I have been riding a lot of trains lately, for job interviews. Chicago is linked by many, many train lines – not just the rainbow of the El but also the less-colorful veins of the Metra. And I find whenever I am on an above-ground train, I write. Below-ground trains make me want to go find the Minotaur, or fall asleep, but if I can see the sky, I can think of things to say. I sit as high up as I can, always in the second story of the Metra, and write and watch.

I like writing on trains so much that I almost, but not quite, accepted a job last week with an enormous multi-train commute package. It was a little excessive. But I do think I would get more writing done.