I haven’t gotten up before 5:00 AM since I worked opening shift at a cafe.
Today, I urged my aging body out of bed at 4:30 AM to board a train full of strangers.
We commiserated over coffee, talked about books, got really deep into pagan mysticism, and wrote a ton of words.
It was my first ever Great Train Write-in and I had a blast.
Fun story: depression made me forget how social I am!
I know! Ridiculous!
Now that I am (LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY) in a better place, I’ve been SOCIALIZING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
Today’s write-in gave me a chance to wear eye-catching clothes and make overly familiar jokes with people.
I talked to at LEAST four dozen people today. MAYBE MORE?
What. Is. HAPPENING.
My novel is noveling along.
I’ve written four POVs so far and I’m now writing the character who has become my stealth favorite over the course of this draft.
He is a joy to write.
I HAVE CONSIDERED MAKING THE ENTIRE BOOK ABOUT HIM. (I won’t.)
(I might.)
(I won’t.)
(I might.)
I tried to win the Most Words Written contest held on board, but someone wrote 5000 words in 3 hours, so I gave up.
As is custom for writers in Portland, we traveled to Powell’s, where I purchased exactly none of the books I’ve been promising to buy on this blog.
I DID buy:
- Witches Sluts Feminists by Kristin Sollee (I am already halfway through)
- In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (I finished it on the ride home and loved it)
- Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer (it had Natalie Portman on the cover and was on sale!)
- The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker (now in paperback)
- Monster, She Wrote by Lisa Kroger and Melanie R Anderson (I came through on this one)
- Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale (I FINALLY FOUND A COPY)
- Many Loves by Sophie Lucido Johnson (on sale, illustrated, and recced by Katie Heaney)
- a secret Christmas book for a family member (found at the very last second)
Oh, and I left my reusable red cup in a shopping basket while consulting my TBR master list.
I’M SORRY, POWELL’S EMPLOYEES.
All in all, very good day.
However, I am very tired.
I need tea and sweatpants.
Happy Train Day, friends.
Bonus story:
The conductor on our way to Portland got weirdly sentimental and I still can’t figure out why.
We appreciate…all our passengers. And our comedy group. The big comedy group that’s here. We appreciate…each and every one of you…so much.
I’m flattered that he thought we were a comedy group.
IF ONLY.
Narrative Paradise 