Writers' Residencies

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Tumbleweed said:
Hmmmm...how would one legally go about retracting an application? :unsure:
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You can't. As written once you hit "submit" you've given Amtrak the rights. Virtually every other publication would allow you to call/email and have your piece removed from consideration. The terms as written remove that right.
 
ALC Rail Writer said:
Tumbleweed said:
Hmmmm...how would one legally go about retracting an application? :unsure:
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You can't. As written once you hit "submit" you've given Amtrak the rights. Virtually every other publication would allow you to call/email and have your piece removed from consideration. The terms as written remove that right.
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What if you have already received a registered copyright?
 
Tumbleweed said:
ALC Rail Writer said:
Tumbleweed said:
Hmmmm...how would one legally go about retracting an application? :unsure:
Click to expand...
You can't. As written once you hit "submit" you've given Amtrak the rights. Virtually every other publication would allow you to call/email and have your piece removed from consideration. The terms as written remove that right.
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What if you have already received a registered copyright?
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I'm not entirely sure. You may have just given up the copyrights. That's another problem with the way these terms are written about how previously published works may be submitted. Amtrak shouldn't get the right to use any of that, but that might not stop them from using it.

If I were a person who had already submitted I would be contacting Amtrak and trying to get your piece returned and/or have the terms changed.

I'd also be concerned about section 7, which stipulates that if a dispute arises about previously published/copyrighted work then you've released Amtrak (and third parties) from liability. That means that you are the sole responsible party if Amtrak (or Facebook, Twitter, et al) use your submission in a way that violates existing agreements you have with other publishers.

7. Release of Liability: BY SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION, YOU AGREE TO RELEASE SPONSOR, ITS PARENT, SUBSIDIARY OR AFFILIATED COMPANIES, AND ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL AGENCIES, CONTRACTORS AND EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES as well as Facebook, Inc., Instagram, LLC, Twitter, Inc. (COLLECTIVELY, THE “RELEASEES” OR “RELEASED PARTIES”), FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AND LIABILITIES ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO YOUR SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION AND/OR ACCEPTANCE, RECEIPT, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF AN AWARD (IF APPLICATION IS ACCEPTED).
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ALC Rail Writer said:
You think it's rare and it is but no less a realistic concern. I've seen corporations come down on writers who wrote for them in previous years, suing to stop publication of short works in online and/or free publications.
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Can you give some examples of authors submitting work as part of an application for a free ride on a train (or plane or bus or boat) costing the corporation hosting the award a few hundred dollars each (at most) and then being sued years later based on similarities to that application?

ALC Rail Writer said:
Of course every reasonable measure of caution needs a devil's advocate to throw it to the wind. On the Titanic his name was Bruce Ismay. I'm sure he didn't put much thought about the "statistical delusion" of his pride and joy sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic.
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Please tell me we're not actually comparing the potential legal complications of a personally submitted literary application with a violent catastrophe that claimed the lives of well over a thousand people in an extremely unpleasant manner. What have you ever suffered (or witnessed) as a writer that would come close to explaining such a bizarre comparison?
 
Devil's Advocate said:
ALC Rail Writer said:
You think it's rare and it is but no less a realistic concern. I've seen corporations come down on writers who wrote for them in previous years, suing to stop publication of short works in online and/or free publications.
Click to expand...
Can you give some examples of authors submitting work as part of an application for a free ride on a train (or plane or bus or boat) costing the corporation hosting the award a few hundred dollars each (at most) and then being sued years later based on similarities to that application?

ALC Rail Writer said:
Of course every reasonable measure of caution needs a devil's advocate to throw it to the wind. On the Titanic his name was Bruce Ismay. I'm sure he didn't put much thought about the "statistical delusion" of his pride and joy sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic.
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Please tell me we're not actually comparing the potential legal complications of a personally submitted literary application with a violent catastrophe that claimed the lives of well over a thousand people in an extremely unpleasant manner. What have you ever suffered (or witnessed) as a writer that would come close to explaining such a bizarre comparison?
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Firstly, if you actually read the terms you'd notice that by submitting the application you're giving Amtrak absolute rights to the content of the application. Let me emphasize that: Once you click 'submit' Amtrak owns the application's content. That means that the sample work cannot be published by any other source, in any other format, in any other location, in any other medium, at any future date. That means it cannot be edited, proofread, reworked, or put into another piece for publication. That means any scenes, characters or events which resemble what's in the submitted content are also off-limits for publication.

As for examples you can pick up any number of writer's manuals and read the sections on copyright and publishing laws. These will typically contain the story of an author or two who had such an experience where their imminent publication was blocked by a company which claimed rights to content the author had previously submitted to them. The specific incidents I know are of people I know personally. When this thing happens lawyers are brought in and intimidate writers. Gag orders are issued. The idea of suppressing publication of a piece is that word never gets out that it existed in the first place. That may be why you may not hear much about this rare but real phenomenon.

As for the Titanic, I was just comparing your flippant dismissal of legitimate threats as things which are initially perceived to be "statistical delusions". I.E. the builders of the Titanic considered her sinking on her maiden voyage to be a "statistical delusion" and yet it happened. It's only logical that people take precautions, whether it be lifeboats or protecting your work from bad submissions terms.
 
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From Kickstarter.

