The Maine Coast Writer’s Retreat

I should be happy, —that was happy
All day long on the coast of Maine!

—from “Exiled” by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Consider this your invitation for an extended stay on the coast of Maine where you’ll surely find inspiration—and much more.

Perhaps you’re in the homestretch of finishing your book, or beginning research on something new, or maybe you just need time to renew your relationship to your writing. Whatever the situation, treat yourself to a month at Millay House Rockland. Collaborating on a project? The space can accommodate up to two people. 

Millay House Rockland, a literary non-profit, offers month-long retreats to writers of any genre in the home where Pulitzer-prize poet Edna St. Vincent Millay was born in Rockland, Maine. Located on iconic Penobscot Bay, two hours north of Portland, The Maine Coast Writer’s Retreat is self-funded, priced affordably to give you the time and space to live, write, reflect, and regroup for an entire month in a picturesque seaside town.

The Maine Coast Writer’s Retreat is a self-directed, self-catered experience. Accommodation includes one-half of a “double house” located at 198 Broadway in Rockland, Maine, a city that combines an historically significant working waterfront with a flourishing art scene. The duplex, built in 1891, provides a living/dining room, fully equipped kitchen, two bedrooms, a study, one and a half baths, a washer and dryer, WiFi, and off-street parking. Food is not included but there are grocery and specialty stores nearby. 

An easy walk to downtown Rockland will bring you to a vibrant array of art galleries and museums, restaurants and coffee shops, a public library and bookstores, the Harbor Trail, a boatbuilding school, windjammer cruises, and daily ferry service to the islands, as well as the weekly farmers market.

To apply, fill out the application (button below). Acceptance is made at the discretion of the Millay House Rockland Retreat committee.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out for more information at vincentmillayrockland@gmail.com 

DETAILS & FAQs:

  • The Maine Coast Writer’s Retreat is open to applications from July-September 2025.

  • Applications for 2026 are currently open, apply by November 30, 2025 for priority consideration.

  • If your application is accepted, a deposit of 50% will be required.

  • Refunds will be made only if the house can be rented to another applicant for the month reserved. 

  • Retreat rentals are for one month; at this time we cannot arrange for shorter stays.

  • The Retreat fee is $1,450 per month—which includes a refundable $150 security deposit.

  • The Retreat is not juried, but applications are vetted and selection is determined by both availability and quality of the proposed writing project and sample.

  • Acceptance is made by the Millay House Rockland Retreat committee.

  • The house is not wheelchair accessible, nor can it accommodate children or pets.

  • Questions? Feel free to email us for more information.