📅 Time: 7:00-8:30 PM
📆 Dates: March 6, 13, 20, 27
📍 Format: Live Online via Zoom

• 💷 Tuition: £195 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 enrolment below before registering.

  1. Course Overview. The Course provides online instruction in narrative nonfiction with an emphasis in nature writing via Zoom.
  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.

1. Are Kathryn Aalto’s courses suitable for beginners?
Yes, all levels of writers. Beginners gain foundational skills in a supportive environment, while experienced writers refine their craft and explore advanced techniques.

• Level 1: Foundational courses for beginners in narrative nonfiction.
• Levels 2–3: Intermediate courses requiring Level 1, a similar course, or by application with a writing sample.
• Levels 3–4: Advanced courses focusing on voice, structure, dialogue, and other nuanced techniques.

2. What kind of feedback can I expect?
Kathryn provides detailed, constructive feedback to improve both technical skills and thematic resonance. Students receive handwritten feedback via a reMarkable device, addressing everything from syntax and language to structure and voice. Her feedback supports, encourages, and challenges students to grow.

3. What assignments or exercises are typical?
Courses include in-class reflective exercises and at-home assignments. Assignments balance variety and independence, encouraging students to explore their own interests.

• Level 1: 2–4 pages each session.
• Level 2:  3-6 pages each session
• Level 3-4: 4-8 pages each session

4. Can taking one course lead to publication?
A single course is a valuable step toward publication, providing essential skills, guidance, and confidence. However, becoming published requires persistence, revision, and industry knowledge. Most successful students take 2–4 courses, participate in workshops, and hone their craft over time, much like an MFA program in narrative nonfiction. While publication isn’t guaranteed, Kathryn’s courses equip you to pursue your goals effectively.

5. Who are my classmates?
Your classmates come from around the globe, creating a diverse, harmonious, and enriching learning community. Students hail from the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia, and beyond, offering a broad spectrum of perspectives and experiences.

6. Can I pay tuition in instalments?
Yes, tuition can be automatically invoiced over 2–4 months. Contact kathryn@kathrynaalto.com to arrange a plan that works best for you.

Kathryn Aalto fosters a warm, inclusive, and inspiring community in her online writing courses, where students 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 emphasises 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 communities Kathryn creates are ones 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

Philosophy

1. Fostering Creative Exploration

I believe that creativity flourishes when students are given the freedom to explore ideas, experiment with language, and push the boundaries of conventional thinking. My role as an educator is to provide the tools, guidance, and encouragement that allow students to embark on this journey of exploration. I strive to create lectures, discussions, and assignments that inspire curiosity and invite students to engage with material in ways that are personally meaningful and artistically daring.

2. Encouraging Critical Thinking and Reflection

I view literature and writing as powerful tools for understanding the human experience, and I encourage my students to engage critically with texts and their own work. By fostering an environment of thoughtful discussion and reflection, I aim to help students develop their analytical skills, deepen their understanding of complex themes, and articulate their ideas with clarity and conviction. I emphasise the importance of considering diverse perspectives and encourage students to question assumptions and explore the ethical dimensions of their writing.

3. Building a Supportive Learning Community

I am deeply committed to cultivating a classroom environment where all students feel respected, valued, and heard. I believe that learning is most effective when it occurs in a community where individuals support and learn from one another. To this end, I prioritise creating a space where students can share their work, offer constructive feedback, and engage in meaningful dialogue. I also recognise the importance of addressing each student’s unique needs and learning styles, and I strive to be responsive and adaptable in my teaching approach.

Strongly influenced by the Harkness method founded at the Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire where my three children graduated, I actively cultivate a learning space that emphasises the art of conversation with active listening, collaboration, and respect.

4. Empowering Student Voices

One of my primary goals as an educator is to empower emerging writers to find and refine their own voices. I encourage them to write with authenticity and confidence, whether they are crafting a new personal narrative as a long-time academic or exploring creative nonfiction from another genre. I believe that every student has a story worth telling, and I aim to help them discover the best ways to tell it. This involves not only developing their technical skills but also helping them overcome any inhibitions or self-doubt that may hinder their creative expression.

5. Lifelong Learning and Growth

I view teaching as a reciprocal process of learning and growth. Just as I seek to inspire my students, I am continually inspired by their insights, creativity, and courage. I am committed to my own professional development as a member of ASLE (Association for the Study of Literature and Environment) and AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs), which helps me stay engaged with current trends and debates in literature, writing, and pedagogy. By modelling a passion for learning and a commitment to intellectual curiosity, I hope to instil in my students a lifelong love of learning and a desire to continue honing their craft long after they leave my classroom.

Results

My teaching philosophy is centered on the idea that education is a dynamic and collaborative process. By fostering creativity, critical thinking, and community, I aim to empower my students to become confident, thoughtful, and innovative writers who are prepared to differently engage with the world in reflective and meaningful ways.

After acquiring key skills in narrative nonfiction, I encourage people to apply for awards, submit to publications, and continue keeping personal writing journals. My pro-active stance helps emerging writers find validation of their insights and writing skills outside our nurturing communities.

My students have won numerous awards including the 2022 £10,000 Nature Chronicles Prize with two long-listed for the same 2024 prize. A student won the 2022 Bradt New Travel Writer of the Year and many have been short-listed for literary awards including the Fish Memoir Prize. My students have been published by general and university presses, book trusts, popular magazines, and literary journals.

However, publication and awards are only one measure of success. Learning to embrace the writing process as just one part of leading a contemplative life cannot be measured nor externally validated. There is different and great fulfilment in both.

“I have been making my living with journalistic texts for four years now. Tied to my desk due to the pandemic I decided it was time to take my writing to another level and enrolled in The Art of Narrative Nonfiction. Being skeptical of virtual courses at first, I was immediately drawn into the group by her professional and yet entertaining moderation of the weekly online gatherings. With an attractive mix of lecture, discussion, workshop and personal tutoring she enabled us to not only profit from her vast experience as a writer but also to open up our pieces to our peers from various cultural backgrounds. I’ll definitely be back for more.” — Johannes, Cologne, Germany

“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