and would instead consider writers’ requests on a case-by-case basis.

But seeing as everyone and their mother likes riding and writing on trains (mmm, homophones), Amtrak has changed its tune: It’s accepting applications on its site as of Saturday and will choose up to 24 participants on a rolling basis through March 31, 2015 (of course, anytime the Consumerist staff is R&W (ridin’ and writin’) on any train, we’re paying full fare because that’s how we roll).

Oh, and it’s not just Amtrak’s Residency Program. It’s #AmtrakResidency because all the cool kids use hashtags these days, and Amtrak will definitely want any writers it chooses to use social media during the free two- to five-day trips.

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist