Deniece Williams "Silly" Could Teach My Generation

By Amir Ali Said

Today's the first day that I heard "Silly" by Denise Williams. It's such a beautiful song. The way that Denise Williams sings engages the listener. Even how the song starts off, the vocals don't come in until around the 30 second mark; instead, it's a slow, up-tempo, cool melody to introduce the song. After 30 seconds in, Denise Williams comes in with the vocals in a low pitch tone. She sings her verse and then goes into the change during the hook.

"Silly" is a nice, mood-swinging song. Meaning, however you were just feeling the songs just takes you on a journey. Deniece Williams' singing helps the song move along. The way her voice moves in out of the beat engages the listener more than anything. She easily changes the pitch of her voice, both subtly and aggressively when she needs to.

Even though I'm 13 years old, music like this will always stick with me. Other kids in my generation will listen to Beyonce or Rihanna but I find refuge in listening to Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight. I think that if kids in my generation were to listen to the music I listen to they would like it. I also think that would change the way other kids in my generation think, thereby creating offsprings of children who preserve this kind of music. But instead music like this isn't played in rotation over the radio or on Ipod's. Here's a song that could be used as well.
Below is "Silly" - Deniece Williams.

Writing Tips For Teens: Writing Outlines

By Amir Ali Said

When writing, its a good idea to always have an outline for what you're working on. No matter what the writing project is, its a good idea to create an outline for the work you're going to create. Today, I'll discuss how to structure your writing outlines for stories, Blog posts, books, and screenplays. But first let's get into the importance of an outline.

To have an effective writing piece, outlines are the key to success. When writing an outline, you can organize your thoughts about your writing. Then when you’re done you build off of that. When writing an outline for your stories, book ideas and screenplays its a good idea to separate the story into acts.

A couple months ago, Pop and I discussed splitting our stories into four acts. But today, after Pop read, "Selling A Screenplay: The Screenwriter's Guide to Hollywood," by Syd Field, he reconsidered. Pop said that he read in the book that screenwriters in the past didn't write their stories into four acts. Instead; these screenwriters used the three-act system, beginning, middle, and end. After reading, Pop said that we should use that system. We had a discussion and I concluded that this would in fact be the correct way to write our outlines for stories, book ideas, and screenplays. For Blog posts, it's a little bit different.

When writing a solid Blog post its a good idea to also create an outline. However, it's not a book, screenplay, or story so you don't have to jot down so many notes. When writing an outline for a Blog post, a couple sentences with spacing should do. It's a good idea to write down what your post is going to be about and then build from that. Plus, take down some key details that you plan on putting into your article. All of these above-mentioned techniques that I use, are recommended by me for Teens who are in the writing field.

Oscars Give Oppurtunity to Learn

I watch the Oscars to learn. When watching I learn about 3 things. 1. I gain insight into the film business. When watching, I pay attention to all the award winners. Especially when they give their speeches, they truly give insight into the film business. Little things that award winners say give insight into the business. Whether it be A-list to C-List actors, writers, and directors, they can all drop jewels in their speeches. Just watching last night, an award winner, I can't remember who, said that they'd been "Stuck In Development all their life." This means that all their projects where "In Development," never actually completed. That's revealing, it's tell you something the movie industry.

The second thing I learn is some people's characters. When watching, I learn a lot from people's facial expressions. Let's say a actor, actress, director, or writer wins and a fellow actor actress etc. doesn't stand up to clap. That shows me how that person feels and how they react to other people winning besides them. That shows conceited and jealous characteristics. Characteristics that I'm not fond of.

The third thing I learn is how the Academy feels about every movie. I learn this through the selections made by the Academy for each film category. Sometimes I agree and disagree with the Academy's choices. However, it's what they decide and I get insight into how the feel about the movies. These are just some reasons why the Oscars are cool. But like any other award show it's job is to entertain, but with my family we learn.

"Thats What You Get For Being Polite;" Jackson 5

By Amir Ali Said

One of my favorite songs is "That's What You Get for Being Polite" by the Jackson 5. I first heard the song last year with Pop, while we were writing. The song is dope. Usually, whenever Pop and I drive somewhere, we'll listen to this song at least once. We listen to this song all the time. Michael Jackson sets off the song and creates the mood. He's singing passionately, and if you listen to the lyrics, I think he's talking about himself.

The Jackson 5 was a great group. The song "That's What You Get for Being Polite" illustrates the group in its prime. The way the Jackson 5 sing in this song shows how great this family of singers were. The harmony and togetherness of the Jackson 5 is certainly on display.

