Maranacook Lake Writing Retreat
May 9–16 · Readfield, Maine
A week of sustained writing, shared presence, and unhurried time
This retreat is built around a simple premise: writing needs time, quiet, and a place that allows attention to settle.
Set on the peaceful shores of Maranacook Lake in Maine, this small retreat offers writers a week-long rhythm of morning writing, thoughtful conversation, optional afternoon activities, and evening readings. The lake, the light, and the unhurried pace are not incidental. They are part of the work.
This is not a workshop-heavy program and not a vacation with writing tacked on. It’s a chance to live inside your work for a while, in the company of other writers who take the practice seriously.
The retreat is intentionally limited to 12 participants, creating space for solitude, unforced conversation, and sustained focus throughout the week.
The Setting
Place is not a backdrop here, but an active part of the work. The retreat is shaped as much by land, water, and light as by schedule or structure, creating the conditions for attention to settle and for time to open.
The retreat takes place across the combined grounds of LoonsNest and MoonBud, two neighboring lakefront properties restored with care to support quiet focus, shared presence, and sustained creative work.
The land opens gradually toward the water, with long sightlines, tall trees, and shifting light that changes the character of the day. Once you arrive, the outside world recedes quickly, making it easier to settle into long, uninterrupted stretches of work.
Architecture for Creative Work
The architecture of the retreat is a meaningful part of the experience. Together, the two buildings create a natural balance between gathering and withdrawal, allowing each writer to find the conditions that best support their work over the course of the day.
LoonsNest photo courtesy of the host via Airbnb
LoonsNest is a carefully restored and modernized post-and-beam A-frame—warm, grounded, and quietly expansive. Exposed beams, natural materials, and generous shared spaces support both deep focus and easy conversation. Writers can work in solitude for hours, then move naturally into meals or evening readings without breaking their rhythm.
MoonBud photo courtesy of the host via Airbnb
MoonBud, set slightly apart, is a smaller A-frame—carefully modernized while still holding the atmosphere of an authentic Maine camp, a place that feels both quietly updated and intentionally frozen in time. Intimate and deeply quiet, it offers a more contained, inward working environment when deeper stillness or separation is needed during the day.
The Rhythm of the Week
Days follow a gentle, repeatable rhythm:
quiet mornings devoted to writing
shared meals and thoughtful conversation
optional afternoon activities or continued work time
informal evening readings
Evenings tend to gather naturally, often around the fireplace or outdoors as the light fades, before the day comes to a close.
There are no output quotas, no constant instruction, and no pressure to produce. Writers are trusted to know what they need and given the space to do it.
This retreat is likely right for you if…
you value uninterrupted writing time more than instruction
you enjoy thoughtful conversation about writing over shared meals
you work well independently but appreciate the quiet presence of other writers
you’re interested in immersion rather than output quotas
you’re drawn to place, rhythm, and atmosphere as part of your writing life
you’re comfortable in a small group where everyone participates
you see writing as a practice, not just a project
This retreat is especially well-suited to writers who want to reinhabit their work rather than fix it in a week.
This retreat is probably not for you if…
you’re primarily seeking critique, workshops, or line-by-line feedback
you need a tightly scheduled program with constant guidance
you expect measurable productivity outcomes or guarantees
you’re uncomfortable with quiet or unstructured writing time
you want a social retreat focused on networking or entertainment
shared accommodations are a non-starter for you
you prefer large groups or high-energy environments
This retreat assumes a certain level of self-direction. Writers who thrive here tend to know what they need—and are ready to give themselves the space to do it.
Program fee
$550 per person (lodging and meals are booked separately)
Hosted by
Jeannette de Beauvoir
Published novelist (historical & mystery fiction) and poet whose work is deeply rooted in place, language, and sustained creative practice.
Writers of all genres are welcome.
Travel & Arrival
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Readfield, Maine is easily accessible while still feeling removed from the daily pace.
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The retreat is approximately 3 hours north of Boston, making it a straightforward drive for writers coming from New England and the Northeast.
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Writers flying into Maine typically arrive at one of the following airports:
Portland International Jetport (PWM) — approximately 1 hour 15 minutes by car
Bangor International Airport (BGR) — approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by car
Both airports offer reliable service and easy access to rental cars. Driving directions to the retreat properties are simple and well marked.
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Rental cars are readily available at both airports and are recommended, as local transportation options are limited. Having a car also allows for easy arrival, departure, and optional excursions during free time.
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Once you arrive in Readfield, distances are short and traffic is minimal. Most writers find that the drive itself becomes a natural transition into the slower rhythm of the retreat.