📍 Format: Live Online via Zoom

💷 Dates: Every Thursday, June 5-July 31 (no class July 3)

📅  Morning: 8:00–10:30 AM BST or Evening: 7:00–9:30 PM BST

Note: After enrolling, you’ll receive an email asking for your preferred session (AM or PM).

Both sessions are identical in content and take place in British Summer Time. If you’re in Australia, the morning class will be an evening one. If you’re in the United States, the evening course will be at 2 PM Eastern/11 AM Pacific. Whether you’re a night owl or morning lark, there is a time for you.

💷 Tuition: £450 per term
Invest in your learning journey with a one-time payment. Contact kathryn@kathrynaalto.com to discuss instalment options.

🌺 Age Requirement
This is a course in reading and writing erotica for women 21 years and older.

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

1. Course Overview. The Course provides online instruction in a narrative nonfiction subject via Zoom.
2. Eligibility and Registration. Participants must be 21 years 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 before the start of the course.
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

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 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 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.

Listen to Kathryn discuss writing in the following interviews:

•  National Public Radio’s “The Write Question” from Montana Public Radio here.
• “Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden” here.
• “All Things Considered” on National Public Radio with Ari Shapiro here.
• “A Savoured Life” podcast on nature writing with Sumayya Usmani here.

“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
   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 M., 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