Essay Beowulf The Ideal Anglo-Saxon Hero - 858 Words

Originating in the Anglo-Saxon period, the epic poem Beowulf portrays a legendary hero. Beowulf established the earlier form of heroism, and was then later introduced in to the English culture. Praised and admired by many people, Beowulf possesses several distinct traits that allow him to be defined perfectly as an ideal Anglo-Saxon hero; his eagerness to seek glory and fame, rather than richness and treasures, his loyalty and graceful attitude not only to his rulers but also to his followers, and his contradictory beliefs of faith and fate In the Anglo-Saxon society, an ideal hero does not seek riches of gold and treasures; instead, he seeks fame and glory through his accomplishments. To ensure immortality and spread his name across†¦show more content†¦Moreover, he also signifies his loyalty to his uncle, which is another heroic trait he owns that defines heroism. The other leading heroic trait that Beowulf possesses is loyalty. The Anglo-Saxon warriors believe in the idea of comitatus, which are the faithful and unbreakable bonds between his king and his warriors. Throughout the story, Beowulf had shown devotions to both his leader and his followers. As mentioned earlier, Beowulf easily passed all the treasure to his uncle noting that â€Å"since every benefit I have ever received I owe to you, my closest and kindest kinsman on earth. (Chapter 31).He shows great gratitude to his king by presenting all of his treasures that he had gained. He was then portrayed to be â€Å"loyal and true and loved him dearly ,† (Chapter 31). Additionally, not only he is committed to his rulers, Beowulf is also loyal to his followers. As described by Wiglaf, one of his most faithful men, â€Å"Our ancient king often gave us---heroes while in hall!---helmets and mailcoats, the finest treasures he could find for his men anywhere on earth, armor like the brilliant well-wrought war-gear you areShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Beowulf As A Heroic Epic779 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"A hero is somebody who voluntarily walks into the unknown†. Stories about such heroes have been told for centuries. In fact, heroistic ideals are sometimes the basis of a society. The Anglo-Saxon people are a prime example of the previous statement. In Anglo-Saxon culture, being called a hero was an honor. Heroes were treated like kings. One of the most popular hero stories that bled into Anglo-Saxon life was the heroic epic of Beowulf. Beowulf was the perfect example of an Anglo-Saxon hero as heRead More Epic of Beowulf E ssay1033 Words   |  5 Pages The epic poem, Beowulf, is one of the oldest European epics in existence. When Beowulf was written, the writer incorporated many of the ideals of the Anglo-Saxons. Some of these ideals included loyalty, bravery, selflessness, and justice and were demonstrated in the hero. Both the characters Beowulf and Grendel represent aspects of both good and evil, Christianity and Paganism, and what occurs when they collide with one another. A characteristic of an epic poem is the concern over struggles thatRead MoreQualities of an Ideal Anglo-Saxon Warrior Illustrated in Beowulf638 Words   |  3 PagesAn Anglo Saxon epic poem, Beowulf, which was originally passed down through an oral tradition during the 5th century was written into literacy by an unknown Christian monk during the 10th century. This classic poem explicitly illustrates an ideal Anglo Saxon hero of possessing the characteristics that many people during that time regarded highly. Beowulf is an e pitome of an Anglo Saxon ideal hero who possesses loyalty to both of his people and king, desires to gain glory and fame for his own recognitionRead MoreThe Epic Of Beowulf By William Shakespeare977 Words   |  4 Pagesthat are noble to them. Beowulf, as an epic hero, is a direct representation of the ideal man as seen through Anglo-Saxon eyes. In looking at the poem Beowulf and analyzing the characteristics of the epic hero, it will become evident the desired attributes that were desired in the Anglo-Saxon culture: physical strength, pride, bravery, selflessness, and loyalty. An epic hero is a person that is admired for great achievements and inspires great events. Beowulf certainly fits into both ofRead MoreThe Themes Of Heroism In The Wander By Anglo-Saxon830 Words   |  4 PagesTo start of I selected Beowulf by Anglo-Saxon, the second text I chose was The Wander by Anglo-Saxon. The theme of Beowulf is heroism. Beowulf himself represents the heroic ideal because of his features, strength, and courage, but also because of his intelligence and honor. Beowulf is proud of his strength and great his honor. When Beowulf goes to Heorot, waiting for Grendel, he refuses to keep a weapon. He believes in himself that he can defeat the monster who has devoured many men without usingRead More Reflections of a Culture Past Essay654 Words   |  3 PagesReflections of a Culture Past The poem, Beowulf was supposedly written in the tenth century, but it was most likely told before then, orally, for centuries. There is little information about the author, on when Beowulf was first created or about the original version of the story before it was written. However the poem does, however, give us great insight into the cultural views and ideals of the Anglo-Saxon people who would have composed and told this tale. This includes their