Letters of Note: Handwritten Letters Penned with Purpose and Humanity invites you to rediscover the lost art of slow letter-writing in a fast-paced world consumed by distractions. This transformative course explores the history and enduring power of letters, from ancient tablets to modern epistles, while teaching you to craft deeply personal and meaningful correspondence.

Through examples from history and literature, creative exercises, and guidance from New York Times bestselling author and master teacher Kathryn Aalto, you’ll learn the techniques of narrative nonfiction and the personal essay to enrich your writing. Whether composing love letters, letters of forgiveness, or reflections for your past or future self, you’ll uncover the unique ability of letters to connect, heal, and inspire.

Through interactive sessions, creative prompts, and curated examples from history and literature, Kathryn will guide you in mastering tone, voice, and structure. This course features two distinguished guest speakers who bring profound insights into the art of letter-writing.

Lucyann Ashdown, a Church of England priest and Spiritual Care Lead at Hospiscare, draws on her extensive experience supporting life’s pivotal transitions, such as birth and death, to explore the poignant practice of writing “last letters.” Katharine Norbury, acclaimed author of The Fish Ladder: A Journey Upstream, will share her expertise on crafting heartfelt letters of reconciliation, offering guidance on forgiveness and the power of healing through written words.

Join us to revive the art of letters as a timeless practice of humanity and connection.

Why Take This Course?

Through creative exercises, literary guidance, and historical examples, you’ll gain insights and tools to reclaim narrative living through pen on paper. Whether writing to heal, inspire, or connect, you’ll discover how letters can spark conversations and leave a lasting legacy.

Join Letters of Note to revive this timeless art, connect with others, and embrace the deliberate beauty of writing by hand.

Drawing upon a lifetime of letter writing and personal essays, New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Aalto invites participants on a rich journey into the art, history, and significance of handwritten correspondence. This course explores the enduring letter-themes of forgiveness, gratitude, sympathy, protest, crisis, love, and loss through the lens of letters—ancient and contemporary.

What You’ll Learn

• The cultural evolution and significance of letter-writing across history.
• Techniques to craft letters with clarity, beauty, and intention.
• How to integrate narrative nonfiction and personal essay skills to create authentic, impactful correspondence.
• Themes such as forgiveness, love, and protest to foster empathy and deeper connections.
• Letter-writing as a reflective, enduring practice in a fast-paced digital world.

Through engaging discussions, hands-on writing exercises, and inspiring examples, Letters of Note guides participants in starting conversations, crafting compelling narratives, and sparking a personal renaissance of living thoughtfully through pen on paper.

Letters You’ll Write

You will have the opportunity to write the following types of letters:

• Forgiveness Letters: Heal wounds and build bridges.
• Love Letters: Express devotion and admiration.
• Apology Letters: Mend relationships with sincerity.
• Advocacy Letters: Inspire change for social and environmental justice.
• Letters to Yourself: Reflect on the past or future for growth and aspirations.
• Gratitude Letters: Celebrate and appreciate connections.
• Last Letters: Leave a timeless message for loved ones.
• ‘Dear John’ Letter: End relationships with clarity, grace, and compassion.

Learn more

• Pen to Paper: Artist’s Handwritten Letters
• The Handwritten Letter Society
• Write for Rights

📅 Time: Saturdays, 2:00–4:00 PM GMT
📆 Dates: February 22–April 12, 2025
📍 Format: Live Online via Zoom

💷 Tuition: £425 per term
Invest in your learning journey with a one-time payment.

✉️ Flexible Payment Plans
Contact kathryn@kathrynaalto.com to discuss options.

📜 Terms and Conditions
Review the details of enrollment below before registering.

1. Course Overview. The Course provides online instruction in techniques of the personal essay, letter writing, and narrative nonfiction via live Zoom sessions, beginning on February 22, 2025.
2. Eligibility and Registration. Participants must be 18 or older and provide accurate registration details.
3. Payment Terms. Full payment is required at registration. Payment plans, if arranged, must be honoured regardless of attendance.
4. Refund Policy. Refunds are available up to 14 days before the Course start date. No refunds will be issued after this period. Requests must be emailed to kathryn@kathrynaalto.com.
5. Course Access. Participants receive the syllabus upon registration.
6. Intellectual Property. All Course materials are the property of Kathryn Aalto and cannot be reproduced, distributed, downloaded, or filmed without written permission.
7. Conduct and Participation. Respectful and professional behaviour is expected.
8. Technical Requirements. Participants need to have a stable internet connection and compatible device.
9. Course Changes and Cancellation. The schedule, content, or speakers may be modified. If the Course is cancelled, a full refund will be issued.
10. Privacy Policy. Participant information will not be shared.

By registering, you agree to these Terms and Conditions. For assistance, contact kathryn@kathrynaalto.com

Are Kathryn Aalto’s creative writing courses suitable for beginners?

Yes. Kathryn’s courses are open to all levels. Beginners develop foundational skills, while experienced writers refine their craft and explore advanced techniques.

• Level 1: Introductory courses for those new to narrative nonfiction.
• Levels 2-3: Intermediate courses requiring Level 1 or equivalent experience.
• Levels 3-4: Advanced courses focusing on voice, structure, dialogue, and more, building on prior knowledge.

What kind of feedback can I expect?

Kathryn provides detailed, personalised feedback, focusing on both technical precision and thematic depth. Using her reMarkable device, she provides detailed handwritten insights on language, syntax, structure, theme, and voice. Students feel supported, challenged, and inspired to grow as writers.

