The life of the writer is sustained in moments of quite solitude–a romance with words that feeds the imagination. But this is no easy romance–like most, it requires much of the writer in patience, diligence, practice and an openness to outside criticism.

All participants at the Ossabaw Island Writers’ Retreat will have the opportunity to have their manuscript critiqued by their assigned faculty members. We ask participants to submit their Ossabaw Writers’ manuscript no later than three weeks prior to the Retreat. Poets should submit six poems (no more than 12 pages), and fiction/nonfiction writers one story or chapter (16-20 pages) to: write@ossabawwritersretreat.org. Manuscripts should be accompanied by a one-page summary of your expectation/desire for the direction you’d like to see the work turn, and any particular areas where you think the manuscript may need work.

If you stay open to new visions and receptive to suggestions, we promise that you’ll find the manuscript feedback some of the most thoughtful, considerate and helpful that you have ever received.