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Total Writing Enrichment

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Total Writing Enrichment

Parents of motivated teens we help your teen write college admission essays that win acceptance!

Total Writing Enrichment was founded by Amy Haskell, former English teacher at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL. Through technology enhanced writing lessons and face-to-face individualized or small group teaching, Total Writing Enrichment strives to effectively teach writing skills that will help middle school and high school students find success in school, and with college admissions.

09/01/2026

Doing my final preparation for tonight's virtual workshop!

At 7:00 PM Central, I'll be leading a FREE virtual workshop through the Wilmette Public Library:

College Essay Makeover: From Rough Draft to Ready-to-Submit

If you're a high school senior working on your college applications, bring that essay you've been staring at — whether it's still a rough draft or you think it's almost finished.

We'll talk about how to:

• Spot what's working (and what's not)
• Cut what isn't serving your story
• Sharpen your writing and your voice
• Strengthen both Common App and supplemental essays
• Create a clear plan for your next round of revisions

Because sometimes the difference between a forgettable essay and a memorable one isn't the first draft.

It's the editing.

There's still time to join me tonight!

Tuesday, September 1
7:00–8:00 PM Central
Virtual via Zoom

Register here:
https://wilmette.libnet.info/event/16917148

08/31/2026

Is your college essay actually ready to submit?

Sometimes the difference between a forgettable essay and a memorable one isn't the first draft.

It's the editing.

This Tuesday (tomorrow!), I'm leading a FREE virtual workshop through the Wilmette Public Library:

College Essay Makeover: From Rough Draft to Ready-to-Submit

Tuesday, September 1
7:00–8:00 PM Central
Virtual via Zoom

We'll look at how to evaluate and revise both Common App and supplemental essays, including how to:

• Spot what's working (and what's not)
• Cut what isn't serving your story
• Sharpen your writing and your voice
• Make sure your essay presents the strongest version of you

Whether your essay still feels rough or you're calling it "final," you'll leave with practical tools and a clear plan for making it stronger before you submit.

If you're working on college applications right now, I'd love to have you join me.

Register here:
https://wilmette.libnet.info/event/16917148

08/26/2026

In 1990, Dolly Parton looked at the high school dropout rate in her home county of Sevier County, Tennessee: 35%.

And she decided to do something about it.

Through what became known as the Buddy Program, seventh- and eighth-grade students paired up with a friend. If they both graduated from high school, Dolly would give each of them $500.

The dropout rate for those classes fell from 35% to just 6%.

I've been thinking about why this worked.

Yes, $500 was a meaningful incentive—especially for families where that amount of money mattered.

But there was more happening.

There was a social contract.

Students weren't responsible only for themselves. They had a friend counting on them—and someone they were responsible for encouraging, too.

There was belonging.

Success became something they were pursuing together rather than alone.

And perhaps most powerfully:

There was an adult who believed they could do it.

Not quietly.

Dolly put something tangible behind that belief. She told these students, in effect: I believe you can graduate. I believe your future is worth investing in. And I'm willing to bet on you.

As an educator, I keep coming back to that.

We spend a lot of time thinking about how to motivate students: the right curriculum, the right incentives, the right goals, the right consequences.

Those things matter.

But sometimes we underestimate the extraordinary power of a young person knowing that someone believes in who they can become.

Sometimes it's a teacher or mentor.

Sometimes it's someone in a field they're beginning to imagine themselves entering.

And sometimes, it's simply an adult who sees something in them they haven't quite learned to see in themselves yet.

One person can change the way a student sees what's possible for themselves.

And sometimes, that belief gives them enough reason to keep going.

Who believed in you before you fully believed in yourself?

08/20/2026

📝 Swimming without lane lines is a lot like writing without direction.

Students often think the hardest part of writing is putting words on the page.

In reality, the hardest part is often figuring out where to begin and then next steps to finish.

The strongest essays start with a plan. Students who spend time reflecting, organizing their ideas, and identifying their message often write with more confidence and less stress.

😀College application essay season is here!

If your student is beginning college application essays this fall, I'd be happy to help; please reach out now to write, finish and get accepted!

08/12/2026

🩵❤️ I'm so excited to support Charlotte Catholic High School athletics through our new stadium banner!⁠
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At Total Writing Enrichment, we love helping students build confidence through stronger writing.

Whether it's college application essays, summer writing camp, or English class tutoring, our goal is always the same: helping students find their voice and become stronger, more confident writers.⁠
⁠
Today marks the final day of our Summer Writing Camp, but we are officially entering one of our busiest seasons.

College application essay season is here, and many families are also beginning to think about fall English tutoring.⁠
⁠
If your student could benefit from support this fall, I'd love to connect and talk about how we can help.⁠
⁠
Go Cougars! 🩵❤️

08/04/2026

The Common App is officially open, which means essay season is here.

For many seniors and their families, this is the moment when the college application process starts to feel very real.

Every year, I meet students who believe they need the "perfect" story to write a great college essay. The truth? Admissions officers aren't looking for the most dramatic story. They're looking for authenticity, reflection, and a genuine sense of who you are.

Parents, one of the best gifts you can give your student is time. Starting early allows room to brainstorm, write, revise, and refine without the pressure of looming deadlines.

Students, don't wait until the last minute to tell your story. Your strongest essay won't come from rushing. It comes from thoughtful reflection and multiple rounds of revision.

If your family is ready to get started, I'd love to help you navigate the essay process with confidence.

07/30/2026

🎓 If your student is heading into junior or senior year, this conversation is for you.

I recently sat down with college counselor Ryan Clark to discuss some of the biggest changes families need to understand in today's college admissions process. From standardized testing to AI to rising competition, there's a lot happening, and knowing what to expect can help reduce stress and build a stronger plan.

In our conversation, we discuss:
✔️ Why standardized testing is making a comeback at many colleges
✔️ How to use AI wisely without losing a student's authentic voice
✔️ Why admissions has become more competitive and why starting early makes such a difference

One thing hasn't changed: the strongest college applications come from students who know who they are and tell their stories authentically.

🎥 Watch the conversation here: https://youtu.be/VzGACUtId-8

If you're helping a student navigate the college admissions process, I'd love to know:

What questions do you have about today's college admissions landscape? Share them in the comments—we may answer them in a future video!

07/28/2026

When our students find their voice and write with authenticity, we take that as one of the greatest compliments. 💙

"Amy and her team encouraged my son to find his voice and create, in the words of his counselor, a genuine and authentic essay.

More importantly, he is headed to his first-choice college this fall—a liberal arts school where he will continue to apply the writing skills he learned.

Thank you!"

— Courtney O'Neil
Charlotte Country Day School | Charlotte, NC

Helping students tell their story—not the story they think colleges want to hear—is at the heart of everything we do.

Congratulations to this student on an exciting next chapter! 🎉

07/23/2026

🚨 College Essay Reset 🚨
If you’ve rewritten the same essay five times and it still doesn’t feel right… stop.
Reset.
Let’s find the story only you can tell!

And have some grace with yourself along the way, this is not easy but you can do it!
collegeadmissions

07/21/2026

Procrastination is the thief of time and with college essays it's the thief of your best work.

Every week you put off writing is a week the essays can improve and become more of their own authentic voices.

The students who start and write now are giving themselves room to write something real, to get feedback, to improve, to stand out and shine.

Start now. Your future you will thank you.

Address

Charlotte, NC
28210

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://totalwritingenrichment.com/

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