Welcome to the club, Buster! Who is your writing coach? Mine is Jen and she is great.

Writing on BART/MUNI is actually one of my favorite things to do. There’s something cathartic about transport that helps me escape from reality and inspires me to write. And a train car is like a mini world. When you’re at a loss for what to write, just look up and find inspiration in the scene around you. Imagine the life of the person sitting next to you, reading the latest self-help book. I remember one train ride from Berkeley, finding inspiration from an out-of-towner, juggling suitcases while reading the book “A Priest in the Family.” Or you can study people as they interact with their gadgets, that’s amusing. Or just feel the bizarre isolation of being so alone in a squished sea of people. Something will spark a thought or reflection.

If you can find a seat/standing spot in the back corner, it’s quieter, you have full view of the car, and you’re in fewer people’s ways which means less interruptions. It’s also fun to mix it up and play games sometimes: give yourself targets to finish in that 30+ minute train ride. For example, hit X words or write a fully formed piece about Y.