Trainwreck: A Red76 Residency & Book

We love trains. Writing too. Trainwreck is a mobile residency for writers by writers, no strings attached.
Not too long ago word got out that Amtrak was developing a writers residency. We, like many many others, found this idea very exciting. We love trains, and writing, and books. Here’s the thing though - always read the fine print! Just as quickly as word was getting around about this new residency so were the terms that were attached to the project (thank god some people actually read that stuff because we sure didn’t). The terms were a little restrictive in the end.
Admittedly, it occurred to us that we could just buy our own tickets and hop on board ready to get some writing done. But people like being part of a group - ourselves included - and having someone else plan the whole thing makes things a lot easier. So with this in mind we thought, “Well, let’s just start our own residency?” And so we did!
Welcome to Trainwreck: A Red76 Residency & Book.
We want to send eight writers on a train trip and then make a printed publication of what they write while on the rails.
Once funded we’ll set up an open call for anyone in the world to apply to travel roundtrip between St. Paul, MN and Chicago, IL. (Our pockets are light, so no matter where you live, you have to depart from and return to Minnesota.) We will purchase and book the train tickets, book one hotel night in Chicago and create a schedule for writers to submit their work for our printed publication.
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WRITERS SELECTED FOR AMTRAK RESIDENCY PROGRAM

From the tens of thousands of responses on Twitter showing interest in the program, to the more than 16,000 applications we received. We couldn't be more excited to announce the 24 writers who will participate in this year's Amtrak Residency program. The applications received for the program were outstanding and made the job of selecting just 24 writers a challenge for our judges. The writers selected for the program offer a diverse representation of the writing community and hail from across the country.
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20141003__20141004_A5_CDXXAMTRAKWRITER(2)~p1.jpg
"She is among 24 literary types picked out of more than 16,000 applicants to be in the first group of writers for Amtrak's Residency Program. The writers will work on projects of their choice while riding one of Amtrak's long-distance trains."

Link to Denver Post story:

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_26660412/boulder-writer-gets-ready-ride-rails

I am curious to see how this program plays out.
 
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Assuming the terms are acceptable, there is a chance to apply for the latest residency.  I guess Mr. Anderson likes this program.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/bus-train/amtrak-social-media-residency

Amtrak is looking for creatives to join its social media residency program, giving the lucky winners the chance to embark on round-trip travel across Amtrak’s long-distance routes for free through its #AmtrakTakeMeThere program. 

Applications are being accepted now through midnight EST on Jan. 31, after which a panel of judges will pick out the travelers with the best writing, photography, video, and social media engagement skills. 
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While Amtrak representatives are looking for folks who use social media to connect with followers, they say “glitzy influencers with millions of followers” are not necessarily what they’re in search of. According to the application page, they're looking for "real people" to tell their stories.

“Some of the best travel stories occur on our long-distance trains, and we are looking for travelers to share their real experiences,” Amtrak CEO Tim Griffin said in a statement. The program is meant to provide a view of the train travel experience through relatable riders as opposed to professional travel bloggers and influencers.

That being said, applicants will still be asked to provide their social media accounts and answer questions like why train travel would best serve their needs and why Amtrak would be the best fit for them.
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When I was debating booking the Lake Shore Limited and Sliver Meteor for business trips, one of these residency writers was part of what led me to go ahead and book.  (A small part, mind you, but a part nonetheless.)  It was clear that their discussion of their trip was influenced by the fact that they were getting it for free with the hope that they would say nice things.  But their writing was pretty good.  I just took what they said with a grain of salt and sought confirmation elsewhere.
 
MODERATOR NOTE:  This new thread was merged with the existing thread on the same topic.

Just came across this story about a "competition" Amtrak is running... "Amtrak Is Giving Out Free Trips On Its Most Scenic Routes."

https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/amtrak-free-trips-scenic-routes-social-media-contest

Seems like a natural for this site; you just have to be an ordinary citizen (not an "influencer" with millions of followers) who can convince Amtrak you love the passenger train experience. You do need social media skills, however. Leaves me out!  :eek:hboy:

Good luck folks...
 
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Not only do you need social media skills but it looks like a big part of winning a free trip will be having a huge number of followers:

To throw your hat in the ring, you just how to fill out an online form by January 31 explaining a bit about yourself (with links to your various social media accounts), your social media instincts, and why you're a sucker for traveling by train. . . . .Of course, applicants who can prove they have next-level social media chops (and, most likely, a good chunk of followers) will probably have the best shot at winning, . . .
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Looks like the winners will be Millenials with thumbs worn down to the bone from tapping on their PDA's every waking hour.
 
There really won't be a future for Amtrak if Millennials don't get aboard., so this is probably a good idea.

Plus--promoting scenic routes at least suggest somebody there still see value in the National Network
 
I've been trying to submit my application online for this for the past hour. I'm filling everything in, hitting the Captcha, etc., and then the SUBMIT button just never finishes submitting the application. Anyone else trying this and having trouble today?

I then went to Amtrak's Contact Us page to submit a short email about this... and THAT SUBMIT button also doesn't seem to work. Very frustrating!
 
Austruck said:
I've been trying to submit my application online for this for the past hour. I'm filling everything in, hitting the Captcha, etc., and then the SUBMIT button just never finishes submitting the application. Anyone else trying this and having trouble today?

I then went to Amtrak's Contact Us page to submit a short email about this... and THAT SUBMIT button also doesn't seem to work. Very frustrating!
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I have had that issue on Amtrak.com (too) many times. In most cases it's me trying to let them know that the Lake Shore Limited's route page incorrectly omits Rhinecliff from the list of stations at the bottom of the page. I'm tempted to call and let them know, but I have no idea what a phone agent could do about it. :wacko:
 
Maybe you could write a short story about relaxing in a comfy chair with a cup of hot coco as you try in vain to register for chance to ride and write about Amtrak.
 
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