Salt Lines Poetry Retreat

Georgetown Island, Maine

October 6-8, 2026*

 

Born of her belief that gathering with other poets isn't only enjoyable—it's essential—Holly Wren Spaulding hosts this early Autumn retreat at  the charming historic Grey Havens Inn on the wild coast of midcoast Maine. Together, we'll remember why we write and why we need each other. We'll rediscover how it feels to slow way down to the pace of a poem, write what feels true, and speak with the courage of our convictions. We'll enjoy generous meals around a beautifully laid table, prepared by the award winning chef of Blu Restaurant. We'll walk the shoreline and some will go swimming. We'll affirm the importance of what we do when we are together, making lives and work that reflect our full humanness.

*Some participants will arrive a day early, on October 5th, for unstructured time, extra rest, and the option to socialize before the retreat officially begins on the 6th. Let Holly know if you want to do this, too.

Creativity as necessity. Community as tonic. Poetry as the essence of our humanness.

 

  • We'll write, inspired by the liminal space where salt water meets the edge of the continent
  • We'll share our work in progress in a circle of Poetry Forge friends, and receive supportive feedback
  • We'll engage in life-sustaining conversations about the realities that surround our commitments to a creative life
  • We'll find inspiration in the coastal landscape, fresh air, dark night skies, and plant poetics
  • We'll listen and laugh together
  • We'll curate our best lines—and look forward to seeing them transformed into a set of limited edition letterpress poetry cards by a skilled artisan

 

Proposed Schedule

The vision for this gathering is spacious, generous, and calm. We we be under one roof, overlooking the ocean. We will savor and go slow. We will enjoy doing what we love to do. Time will bend and the days will be ours.

 

Monday, October 5

Optional early arrival at the inn or in the area. Take it slow, explore local trails, and work independently before the retreat begins on Tuesday. The restaurant at the inn is not open on this day, but charming local eateries exist nearby. Why not add a day to your trip and use it to see a bit more of Maine, and relax at the inn? 

 

Tuesday, October 6

Check-in at the inn is 3 pm. Join Holly for a hands-on flower arranging activity so that you can have Maine grown organic blooms on your nightstand, and connect with friends on the porch or in the library. Share a welcome meal in the restaurant once everyone is present, followed by a writing session in the salon before we retire to our rooms.

 

Wednesday, October 7

Coffee and tea and quiet writing happen on the porch or in your room. Our workshop begins after a generous continental breakfast and time to stretch outdoors. We'll use this time at the long table to focus on bringing form and clarity to a group of poems that you've been wanting to gather into a collection or project of some kind. After lunch, some may prefer to write in their room, while others will want to gather in small groups for conversation or critique. Those who want to walk the shoreline may carpool to a local park do so. Happy hour is followed by a celebratory meal in the dining room. Then, as night falls, gather around for a reading from work in progress. Porch conversations, star gazing, board games, and tarot readings are encouraged after that. Or maybe you know how to play the piano—there's one in the salon and we'd love to hear you. If the most delicious thing in the world is a hot bath and reading alone in bed, Holly will provide bath salts. This is the day when we remember the pleasures of summer camp, or the fortifying pleasures of an artist residency. 

 

Thursday, October 8

Join Holly for early morning writing on the porch, a curatorial exercise, and a hearty breakfast.  Check-out is 11 am.

 

This outline is meant to give you a sense of the flow of the days, including opportunities for you to do your own thing, while also preserving some of the magic and mystery of this special gathering. Changes are bound to be made as we get closer to our retreat dates.

 

Additional practical details about this retreat may be found here.

This retreat is for you if

  • You’re longing for dedicated, uninterrupted time to attend to your creative process—and to be with your poems in a deeper, more devoted way.
  • You want to gather with other poets in a space that is generous, thoughtful, and genuinely supportive.
  • You’re ready for close, meaningful feedback on your work, along with guidance that helps you see what your poems are asking for next.
  • You feel the pull to step away from screens and into a slower rhythm—one shaped by light, tides, conversation, and quiet.
  • You’re craving a creative experience that feels both nourishing and memorable—something that will stay with you long after you return home.

 

Join Us

We are a warm circle of devoted writers interested in tending our creative practice among like-minded folk. Together, we are placing poetry at the heart of a well-lived existence. 

Register for the Retreat

"It served ME well! Please DO consider doing this again. It was really a wonderful gathering, and I loved the built-in spaciousness as well as the together time."

—Lori L., Poetry Forge Mini-Residency 2024

 

“It is a gift to be with people in community, while at the same time, being alone. . . . I felt very held and grounded and connected to something bigger than all of us.”

—Ashley M., Blue Shore Writers Retreat, 2024

 

"It’s hard to express how much I loved being at this residency. Thank you for being the person to dream it up and put it on."

—Charlotte W., Poetry Forge Mini-Residency, 2024

 

 

Salt Lines Poetry Retreat--Fall 2026

A poetry retreat with Holly Wren Spaulding in midcoast Maine.

5 monthly payments of $335.00 USD

Your Retreat Includes

 

All retreat programming and materials, your room and meals at the inn (October 6-8), happy hour wine, special tokens, and a limited edition set of letterpress cards containing your words, handcrafted by an artisan. Sunrise and sunset beside the ocean. Incredible views. Birdsong. Wavesong. Soothing tides. Friendship and community. Instruction, feedback, and stewardship.