about Total writing enrichment
Created by Amy Haskell
Meet Amy and the Total Writing Team
I am proud to share that, for three years in a row (2021-2023), my small business made it to the finalist round of the Charlotte Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners Rising Star Award. And in 2024, my business won the Rising Star Business Award!
Learn more about Total Writing Enrichment in this video. Want to learn more about how I can help your teen? Let’s set up a brief call – just click here.
You want your teen to succeed.
We provide high quality instruction to students from high school through graduate school.
Personalized 1:1 writing coaching.
Amy Haskell Writing Specialist, from Wilmette, IL to Charlotte, NC
I founded my company to help you, parents, help your teen expand skills to achieve success and happiness. You value education and your relationship with your children. You want your children to have the confidence to submit college admission essays that win acceptance. You’ve come to the right place!
My team and I provide exceptional writing tutoring to build skills and boost grades and win with application essays – from college essays through graduate school essays.
We know students. We know how to teach. We know good writing.
One student told me: “Mrs. Haskell, I learned more about writing from you in one hour than in two years of high school English class!” He quickly began to earn “A” grades on essays.
When I first started tutoring, a parent from Winnetka, IL shared with me, “Amy, your writing tutoring has given peace to our entire family.”
I knew I needed to help more students.
– Expertise: Taught over 1,000 teens from freshman in high school to college seniors.
– Trust: 25+ years teaching experience, Rising Star Women Business Owner Finalist, Charlotte, NC. Women Business Owner Rising Star Winner, 2024!
– Authority on college admission essay writing, high school essays and graduate school application essays.
You know even the most gifted students with the best teachers, can lack the personalized attention to succeed with writing, given their busy lives and the reliance on technology.
The problem, many times, is knowing how to reach teens, knowing how to teach writing,to elevate their skill whether in an English class essay or a college application essay.
My step by step process helps bring the story to life. Strategy plus individual attention creates incredible results for students.
They feel happy. They feel empowered. They feel motivated.
From reading hundreds of books as a young child with my mom, and as an avid reader today, I believe everyone has a fascinating story that guides thoughts, beliefs, and actions. I also believe in helping teens know how to see their strengths and begin to believe in themselves to learn and grow.
Even during challenging times, the silver lining exists. The life lesson waits to be learned.
Ultimately, when teens connect with who they are and how they see the world, they gain clarity, increase energy, and develop extraordinary success – with their writing and their lives.
So get ready, let’s write! Email us now! amy@totalwritingenrichment.com
From the highly driven student communities of Chicago’s North Shore to right here in Charlotte, North Carolina, my mission has always been the same: helping motivated teens find their authentic voice and write outstanding essays that win college acceptances.
I know that staring at a blank page can feel incredibly daunting for a teenager. That’s why my coaching style is deeply human, structured, and infused with plenty of encouragement (and a good dose of humor!).
When I’m not in the trenches with my students, you can usually find me out on a run training for my next half marathon, or in the pool working through a master swim workout. I am definitely not the fastest athlete out there, but I absolutely love the challenge. I often share my own struggles with a grueling swim or run to make my students laugh, shake off their writer’s block, and realize that writing a great essay is just like training for a race—it’s all about showing up, putting in the reps, and celebrating the progress along the way.
With two master’s degrees and over 23 years of teaching and tutoring experience, I’ve dedicated my career to helping students excel without the soul-crushing stress. I live in Charlotte with my husband and our four children, and I can’t wait to help your teen take on their next big milestone.
Meet The Total Writing Team
Kerry Gilrane
Kerry is a proud graduate of Georgetown University.
She has cultivated future college students in her former role as an Alumni Admissions Program Interviewer and now helps prepare prospective students for success with college interviews.
If your son or daughter needs a boost in effective interview skills for college admissions, Kerry is your coach! Your teen will quickly learn the most essential verbal as well as non-verbal techniques to make a positive impression with college and graduate program interviews.
Kea Gorden, PhD
Kea brings a depth of research and academic experience to our team at Total Writing Enrichment.
Total Writing receive the benefits of Kea’s knowledge in latest educational research trends. Having taught at the College of Charleston, Kea continues to nurture her love for reading, writing, and sharing best practices to enhance our tutoring programs for the college bound teen.
Kea’s studies while pursuing her undergraduate degree at Cornell University and PhD at the University of California at Santa Cruz gives a wealth of experience at multiple levels of higher education.
Rebecca Ince
Rebecca Ince is a Master’s student in English pursuing a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition. She has years of experience tutoring middle school, high school, and college students. A passionate writer, editor, and wordsmith, she finds deep joy in helping students grow into confident, empowered writers. For Rebecca, it’s an honor to guide students as they strengthen their writing skills, discover their voices, and pursue academic and personal success.
Joe Pons
As a competitive hockey player, Joe knows how to get results with writing college essays and English class assignments — he brings a winning approach to tutoring teens.
Joe believes success starts with setting clear goals, developing a strong plan, and staying consistent. His athletic mindset helps teens see their academic challenges differently, showing them how discipline and focus can lead to real improvements in essay writing, reading comprehension, and class participation. Joe makes English relatable, motivating them to stay persistent and achieve results.
Joe is a graduate of the University of Rochester with a double major in philosophy, politics, economics and history. He has been with Total Writing since 2021 and enjoys seeing his students’ writing confidence grow through “A” grades in English class and acceptances to college.
Be your teen’s hero during the college admission process:
college applications essays, graduate school essay that win admission, submitted on time.
Fortified in my mission to provide teenage students with the unique opportunity to enhance their writing skills, set achievable goals, and develop emotional confidence, I created educational programs that yield better grades and win college admissions. Graduate school too.
From Charlotte, North Carolina to Winnetka, IL, from Columbus Ohio to New York City, our students learn to create powerful college admission essays, win scholarships, and boost grades.
We understand college admission and school success is about more than good grades and high achievement. It’s about who students are and how to make their goals come alive. It’s about skill development, goals and connection. It’s about clear communication and writing.
We help students achieve their goals through our teaching, both personal 1:1, small group workshops, online programs and proven educational strategies. We are teens’ teachers and mentors, we are part of your family team.
Get Started With College Admission Essay Writing- Give Your Teen the Tools to Win at College Applications
Grab your FREE COPY of The Best Tips to Guide Your Teen to Write Amazing College Admission Essays!