Collaborating With Pop

By Amir Ali Said

Collaborating with Pop is the coolest thing ever. Having the opportunity to write with Pop really inspires me to do better at everything that I do. I really like writing and when I get to write with Pop it makes writing so much better. This is why I really appreciate us writing together.

Pop is my main mentor. He helps me with any and everything that I need. Especially when it comes to writing. It's a family trade, it's what we do. Since I started homeschooling I've become way more involved in my writing. Plus, Pop and I have been collaborating more than ever. To Pop, I love you and I look forward to writing with you more and more.

Literary Club: 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'

By Amir Ali Said

Today marks the fourth week I've been in literary club. Today's discussion was very helpful in my comprehension of the first book in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. I learned a lot of things I never knew about this book. For one, I never knew that The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy was part of pop culture. Until two weeks ago I didn't even know a book existed. Now come to find out The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is quoted and discussed as part of pop culture. I only thought a small group of people knew or read this book.

Number two, I didn't know that Douglas Adams (author) was an atheist. This group of people, Atheist' don't believe in the notion of a god. In the book Adams gives hints to his beliefs. This really comes out in a scene where there is a fish talking to what is suppose to be God. In this scene, the fish says that God can't exist. There I wondered if Adams was an atheist, and during the discussion I realized that he was. Also, I looked him up and found out that he considers himself to be a "radical atheist."

After the discussion at literary club today I came away with a much better understanding of the first book in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. This understanding helped me get a better grasp of book one. It also gave me more fuel to want to read book one again to see if I missed anything. With literary club, I think we all get a better understanding of the books we read.

Writing Tips For Teens: Writing Routine

By Amir Ali Said

Today I want to discuss having a writing routine. When writing, you can't write on and off. You have to dedicate hours and hours at a time on a regular basis. As a writer, you should come up with a writing routine that suits you. For me, I dedicate about 2 hours a day to my writing. Whether it be on short stories, blog posts, or the book I'm working on. That all qualifies as time for your writing routine. Your routine should be based on the amount of time that you have, and the amount of time you want to spend on writing.

To have an effective writing routine you have to do it each day. Meaning, you can't write 3 days out of the week and that's it. Even if you can only squeeze in a half hour, make it your business to write. That's the key to having an effective writing routine, writing each and every day.

Duffy and Adele Less Foriegn Than R&B Singers Today

By Amir Ali Said

Black American Soul Music doesn’t exist today. Well it does, just mostly not in America, it seems to be widespread in London. So called R&B singers, don't sing like the Black American Soul singers from 30 years ago. For example, Gladys Knight, Curtis Mayfield, and Aretha Franklin, just to name a few. This soul music personifies what Black American Soul music is all about. Black American Soul Music is about pain, struggle, perseverance, joy, unique sound, and a real singing voice. These are things that separate Black American Soul Music from then and now.

R&B Singers today, like Rihanna and Beyonce have okay voices and they sing nothing like Black American Soul Music from yesterday. Now on the other hand, it seems like Duffy and Adele pay homage to Black American Soul music. In fact, emulating it. They're paying tribute to Black American Soul! R&B singers today don't take advantage of their history or their natural black soul.

Finally, R&B singers today must stop this nonsense. They’re not recognizing their heritage and they're just throwing it away. They have a choice and they should use their natural black soul.

With Homeschool, Oppurtunities Keep Coming

By Amir Ali Said

Today was the first day I went to film review class. Just another addition to my homeschooling schedule. The film review class was cool. In class we watch a film, then afterward we have a discussion. The first film we watched was Big Fish. Big Fish is about a father and son reuniting before the father's death. Overall, the movie was cool. But I'll dedicate another post to Big Fish at a later time. Back to the class.

At the film review class, we discussed Big Fish in depth. We went over the writing, cinematography, direction and surrounding themes in the movie. The discussion was helpful, since I do a film log for each movie that I see. The film review class is a new addition to my homeschooling schedule, like literary club. Both are great tools to help me with what I'm interested in, films and writing. Both opportunities only come when you're a homeschooler. And one more thing about film class, I met this cool girl named Delfina.

Writing Tips For Teens

By Amir Ali Said

To be an effective and good writer it takes time. A person doesn't just become a excellent writer, it takes time and effort. Time has to be spent on writing all kinds of things; from short stories to books to screenplays. The object is to write. Write as much as you can, whenever you can. You have to nourish your writing. Also, you have to write on a consistent basis. Writing something every day is a good routine.

Writing is a great tool for expressing your mind. This is why I find writing so helpful and useful. Having a blog is also useful. When you have a blog it helps with your writing. With a blog you can write about any and everything that peaks your interests. That's what I try to do with Amir13. For me to tell you how to be a good writer would truly take more than one post. This is why I'm starting a new category, Writing Tips for Teens.