political, socialRead MoreBeowulf: An Analysis1615 Words   |  7 Pages11/26/10 Beowulf Anglo Saxons are Germanic people that lived during the 5th and 6th centuries. This early Anglo-Saxon society was centered on families and clans. The earliest Saxon settlers and families in England were pagans who worshipped a number of gods. Although Anglo Saxons had unalterable beliefs, Christians eventually purveyed their religion upon the pagans. However, the ideals of paganism still perpetuate through the most prominent epic poem of this era called Beowulf. Beowulf embodiesRead MoreTheme Of Heroism In Beowulf740 Words   |  3 PagesThe theme of Beowulf is heroism. Beowulf himself represents the heroic ideal because of his features, strength, and courage, but also because of his intelligence and honor. Beowulf is proud of his strength and great his honor. When Beowulf goes to Heorot, waiting for Grendel, he refuses to keep a weapon. He believes in himself that he can defeat the monster who has devoured many men without using any weapons. It turns out that Beowulfs intellig ent approach was right. Glory is also one of the themesRead MoreVirtues Of The Anglo Saxons1054 Words   |  5 Pages Virtues in the Anglo Saxons In the 8th century, an epic poem of Beowulf written by an anonymous author embodies the ideal characteristics of Anglo Saxons. During the time of Anglo Saxons, Beowulf is used to convey similar qualities such as virtues, belief and traits in which the character of B Beowulf possess. For example, Beowulf exhibits Bravery, Loyalty, and strength. Beowulf’s action symbolizes him as the epitome of a â€Å"True Hero† because he demonstratesRead MoreBeowulf : An Anglo Saxon Hero1825 Words   |  8 PagesBeowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Hero The Anglo-Saxons’ cultures and traditions are rooted in their beliefs of the perfect hero. Their ideal hero has many key characteristics influenced by their culture including courage, strength, bravery, thick skin, loyalty, humbleness, and the ability to create strong trustworthy friendships. Beowulf is an epic poem that exhibits the ideal Anglo-Saxon hero. The Anglo-Saxon traditions illustrated in Beowulf accurately represent the Anglo-Saxon traditions of the time period

The Impact of Technology on Music in the 20th Century Free Essays

string(37) " money being spent on entertainment\." Matthew Hugenschmidt LBST 3020-090 Final Paper For centuries man has sought pleasure through music and visual arts. Until the last 100 years or so that required someone to go see a live performance, either locally or possibly to a larger metropolis with concert halls and theaters. The technological advances experienced in the last century have allowed the pairing of the audio and visual media for the masses, and have let them spread much farther than their local roots and changed their influence on society. We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of Technology on Music in the 20th Century or any similar topic only for you Order Now Though essentially performing the same function, they have gone from merely allowing an escape from everyday life for very limited audiences to affecting American society’s values, view of its own culture, and consumerism. With the advent of the gramophone in 1901 people were able to listen to music inside their own homes, as well as were able to easily transport music from one area to another. (Savage 115) It was these earliest recordings brought with the American troops, or doughboys, in WWI that brought jazz, blues, and other American musical styles to Europe. These recordings would heavily influence the shape of the European musical landscape after the war, and also increase the overseas demand for American culture and style. The music and associated dances were completely new to Europeans, and combined with the care free attitude of the Americans it showed what was seen as a hopeful way of life that had all but been forgotten in the war ravaged continent. This craving for American culture would have a large effect on the coming European generations, and would help steer the musical course for the bands that started the British Invasion. Almost simultaneously, nickelodeons started to become popular in urban areas of the United States. Named after their admission price, a nickel, these places showed short motion pictures and were usually located in working class districts. (essortment. com) Since the movies of the time were silent, the theaters usually had a piano or organ to provide music for the film. This was the first time there was a mass media distribution that included both audio and visual components, though the music played varied a bit from theater to theater. As movie technology improved nickelodeons soon ecame out of date, but they laid the ground work for audio and visual pairings in mass media. The rise of national radio broadcasts in the United States would play a huge part in the spread of music around the country. When the national broadcasts went to clear channel, it signaled the rise of weekly radio shows that became standard nationwide. Because of the limited variety of programming at the time, the se programs had a very large audience base. One of these radio shows was Ozzie and Harriet, a family oriented radio show that was based on Ozzie and Harriet Nelson’s family. The show was quite popular on the radio since it portrayed the everyday stereotypical white