Writing Tips For Teens: Goals and Success

Tips About Life and It's Relation to Writing

By AMIR ALI SAID

Timeless books, films, and writings will always be around. But the job of everyone else who wants to write or direct, is to create some more. Make some sort of space in history for themselves. When upcoming writers and filmmakers accomplish and strive to conquer that main goal everybody wins. The Arts help people, they offer a source of revenue to the creators and it's an overall plus for everybody around. That's why I think making goals and conquering them are very important to being a successful writer or filmmaker.

One thing that I look forward to doing each day is accomplishing a solid overall day. A significant time spent reading, writing, and sharpening my craft. Plus, I look forward to doing the things I enjoy most. As a writer, achieving these things on a daily basis fashion yourself into a better person and writer. You certainly don't want to become a robotic writer based strictly on routine. But I believe routine is always best in helping your writing along.

Writing and ordinary life go hand and hand. Most people gather ideas and story ideas from their every day life as it stands. But besides that, success and writing are two things that I think a lot of people overlook. Not everybody can be a writer. But if you work hard at your craft you'll get somewhere. Writing is something that must be worked on. But like I said early, you can write about whatever you want. Plus, if you do your due diligence you'll be able to preserve works that came before you. Then after that you can carve out your own little piece of history.

Writing Tips For Teens: Preparing and Writing Outlines

Outlines Are An Extremely Key Component to Writing

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. Outlines are a source of organization. Writing with organization is one of the most important things you can accomplish. Organization helps separate multiple ideas, get those across, and it also develops others. 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. After writing an outline you build off of that. Your outline's length may vary. It's important to get each point or idea that you plan on writing about into the outline. Then you can separate and organize each idea into different tiers of importance. After that move on to the next stage and figure out what you actually remove a couple things that aren't needed. By that time, your outline should be finished and your thoughts should be clear. 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, my father (A.K.A. Amir Said) and I discussed splitting our stories into four acts. But after Pop read, "Selling A Screenplay: The Screenwriter's Guide to Hollywood," by Syd Field, he reconsidered. My father 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, my father 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 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. I also think you should re-read your article after your finished and see if you can shift a couple paragraphs. If you can't accomplish that then at least try to move a couple sentences around. It helps with organization and revision, plus, some sentences may be in the wrong place.

Time is of the essence in practically every writing piece that you intend to do. You have to manage your time properly so that when your done, you've done everything you could to write a solid piece. That also means time must be given to write an outline. If and when you can't do that, there must be a phase of heavy revision and skepticism after and during your writing. Nonetheless, outlines are a key component to writing that must be done every time you sit down to write. All of these above-mentioned techniques that I use, are recommended by me for Teens who are in the writing field.

Writing Tips For Teens: Film Reviews

Many Thoughts and Ideas Flow to Create a Good Review

By Amir Ali Said

If you really enjoy all the aspects of films like me, being able to write Film Reviews are helpful. It's a way to express your ideas in writing about film's you've watched. Film Reviews are also a great tool to help your writing, even if you're not into film. Film Reviews force you to write in a specific format. Here's how I write Film Reviews.

When writing a film review you have to remember a lot of aspects in the film you've watched or you could take notes while watching the film. In my case, I go off of my memory. When I write film reviews I first create an outline. Outlines are useful in all types of writing, it's important to get your ideas down so you understand what you're going to write about. Also, outlines help you frame what you're going to write. After I create an outline, I start piecing together my review.

When writing a film review you have to engage your readers, just like with any other writing piece. You engage your readers by having an introduction. In the introduction you should prepare to speak about the film. Then after writing the introduction I suggest you write a synopsis for the film. The synopsis is a brief summary of the film that you've watched. Usually you should be able to write what the film is about in one sentence.

However, you can still build out that paragraph to discuss other elements in the film. After writing the synopsis I suggest you give some criticism. It can be either positive or negative criticism. After giving criticism I suggest you should give some concluding thoughts. When writing a film review the idea is to write in movements.

Writing Tips For Teens: Point, Support

Support Each Point You Introduce

By Amir Ali Said

Today I want to talk about PS (point, support). When you're writing, and you introduce a point you must support it. For example, if you say the fruit was good, you have to give at least two or three reasons to support why you say the fruit is good. Then when your finished, if you want to introduce another point, again you must support your point. The equation is simple, you introduce a point, you follow it up with support. When you introduce a point, you can't go onto another point until you've completely gotten your previous point across.

When you're writing its important to be clear. As a writer, you have an obligation to your reader; you have to make their reading as easy as possible. A simple way to do that is by supporting each and every point that you introduce. When a writer does this, it helps the reader understand what the writer is trying to say. When reading, it helps you navigate through the text.

