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 (shared use with the renter next door), WiFi, and off-street parking. A bicycle is available for your use. Food is not included but there are grocery and specialty stores nearby. If you aren't driving here, we do recommend that you plan to rent a car to explore the area, pick up groceries, etc.

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 below (application will be available on September 1). 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 and sign up below to be notified when applications are open.

DETAILS & FAQs:

  • Applications for 2027 will open September 1, 2026, apply by November 30, 2026 for priority consideration.

  • Notifications of acceptance will go out on a rolling basis.

  • Full payment, along with a signed rental agreement, is due within 7 days of acceptance in order to secure your month at the Millay House.

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

  • The Retreat fees are:
    $1,800 per month for Apr & June
    $1,600 per month for Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov & Dec.

  • 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.

Cancellations & Refund Policy:  

  • Cancellations received at least 90 days before the residency start date will receive a full refund less a $250 administrative fee. 

  • No refunds are available for cancellations made within 90 days of the residency. 

Questions? Feel free to email us for more information.

“Could it be better? August in the Millay House, in Maine, in the rooms where Vincent began her life. I came to the Millay House looking for time to write, and, during my residency, I got that gift of time, plus so much more. The house has many windows, and the yellow summer light poured in. Daily, there was the question: Which of these magic rooms should I write in today? There is a lovely community around the Millay House, kind staff to help with anything you might need. All along the coast and from the crown of Mount Battie, the embrace of blue water.”

—Anna Monardo