What are typical writing assignments?

Courses include reflective in-class exercises and at-home writing:

• Level 1: 2-4 page assignments.
• Levels 2-4: 4-8 page assignments.
  Students respond to broad prompts and gradually delve into their own areas of interest, blending variety with independence.

Who are my classmates?

Kathryn’s courses attract a diverse, international community of writers. Students come from across the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond, creating a vibrant, global learning environment that fosters unique perspectives and connections.

Kathryn Aalto fosters a warm, inclusive, and inspiring community in her live, online writing courses, where participants from diverse backgrounds come together to explore their creativity. Her courses are designed to encourage collaboration, thoughtful dialogue, and mutual support, cultivating a space where students feel safe to express themselves and share their work.

Kathryn’s teaching style emphasizes empathy and attentiveness, helping students build confidence in their writing while honouring their unique voices. Through guided discussions, personalised feedback, and opportunities for peer interaction, she cultivates a sense of belonging and shared purpose. The community Kathryn creates is one of encouragement, growth, and a shared passion for the written word, where each participant is both a learner and a contributor to the collective experience.

“My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that education is a collaborative and transformative journey, one that empowers students to explore their creative potential, embrace their unique voices, and engage deeply with the world around them. I am committed to creating a learning environment that is inclusive, supportive, and intellectually stimulating, where students feel encouraged to take risks, ask questions, and challenge themselves.” — Kathryn Aalto

1. Fostering Creative Exploration
   Creativity thrives when students are free to explore ideas, experiment with language, and challenge norms. As an educator, I provide tools, guidance, and encouragement to spark curiosity through lectures, discussions, and assignments that inspire meaningful and daring engagement with material.
2. Encouraging Critical Thinking and Reflection
   Literature and writing are powerful tools for understanding the human experience. I foster critical engagement with texts and student work through thoughtful discussions, encouraging diverse perspectives, questioning assumptions, and exploring the ethical dimensions of writing.
3. Building a Supportive Learning Community
   I am committed to creating a classroom where students feel respected, valued, and heard. By emphasizing active listening, collaboration, and constructive feedback, I nurture a supportive community that prioritizes individual needs while encouraging collective growth, drawing inspiration from the Harkness Method.
4. Empowering Student Voices
   My goal is to help students find and refine their authentic voices, writing with confidence and overcoming self-doubt. Whether crafting personal narratives or exploring creative nonfiction, I encourage students to share their unique stories and develop the skills to tell them effectively.
5. Lifelong Learning and Growth
   Teaching is a reciprocal process. Inspired by my students, I stay engaged with current trends through memberships in ASLE and AWP, modeling intellectual curiosity and fostering a lifelong love of learning. I aim to equip students with a commitment to growth that extends beyond the classroom.

Results
Education is a collaborative process where fostering creativity, critical thinking, and community empowers students to become confident and thoughtful writers. Alongside technical skill-building, I encourage students to embrace writing as part of a reflective, creative life.

Many of my students have earned recognition, including the £10,000 Nature Chronicles Prize (winner, 2022; long-listed, 2024), Bradt New Travel Writer of the Year (winner, 2022; long-listed, 2024), and short-listings for the Fish Memoir Prize. They have secured literary agents, published in esteemed presses, and contributed to popular magazines and journals.

While awards and publications mark success, I equally value helping students find fulfillment in the writing process itself—embracing creativity and reflection as integral to a meaningful life.

“Kathryn Aalto is a world-class teacher. I had 30 years’ experience as a journalist and copywriter, but I was a novice in narrative non fiction. Kathryn taught me how to write, guiding me on a journey of discovery, revealing the secrets of sensory writing, bringing filmic vividness to my descriptions of the world around me and uncovering the inner landscapes of the mind. I will be forever grateful for her inspirational teaching and the support of the remarkable writing communities she curates, from whom I have received invaluable encouragement and among whom I have made enduring friendships.”  —  Gary F., Rutland, England

“Kathryn possesses a rare talent to hold a learning space in such a way each participant is supported while doing the hard work of being vulnerable. She extends an invitation to share space together in a small circle across time and distance as writers gather from around the world in a digital classroom with warmth and grace.  As a new writer, I felt unsure and intimidated. Was I ready? Did I have anything interesting to say?  Kathryn dispelled my fears, welcomed me and never stopped encouraging me to stretch just a little further.  She weaves and layers lectures, writing prompts with workshopping along with insightful feedback (often with sketches!) for every session. Kathryn is attentive to the temperament of each class, pausing a little longer here, waving a brief hello to something over there. I rave about these classes! Not only for how each has helped me to learn the craft of writing but for how she has helped me discover my voice. Quite honestly, growing as a writer has profoundly affected my relationships. Deepening my relationship to self, to loved ones and the world I habit. What a joy!” — Beth Anne, New Jersey

“Margaret Atwood said ‘If you really want to write, and you’re struggling to get started, you’re afraid of something.’ Kathryn fixes those nagging fears by showing writers what we have that is already good, and what we can do better tomorrow. It’s win-win, and she remakes a traditional “class” into such an enjoyable, productive journey. I’ve also been lucky enough to experience the awe-inspiring surroundings and warm community that form the bedrock of the Rural Writing Institute. It’s not often that you can genuinely say that one long weekend shifted the way you look at the world, but the effects are still with me in my reading and writing years later.” — Caroline, Aberdeen, Scotland