Also, as a writer, its important that your writing flows well. If you're introducing more than one point, without giving the proper attention to your previous point then it negates the whole purpose. Which is why, it's one of the most important techniques. Point, support needs to be executed on a routine basis, or your writing will be cluttered. Point, support is one of the most simple techniques, but it can teach you a lot.

Writing Tips For Teens: Importance Of Patience

Avoid Clunky Writing, By Taking Your Time

By Amir Ali Said

Today, I want to discuss having patience when writing. One thing about writing from memory, an idea, or about research is, you must have patience. What I mean is, patience that will allow your ideas to grow on their own terms. Not allowing ideas to grow and expand in your mind can lead to clunky writing. Once a person doesn't think enough or even attempt to, they are therefore giving up on their ideas.

When I'm writing, I don't try to rush. Instead, I take my time and plan out what I want to write. That way, my ideas will flow through my mind, and then into my writing piece. Another thing, writers can't have a short attention span, or else they'll lose focus easily. What I do to stay focus is, go over each idea that I want to make and think of how I can interpret them better than I originally thought.

Patience is key with practically everything in life. However, with writing it's even more important. I like to think of having patience as a piece to a bigger puzzle. Writing isn't something that can be done in a very short period of time, which is why patience is key. All of the aforementioned techniques that I use are recommended by me for all writers.

Writing Tips For Teens: Writing On Assignment

Assigned Writing Pieces Require Time Management

By Amir Ali Said

Today, I want to discuss Writing on Assignment. When writing on assignment, think of yourself as a journalist working for a publication and you've been assigned a story. However, at this age, you'll probably be assigned writing from a teacher or parent. But when you grow up, and possibly become a journalist, you'll be working for a publication. In that publication, there are people put in charge to oversee your position, sort of like a teacher or a parent. These people at publications are known as editors.

Writing on assignment can mean "crunch time," or a lot of time. Time is essential when you're writing on assignment. Whenever I'm writing on assignment, I try to do it as soon as possible. It’s never good to procrastinate when writing, especially when you're on assignment and only have a specific amount of time to finish your piece. I find writing on assignment to be fun. But then again, I just like writing. All of the aforementioned techniques that I use are recommended by me for all writers.

Writing Tips for Teens: Writing With A Clear Mind

Clean Mind Paves the Way For Broad Imagination

By Amir Ali Said

Today, I want to discuss writing with a clear mind. As a writer, imagination is one of the most important components to solid writing. Which is why, if your mind isn't clear when you sit down to write, more than likely, your writing won't be good. Instead, your mind will be flooded with constant barriers stopping you from having well thought out ideas. When our mind isn't clear, you won't be open to a lot of topics. You also won't be able to think of new ideas, and new ways to convey your message.

When writing with a clear mind, you can do any and everything. Your mind will flow with new ideas. Plus, if you're thinking of just one thing to write, you'll be able to work harder. Not only harder, but also more efficient. One thing that helps me have a clear mind after something throws me off, is thinking of my favorite movies, or reading a article, book etc. Another thing that helps me is thinking of new ideas, and how encouraged I am to do more. Writing with a clear mind is as essential as having a broad imagination. When both are working together, they can go a long way. All of the aforementioned techniques that I use are recommended by me for all writers.

Writing Tips For Teens: Writing Routine

Can't Just Write Whenever, You Must Have A Schedule

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.

Writing Tips For Teens: Comma Usage

Comma's Need To Be Used Appropriately

By Amir Ali Said

Today, I want to discuss comma usage. Commas aren't supposed to be used like periods. Commas are supposed to be used to help guide the reader through complex sentences. Commas are also supposed to help the reader navigate through your writing. When commas are used too much, and not appropriately there will be awkward stops in your writing. Plus, your writing won’t flow well, and it'll be pause after pause without natural stops.

Comma usage also relies on simple grammar rules. For example, whenever using phrases like however, usually your going to have to use a comma after it. Another thing to keep in mind when using commas is, reading over your writing to look for natural pauses, and pauses where commas are needed. Comma usage is an important aspect of writing when it comes to writing because navigation is key.

Writing Tips For Teens: Working On a Compressed Time Clock

I Write Better With More Time

By Amir Ali Said

Sometimes when writing, you won't have a lot of time to finish a piece. Its basically working on specific window of time. Let's not forget, this is usually what happens when a person writes for a daily publication. That writer doesn't have all day to write his piece. In fact, if the publication is off schedule by even three minutes, that writers window of time becomes even smaller.

Writing on a compressed time clock can help and hurt some writers. Believe it or not, some people work better when they're under pressure. I work better with more time, and I think most people are the same way. One thing about writing on a compressed time clock is your mind has to move faster. When you write quickly, the piece may not be very efficient because in order to compensate for time, you take shortcuts.