Finding Their Voice: Young Writers at TAS

Long before literary journals and national recognition entered the picture, many student writers at Taipei American School simply began with a story they wanted to tell.

For Austin B. ’28, that journey began at five years old with his mother’s notebook and an active imagination. Inspired by the Timmy Failure series, he created a 231-page illustrated alternate version of the novels, one of his favorite book series at the time.

 

“Writing is unique in that it naturally flows out of me,” Austin said.

Years later, that instinct for storytelling continues to shape his work in the TAS Honors Creative Writing Workshop, where his poetry and prose have earned recognition both within the TAS writing community and through publications including The New York Times and The Harvard Advocate.

Austin is one of several TAS student writers who have recently received recognition through national and international writing programs, reflecting a growing culture of literary exploration emerging across divisions and grade levels.

This year, TAS students once again earned top distinctions through the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Achievement Awards in Writing, an annual competition for high school sophomores and juniors centered around a themed writing prompt. The 2026 theme, “The joy and power of reading,” invited students to respond in forms ranging from personal narratives and poetry collections to photo essays.

After participating in a blind internal review process led by the Upper School English Department, four TAS students were selected as school nominees. Austin B. ’28 and Talan T. ’28 received the competition’s highest distinction, “First Class,” while Kaela A. ’27 and Queenie Y. ’27 earned the distinction of “Superior.”

TAS students were also recognized through the Betty L. Yu and Jin C. Yu Creative Writing Prizes, created by TaiwaneseAmerican.org in collaboration with National Book Award-winning author Charles Yu to encourage and celebrate creative literary work by Taiwanese American students.

This year, Serena S. ’29 received the Grand Prize in the high school category, while Lucy W. ’27 was recognized as a finalist and Sebastian L. ’27 and Yvonne H. ’28 earned honorable mentions. In poetry, Talan T. ’28 received First Selection recognition, while Austin B. ’28 was also recognized as a finalist. In the Middle School division, Laurie F. ’30 received the Grand Prize award.

The recognitions also extended beyond current students. TAS alumna Davina J. ’25, who won the high school Grand Prize the previous year, was recognized this year as a finalist in the college category.

For Upper School English teacher Ms. brenda Lin, these accomplishments reflect something deeper than competition results or publication credits.

“The spirit of the Creative Writing Workshop is to write against perfection and towards experimentation and playfulness,” Ms. Lin explained.

Within the Honors Creative Writing Workshop, students explore nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and hybrid forms while participating in peer workshops, collaborative critique, and creative experimentation. Ms. Lin says the process is designed not only to strengthen technical skill, but also to help students develop trust, accept vulnerability, and cultivate confidence in their own voices.

“Sharing creative work can often feel daunting because it’s so personal,” Ms. Lin said. “So we spend a lot of time building trust and understanding that we meet risk with risk.”

That emphasis on experimentation and authenticity strongly resonates with Austin’s own philosophy about writing.

“I’d like to say that an indelible tenderness has seeped into my writing this year,” Austin reflected. “Especially in poetry, where it emerges in various personas and images and metaphors which respond to the world around me.”

While Austin’s earliest literary interests leaned toward fantasy and science fiction, his reading life has expanded across genres and subjects. Among his favorite works are The Silmarillion and The Priory of the Orange Tree, alongside nonfiction works exploring climate, politics, and global issues.

Despite the growing recognition his work has received, Austin says his approach to submitting writing remains relatively simple.

“The process of sending my work isn’t particularly concerted or organized in a way that is designed to elicit the best competitive results,” he said. “I just send whatever I write on a particular day and hope for the best.”

For Ms. Lin, that honesty and individuality are central to why creative writing matters in the first place.

“When students send their writing out into the world, the goal is not to win prizes or to be published,” she said. “The goal is for students to share work they are proud of with an authentic audience.”

She believes recognition often follows when students embrace vulnerability and develop writing that genuinely reflects who they are.

“I have found that students are awarded with recognition when the work they share is honest, earnest, and vulnerable,” Ms. Lin said. “In short, writing that sounds like them, because it is written in their unique voice.”

Austin shares a similar perspective.

“There’s no formula,” he said. “The only thing you can do is let loose the storyteller within you.”

That philosophy also shapes the advice he offers other young writers at TAS.

“Write what you love and love what you write.”