Tier 1 or Tier 2? One of the most common questions writers ask me—usually after taking a course or two and discovering that yes, writing is in fact both beautiful and occasionally maddening—is: “What narrative nonfiction mentoring path would best help me now?”

It’s an excellent question. Writing is not a one-size-fits-all endeavour. Some writers need a regular companion who helps them shape essays and chapters with confidence. Others need a full-scale manuscript-development partnership, complete with structural work, scene-level refinement, and the occasional existential discussion about why their book is secretly about forgiveness after all.

To make life easier (and far less mysterious), I offer two distinct narrative nonfiction mentoring options. Think of them as the two stages of literary courage:

• Tier 1: “I’d like some help, please.”

• Tier 2: “I’m writing a whole book—send biscuits and tea.”

Below, I’ll walk you through each option with humour, honesty, and the hope that you’ll recognise yourself in one of them.

Tier 1 Narrative Nonfiction Mentoring

For Developing Writers Working on Essays, Chapters & Skills

Tier 1 is ideal if you’re at the beginning or middle of your writing journey—perhaps you’ve taken a course (or three), learned that writing requires both enthusiasm and stamina, and now want one-to-one guidance to keep you growing. This is the tier for writers who want:

• Help shaping standalone essays

• Support drafting or revising chapters of a longer work

• Structure, accountability, and a friendly presence in the writing trenches

• Someone who will remind them gently—but firmly—when Netflix is winning

In Tier 1, you receive:

• Eight private one-hour Zoom sessions

• Up to 25 pages of writing reviewed per meeting

• Written editorial comments + live discussion

• Flexible scheduling

• Skill-building that carries into every future project

What Tier 1 feels like:
A trusted tutor who reads your work closely, helps you understand what it’s truly about, and guides you in strengthening your craft one piece at a time. It’s personal, encouraging, and designed to help you gain confidence without feeling overwhelmed.

Writers who gravitate to Tier 1 typically say things like:

• “I want my essays to feel more intentional.”

• “I have chapters—now what?”

• “I need deadlines, please.”

• “Writing alone is… lonely.”

Tier 1 mentoring is about growth, clarity, and establishing yourself as a writer. You’ll develop stronger pages, a clearer voice, and a deeper understanding of your process—without needing to have an entire book under your arm.

Tier 2 Narrative Nonfiction Mentoring

The Comprehensive Manuscript-Development Experience

(For Brave Souls Writing an Entire Book)

Tier 2 is a more immersive, editorially robust partnership. It’s for writers working on book-length narrative nonfiction—memoir, biography, cultural history, nature writing, travel, literary journalism, hybrid forms, or anything ambitious and manuscript-shaped.

This tier is for you if you’re thinking:

• “I’m writing my second book, my first did not get the kind of editorial feedback it needed. Now I aspire to make an impact.”

• “I have a draft but it desperately needs a spine.”

• “My book has a heart—I just can’t find the pulse.”

• “Please help me wrangle this 85,000-word creature.”

Tier 2 includes:

• Eight sessions with up to 40 pages / 10,000 words reviewed per meeting

• Deep, structural feedback on:

  • Narrative arc

  • Pacing

  • Voice & point of view

  • Chapter architecture and transitions

  • Character development

  • Scene-building & research integration

  • Theme & resonance

  • Coherence & reader engagement

• 90 minutes of reading + 90 minutes of live discussion per session

• Handwritten editorial reports

• 6–18 months of sustained, high-level support

• A flexible timeline based on your project’s evolution

You provide the writing; Kathryn disappears with it—sometimes to a quiet café, sometimes to the sunny window of her studio—and returns with detailed notes and fresh insights for a lively conversation with you.

What Tier 2 feels like:
A professional editorial relationship similar to what you’d receive from a publishing-house editor—only with more warmth, more time, more humour, and a much better beverage selection.

Writers choose Tier 2 when they are:

• Developing a book-length manuscript

• Refining a book proposal

• Revising under contract

• Navigating a messy middle draft

• Seeking guidance from concept to completion

Tier 2 is about building a book with intention, integrity, and narrative force—supported by someone who understands both the art and architecture of long-form nonfiction.

Tier 1 vs. Tier 2: How to Know Where You Belong in Narrative Nonfiction Mentoring

Think of it this way:

Choose Tier 1 if:

• You’re writing essays or early book chapters

• You need accountability, clarity, and craft guidance

• You want a mentor-tutor hybrid to help you grow

• You’re discovering your voice and writing rhythm

• You want to become a stronger writer one piece at a time

Choose Tier 2 if:

• You’re writing an entire book

• You need deep developmental work

• You want professional-level editorial insight

• You’re wrestling with structure, arc, or coherence

• You want consistent support over many months

Both tiers offer warmth, humour, honesty, and a mentor who genuinely wants you to succeed. The difference lies in scale: Tier 1 shapes the writer. Tier 2 shapes the book. Narrative nonfiction mentoring can be the bridge to the next stage in your writing career.

Still Not Sure?

That’s what the free consultation in narrative nonfiction mentoring is for.

You’re warmly invited to write to me at kathryn@kathrynaalto.com to chat about your writing, your goals, and which narrative nonfiction mentoring path will best support your creative life.

Whether you’re crafting your first personal essay or nurturing a full manuscript into being, there is a place for you here—and I’d love to help you shape the work only you can write through narrative nonfiction mentoring.

Ready to Start?

Spaces are limited to ensure each writer receives genuine attention and care. If you’re ready to commit to your writing, grow your craft, and work alongside a mentor who is invested in your progress, this programme may be the perfect fit.

To arrange a free consultation, email me at kathryn@kathrynaalto.com.
Your next finished essay—or book chapter—might begin with that conversation.