Paul has coached gifted writers to win prizes and honors in many writing competitions including the John Locke Institute Essay Competition, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the Eugene O’Neill Young Playwrights Festival, and the Betty Award. For Scholastic, he has helped students for the past 15 years win a ton of regional Gold Keys, Silver Keys, and Honorable Mentions. He has also had the privilege of mentoring two National Gold Medalists. In addition to writing contests, he has also guided students on getting published in Alcott Youth Magazine, Blue Sage Magazine, Just Poetry, and Young Writers.

 

Paul coaches based on his own experience and success. When he was in high school, he won prizes in many prestigious contests including 2nd place out of over 4,000 participants in the international Anthem essay contest. He also won prizes and honors in a wide variety of contests that ultimately helped him gain admission to Yale University. 

 

Paul uses a systematic and proven process for training students to write at an advanced, contest level. 

 

Contest & Publication Selection

 

He first evaluates the student’s writing experience, preferences, and strengths. He then shares a large list of contests and publications for the student to consider. After careful deliberation and discussion, Paul and the student will then choose a list of contests/publications with deadlines. They will then work through these deadlines one by one. 

 

Idea Generation, Drafting, and Revision

 

For each contest or publication, Paul will first analyze past winning pieces with the student so the student understands what kinds of content and style has the highest chance of winning. He will then inspire and guide the student to come up with creative and insightful ideas for essays, short stories, poems, or plays. The student will then write and revise many, many times until they complete their piece. They will then submit their piece and immediately work on the next project. 

 

Writing Principles and Techniques

 

Throughout this process, Paul will teach the student many writing principles and techniques that not only prepare the student for the next upcoming deadline but also for all future writing assignments. 

 

• For essays, he teaches them how to conduct thorough research, organize ideas in a tightly structured logical flow, and write with precise vocabulary and a strong, concise style. 

• For short stories, he teaches them how to create unique and complex characters, engaging and unpredictable plots, and deep, meaningful themes. 

• For poems, he teaches them to take risks, to break boundaries, to experiment. Winning poems almost always demonstrate profoundly insightful and creatively daring expression. 

• For plays, he teaches them how to write specifically for characters on stage, a setting that requires different strategies and techniques than when writing a short story. He also shows them how to write realistic and vivid dialogue that carries the plot forward while revealing both the characters and themes. 

 

Paul not only teaches the students how to approach and master each genre or category of writing but also how to write sentences and paragraphs more effectively. Paul provides detailed lessons on writing mechanics including effective sentence variation, strong verb choice, and powerful vocabulary, skills that immediately improve every writing piece.​​

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For over 20 years, Paul has helped students increase their chances of winning honors and prizes for competitions and publications. To schedule lessons or get more information, click here.

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