Friday Whatnot: September 26, 2014
Amtrak announced it’s inaugural class of the Amtrak Residency program.
“Over the next year, they will work on writing projects of their choice in the unique workspace of a long-distance train. The 24 residents offer a diverse representation of the writing community and hail from across the country.”
The 24 writers were selected from more than 16,000 applications.
Algonquin authors are often featured on the publisher’s blog where they talk about writing.
In their latest post, “A Sense of Place: Writers at Work,” Lin Enger says that he wrote most of The High Divide standing in a four-by-five closet.
“Because the isolation of standing in a small, windowless room helped me disappear into the northern plains of 1886,” he says.
I’m sure you’ve noticed by now my love for old typewriters. Well, I know a few of you have noticed, because when Cory Doctorow wrote about this Qwerkywriter on BoingBoing earlier this week, I received a few shares. (Thank you.)
“The Qwerkywriter is an 84 key, USB, Bluetooth enabled, typewriter-inspired mechanical keyboard that simulates a tactile clicky feel of a vintage typewriter. It features custom typewriter-inspired keycaps, an integrated tablet stand, and a detachable USB cable via mini-USB port. Dimensions: 12.5″ x 7.5″ x 3.5″ approx. Weight 3 lbs.”