suburban family. The major leap came when television became the new medium of choice. In 1957 Ozzie and Harriet moved from radio to television, and by this point their son Ricky had also become an integral part of the show. This was during the very beginnings of Rock Roll, and Ozzie saw an opportunity to cross market his son as both an actor and a singer. At the time the genre was represented primarily by figures like Elvis and Chuck Berry who were by considered risque by the elder suburban white population. Ricky Nelson was marketed as a wholesome alternative singing the same style of music, thereby appealing to both the youth and their parents. This was a major step in defining stars in pop culture since it cemented that the performers image could be more important than their musical ability and gave rise to the teen idol culture. Concurrently, since the national broadcasters had begun to focus on television, the local radio stations no longer had time occupied retransmitting the major station broadcasts. Because of this they found it necessary to diversify their offerings to fill the time slots. This allowed them to cater more to their local audience and what they wanted to hear. This heralded the rise of the disc jockey, and because the radio signals reached beyond the immediate locale it broadened the fan base for many musical styles. Programs like Red Hot and Blue in Memphis started playing some more alternative styles, and when it was realized that there was a large demand for this music they became important for the stations and their advertisers. (Miller 35) These shows would play what they pitched as new and â€Å"hot† tracks, thereby pushing their listeners in the directions they wanted. The person that would take this to the next step was Dick Clark with American Bandstand. He very successfully took what these radio shows were doing and applied it to national television. By carefully selecting the performing artists and the kids dancing to the music, he cultivated a very tame and innocent atmosphere for the show. This was integral in changing the image of Rock Roll and its perception by the older generation, and though there had been variety shows for a good number of years, it was the first television show to completely focus on music and giving it a visual component. American Bandstand would go on to be one of the longest running series in television history. Also in the mid-1950s movie industry was becoming more popular than it had ever been, and this was due largely to the trickle down of the post World War II economic boom. Many teens had part time jobs doing things like delivering papers or running errands, and others were given an allowance by their parents. Because they had no bills to pay, all of the income for this demographic was disposable income. This led to almost all of their money being spent on entertainment. You read "The Impact of Technology on Music in the 20th Century" in category "Papers" This started in the early 1900s with the nickelodeons, and then progressed as the movie industry expanded and technology progressed to allow longer films and include audio. When the movie Blackboard Jungle was released in 1955 it brought out a very interesting revelation. The Bill Haley and His Comets’ song â€Å"(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock† was played over the opening credits, and though it had been released the year before it had not fared well at all on the charts. As soon as it was featured in the movie it immediately shot to the top of the charts, where it remained for eight weeks. Covach 78) Alan Freed, a New York City DJ, immediately saw an opportunity and began making movies such as Rock Around the Clock, Rock Rock Rock, and Mr. Rock and Roll. These movies had very little in the way of plot or story line, but focused on promoting some of the hottest musical acts of the time, including Chuck Berry and Little Richard. They also served to further the career of several new artists such as Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. (Covach 84) This would mark the beginning of cross marketing musical stars into movies. The person who is most responsible for the cross genre bridge between music and visual media was Elvis. His start was a humble one, beginning with him paying for his own recording at Sun Records. Sam Phillips thought the he heard something special and signed him. For the first year and a half that after his first Sun recordings, Elvis was primarily known in the south and was relegated to the country charts. It wasn’t until Phillips sold his contract to RCA that Elvis began getting television appearances, starting with Stage Show. Covach 85) The show had poor ratings, but within week of his start there he had become a national phenomenon. This led to his appearances on the Milton Berle show, the Steve Allen show, and culminating in the Ed Sullivan show. With his good looks, sex appeal, and exciting performance style, his television performances rapidly cast him onto the national stage. (Covach 84) This meteoric rise would forever cement the link between image and popularity, an d also add to the â€Å"rags to riches† dream which has always been prevalent in lower and middle class households. Once Freed’s movies started coming out and doing well, RCA was quick to pitch their new star as an actor as well, though more as a feature with hip music in it rather than a sort of American Bandstand