The setting for this year’s Writing Retreat
[dropcap letter=”I”] will never forget the first time I set foot on Gay Island, scoping out the lodge for the Down East Writing Retreat. My coworker and I stopped at Wallace’s Market in Friendship for a sandwich, then hopped on the boat in Friendship Harbor with Tim Barker, from Maine Sport. After a five-minute ride, we stepped out on the rocky beach and walked up to the lodge. As we neared the deck, I spotted what looked like a unicorn in the woods — turns out it was a friendly, free-range donkey. Nonetheless, its presence articulated the aura of magic that surrounds this lodge. After, we walked around the beautiful rustic rooms and then up into the field. A rutty, narrow dirt road was the only evidence of other inhabitants. This pristine and magical location is the perfect place to put the world away for a few days and focus on writing with a great group of people. — Kathleen Fleury, editor in chief
Join us for this year’s Writing Retreat, September 6–9. Learn about writing more engagingly, making your work stand out, and getting published. Ample activities for non-writers include kayaking, lobster bakes, and more.