The Rural Writing Institute

The Lake District writing retreat focused on writing about the Rural. Supporting new voices.

[The Rural Writing Institute @RuralWriting]

Our chorus of voices for The Rural Writing Institute 2022.

[Ange Harker🦻🦇🤘🥾 @ange_harker]

Latest from Team @RuralWriting #RWI2018 - congratulations @MichelleWerrett!

[Elizabeth Wainwright @LizWainwright]

Our @RuralWriting friend @MichelleWerrett wrote a book - ‘Song of the Streams’ - published in Autumn 🎉

Michelle knows #Exmoor, & #rivers, & #ecology. Her words enchant and invite the reader in ✨ With worsening state of UK rivers & nature, her insight is vital (& beautiful)🐟📚

[Kathryn Aalto @kathrynaalto]

Springtime! It's hard not to be drawn to the wonders of nature

From chirping of birds to blooming flowers, it feels great to be alive

Explore your creativity & enhance your knowledge in my Nature and Place Writing course

Starts May 15th
Level 1 newbies

https://t.co/e2KPY1ypLl

[Ange Harker🦻🦇🤘🥾 @ange_harker]

All the feels tonight for @RuralWriting classmate @NJPitchford WINNING the first ever @NaturePrize! Can't wait to get the anthology & read all the shortlisted essays!

[Elizabeth Wainwright @LizWainwright]

So pleased for & proud of my talented @RuralWriting buddy @NJPitchford for winning the @NaturePrize 🎉

Good to hear extracts from the essays at @KendalBookFest yesterday. I love writing that asks Qs & helps me see the world a little differently - these essays do that 👏

[Kathryn Aalto @kathrynaalto]

If of interest, in 1 month, I'll be teaching Nature Writing for aspiring & intermediate writers.

The class is live, online, and -- yay! -- global. It is limited to 14 people as I give detailed handwritten feedback on every essay.

What are we reading?
/1
https://t.co/OpVRbQK5iF

[Elizabeth Wainwright @LizWainwright]

I'm chuffed (and not a bit surprised) that my @RuralWriting buddy @NJPitchford made the longlist for the @NaturePrize 🎉 her writing is beautiful, observant, intimate, searching✨

Lots of other great writers here too📝looking forward to reading the anthology

[The Nature Chronicles Prize 2025/26 @NaturePrize]

🧵The LONGLIST is as follows:

A Parable of Arable Land, Nicola Pitchford
@NJPitchford
Anthem to My Hometown, Paula Hillman
@pj_hillman
The Story Fox, Kerry Andrew @kj_funk
None of This Should Be Here, Joanna Pocock
@joannaofottawa
The Garden, Nicola Healey ...

[The Rural Writing Institute @RuralWriting]

Thank you again to @anicolson for a memorable candlelit after-dinner conversation and reading at Inn on the Lake from your @wainwrightprize The Seabird's Cry.

@herdyshepherd1 @jane_janeclarke @kathrynaalto

[Sara Stegen @Stegen23]

Such talented fellow writers. I can't wait to find out what creative works will emerge out of these conversations like hay meadow flowers raising their heads to catch the sun.

[Elizabeth Wainwright @LizWainwright]

A beautiful time with old & new RWI @RuralWriting friends immersing in writing, rural life & nature. Plus, curlews from my shepherd’s hut 😍

I love and value this community 🙏

Thank you @kathrynaalto @herdyshepherd1 @theshepherdswi1 (& good to meet you @anicolson & @amy_may📚)

[Russell Rowley @RowleyRuss]

A sublime few days in Cumbria with wonderful fellow writers from around the World. Thank you so much for the warm welcome, teaching, networking, challenges, gorgeous food, authors @kathrynaalto @herdyshepherd1 @theshepherdswi1 @RuralWriting @anicolson @amy_may @jane_janeclarke

[Sara Stegen @Stegen23]

My tribe of writers. All those distinct voices. Honoured to know you! Thanks @RuralWriting @kathrynaalto @herdyshepherd1 @theshepherdswi1

[Ilse Köhler-Rollefson @IlseKohler]

What an experience! Writing advice by best selling authors @kathrynaalto @herdyshepherd1 combined with learning about fell farming in the Lake District. Thank you all for inspiring and 'conspiring' for better farming!

[Hannah Binns @HannahBinns_]

Had the most magical time taking part in the @RuralWriting over the bank holiday 📝✨

Thank you so much @herdyshepherd1 @kathrynaalto for creating such a safe, inviting, and inspiring space for us to share our ideas and to @theshepherdswi1 + family for the delicious food!

[Kathryn Aalto @kathrynaalto]

I'm teaching creative nonfiction this summer. If of interest -

▪︎Learn techniques & approaches
▪︎20 instruction hrs
▪︎Practice & learn in friendly setting
▪︎Bestselling author as teacher
▪︎Every other Monday starting June 20

Check it out:

https://t.co/iPe65kaN8C

[Jared Phillips @ozarkdraftpower]

In this scene I look like I know what to do as a writer: sit in deep thought on a Lake District hillside.

[The Rural Writing Institute @RuralWriting]

@WildLakeland We loved having you back. What great work you've done with James.

[The Rural Writing Institute @RuralWriting]

Thank you Rob @WildLakeland for providing lessons in botany and reading the flowers for stories they have to tell us about nature and place.

[The Rural Writing Institute @RuralWriting]

Farewell writers and safe travels home!