Brooklynite Writes First Novel While Riding F Train

While you were busy checking out possible candidates for a Missed Connection post and listening to your podcasts, 36-year-old Brooklyn writer Peter Brett wrote a novel while commuting on the F train. Feeling like an underachiever yet? He wrote the novel, his first, entirely on his smartphone. Now the "dark, demonic fantasy," titled The Warded Man, is sitting pretty in bookstores. The Daily News reports that Brett worked in medical publishing, and for the two years it took him to finish the 400-page novel, the F was his muse on his daily commute to and from the Fort Hamilton Parkway stop and Times Square. He told the paper, "I trained myself that at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day when I got on the train, that was my writing time. I had about 45 minutes each way, and everyone who takes the F knows that 45 minutes can turn into an hour and a half." Now a full-time writer, he combats writer's block by taking rides on the train.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on April 22, 2009 12:21 PM

Comments [rss]

dev

This is newsworthy?

I've written several plays on the F train--cumulatively more than 400 pages. Where's my Gothamist shout out?

jaycjay

Which bestseller lists are yours on?

mzungu

nothing new here.

the japanese have been writing novels on their phones for a long while now. several of those novels have been reprinted in book form. as the new york times reported in January :

"Of last year’s 10 best-selling novels, five were originally cellphone novels, mostly love stories written in the short sentences characteristic of text messaging but containing little of the plotting or character development found in traditional novels. What is more, the top three spots were occupied by first-time cellphone novelists, touching off debates in the news media and blogosphere."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/world/asia/20japan.html?_r=1&ex=1358485200&en=0b46d32f7c7d037c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

jaycjay

A completely different thing.

nice job

I do most of my reading on the train. I could probably write a decent sized book in that time too.

schizofriendly

When I'm not H; when I'm not at W: — I' m on the F.

Wza

F train is wack.

jaycjay

"He wrote the novel, his first, entirely on his smartphone."

That's not what the article says.

janelle

i really need to stop playing iPhone solitaire and apply myself...

mocanlagunas

Lucky you... i have to content myself with a cheap Sony/Ericsson goPhone blackjack...

Billiamsburg

those are the busiest times on the F. How the hell did he write? People are packed like sardines at 8 and 5

JRod5417

If he got on at Fort Hamilton Parkway, he probably was able to get a seat most of the time. Getting a seat at 42nd during rush hour is a different story though unless you beat the rush. I've read several books during my F train commutes, so this story is not too surprising. Good for him!

BrooklynBredTom

I think it's appropriate to ask how his eyes have diminished as a result. He was probably that guy who constantly got in your way on your way out. I'd rather make human contact, not necessarily "Missed Connections."

CubanB

I'll stick to falling in love on the F train for 30 minutes each morning and night. Staring at a smartphone is not my idea of fun.

Trilby16

That is so true about the F!

S_R

That's funny, because I've been busy writing a fucking encyclopedia waiting for the damn G train to show up.

lanciano

Good for him.

But 432 pages ?!?

I think the editor probably could have sharpened his/her pencil a few more times.

lanciano

Good for him.

But 432 pages ?!?

I think the editor probably could have sharpened his/her pencil a few more times.

TimSPC

Good for him. I don't go for that whole demons and magic routine, but it's not like I've ever accomplished anything.

spiritross

Regardless of what the jealous haters say - good on ya.

Henry Miller did say you could write a novel on the IRT from Bronx to Brooklyn - so way to go - at least this guy keeps the dream alive - not like the above that acts their shoe size not their age.