VIEQUES, PUERTO RICO

Where History, Beauty, the Environment, and Social Justice Create a Tapestry Worth Writing About

April 20-27, 2027

A Gathering of Writers

Clear turquoise water gently lapping a white sandy beach, with green trees and a blue sky with clouds in the background.

Imagine waking to the sounds of bird song and surf. Imagine turquoise seas and white sand beaches. Imagine a bioluminescent bay and wild horses. Then, imagine yourself writing amid all of this splendor along with a small group of like-minded writers who support and celebrate each other. That is the Vieques Gathering of Writers.

For Novelists, Short Story Writers, Memoiriest, and Essayists

Where We Stay

The Vieques Guesthouse, a charming 11 room property nestled in the heart of Esperanza on Vieques' south side. With stunning views of the Caribbean Sea and just a short stroll to Coconut Beach, the guesthouse offers the perfect blend of relaxation, inspiration, and Caribbean splendor. 

For seven days, work with legendary writer and editor Connie May Fowler, InkBlossom’s founding director, as you dive deeper into your narratives, discovering solutions and inspirations, guided by Connie and nurtured by your fellow writers.

Sandy beach shoreline with large rocks, gentle waves, and distant green hills under a partly cloudy sky.

A Typical Day

Wake to the sound of bird and surf song. After a made-to-order breakfast at Vieques Guesthouse, take a stroll along Coconut Beach, gather your thoughts for a day spent writing. After an inspired session between you and the no longer blank page, join the other writers in the late afternoon to share and discuss your work. Explore craft topics as the sun sets over the Caribbean. Enjoy a delicious seaside dinner, return to the guesthouse, and fall asleep amid moonlight and sea breeze. Dream.

Take time away from the page to recharge your creativity. Among the excursion options are a historical tour of the island and a nighttime guided kayak trip through Mosquito Bay, the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world.

Bioluminescent blue and black ocean waves at night.

How to Apply

If you are currently in one of Connie’s monthly writing workshops, if you are admitted into the 2027 workshops, or if you attended the 2026 Vermont or Santa Fe gatherings, you do not need to apply. Simply notify us at inkblossomwriters@gmail.com and pay your deposit. You are not enrolled until the deposit is paid.

All other writers must send a five-page writing sample to inkblossomwriters@gmail.com. There is no application fee.

Submitted writing samples must be sent as a Microsoft Word email attachment, rendered in 12-point Times New Roman font, default one-inch margins, double-spaced, and paginated. Samples not submitted in the proper format will not be read.

Application deadline: To ensure lodging and enrollment space, we recommend you apply immediately, no later than October 20, 2026. Participation is limited to six writers, and the gathering is filling quickly. Do not delay submitting your application.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition – includes 7-day retreat, readings, craft and publishing discussions, workshops, prompt sessions, opening night reception, and more - $1800

Non refundable deposit of $400 is due upon acceptance. Your participation is not assured until the deposit is paid.

Deadline for paying $1400 balance: February 1, 2027

Participants may bring one guest for a $100 fee to be paid with the tuition balance. Guests are not allowed to attend workshop or discussion sessions.

Transportation, meals, and excursions are not included in the tuition fee. Breakfast is included at the Vieques Guesthouse for participants but not their guests. There is a small breakfast fee to be paid to the guesthouse for non-participating guests.

Cancellation Policy

We understand emergencies happen and empathize with those facing challenges. We are a small, boutique writers’ conference because we feel learning and inspiration take place more readily in intimate, nurturing settings, not hotel ballrooms full of strangers. That means cancellations place a particular burden on us. We are only able to refund tuition fees, excluding the deposit, if we’re able to fill your spot with another writer.

We highly recommend buying travel insurance.

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are available. If you require financial assistance please email a one-page letter of intent detailing how you plan to use the retreat to further your specific writing project.

Private Manuscript Reviews

A limited number of private, one-hour manuscript reviews conducted by Connie are available.

50 pages: $200

51-100 pages $400

If reviews beyond 100 pages are requests, those will be accepted on a case-by-case basis, fee to be determined.

Manuscript fees and manuscripts due February 1, 2027. Manuscript must be formatted following the guidelines in the How to Apply section.

Tropical beach with palm trees, sandy shoreline, calm ocean water, and a distant green hill under a partly cloudy sky.
A colorful hammock on a balcony with a sunset view over green trees in the background. There is a small table with a plate and a plant in a pot, and a 'No Smoking' sign on the wall.
A seaside view at sunset showing calm ocean water, rocky shoreline with some greenery, and a colorful sky with pink and orange clouds.

Upon acceptance, lodging and fee payment details will be sent to you. We have negotiated a very reasonable block rate with the Vieques Guesthouse, that includes breakfast and other perks.

Sunset over the ocean with orange, yellow, and gray clouds in the sky and rippling water reflecting the colors.
Three horses, including a foal, standing on a dirt area with trees in the background. A sign in the foreground reads "The Villas guesthouse" with two palm tree icons.
Tropical beach with sandy shore, turquoise water, palm trees, and a partly cloudy sky.
Sunset over a beach with palm trees, gentle waves, and reflection of the colorful sky on the wet sand.
Balcony with a striped hammock, wooden bench with cushions, small table with decorative stones, potted plant, and view of trees and hills in the background.
Hotel bedroom with a bed dressed in white sheets, a coral quilt, and three coral pillows. One decorative pillow features a blue octopus. There are curtains, a side table with a turquoise lamp, and a blue accent wall.
Turquoise ocean waves crashing on a sandy beach with a rocky cliff and palm trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A postcard featuring a tropical beach with a leaning palm tree, clear blue sky, turquoise water, and sandy shore, with a caption that reads 'Imagine how lovely it will be to write by the sea.'

Most photos courtesy the Vieques Guesthouse.