movie. The movies Elvis did, such as Jailhouse Rock, fared decently well at the box office, and usually had a single by the same name released concurrently, which in turn became a hit. The companies behind the scenes had realized that by doing this they could have their star produce multiple revenue streams for them. This would lead to a slew of movies following the same formula, especially beach movies with surf music. These movies would prove to be very influential to the images of bands and individual singers for years to come. The next level of combining visual arts and music came in the form of marketing for a band, manifested as The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night. This movie departed from the Elvis style fictional motion picture that just included songs by the featured artists, which were pretty much standard at the time. Rather, this film portrayed The Beatles roughly as their lives actually were. Though exaggerated, they used The Beatles playing themselves showing their daily lives. The use of irony and satire were prevalent throughout the movie, which makes it an entertaining comedy. Even so, the viewer gets the sense that they are connected to the band and has gotten to know them on a personal level, and they could easily be someone down the street. One of the common themes throughout the film is the manager’s futile attempts at controlling the band members. Whenever he tells the band they need to do something like reply to fan mail or stay in the dressing room the first thing that is done is the opposite. Though the band members are always going against what they are being told to do, they always come through to fulfill their responsibilities, usually at the last possible moment. This appealed to both the youth who appreciated the free spiritedness The Beatles exhibited as well as the adults who cared about the example it set of fulfilling responsibility, thereby successfully cross marketing the band to both demographics. All of these events were heavily intertwined with the boom in consumerism in the 1950s and 60s. In an era of excess, the image of success is what was being sold. The idea of the suburban house with two cars and modern amenities was what the older generation who still remembered the depression was being pushed towards. With the surplus of disposable income in the post WWII economic boom, Americans began replacing items rather than fixing them, which let almost all products to be disposable. This attitude carried over to entertainment as well. Because of the short attention span of the general public it was no longer enough to just make good music. The image of the artist and how they were marketed became in some cases more important than the music itself. Rock Roll was integral in the shift of America’s values in 1950s to 1960s towards the liberal side, starting with the youth. The music and the image it portrayed meant different things to different people, usually split by generation, but the successful visual marketing done by some key players helped change the image and soften the transition to allow the older generation to become more receptive to the cultural changes. The liberalization of music and image that started in the 60s would grow by leaps and bounds in the 70s. Artists began to take the alter ego route started by the Beatles with Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and stepped it up a notch. One of the most notable examples of this was Alice Cooper. Alice Cooper’s lead singer, Vincent Furnier, had noticed that most rock stars of the day were portrayed as heroes, but there were few rock villains. He created the persona of Alice Cooper as such a villain and also dressed in tattered women’s clothes to add more social controversy. The biggest break and controversy that really launched the band was the infamous â€Å"Chicken Incident†, where at a show a chicken somehow made its way on stage. Thinking chickens could fly Alice Cooper threw the chicken into the air above the audience thinking it would fly away. Unfortunately, the chicken fell into the audience where it was torn apart. This turned into a story of him biting the head off the chicken and drinking its blood, which made national headlines. As had been learned with Elvis, the only bad press is no press, and this rang true for Alice Cooper as well. Following this, their performances were known for being â€Å"dangerous, dark, and irreverent. † (Covach 344) These shows usually ended with some sort of gruesome death for Alice, frequently beheading or electric chair. This goes to show how important and image and show could be to the career of a band. The next major development in visual and music pairing was MTV. This would go on to change the course of pop music and culture from its inception in 1981 all the way through the present day. MTV was modeled after Top 40 radio, focusing on the most popular artists at the time. In the early days they found that their most successful market was mainly the Midwest, so they focused on playing the mainstream rock artists that were usually white as well. At the same time most videos were shot on shoestring budgets since labels weren’t convinced that music videos would pay off in additional sales. (Covach 451) The view of music videos would change with Michael Jackson. In 1983 â€Å"Billie Jean† was rising in the pop charts, but MTV refused to play the video, presumably because it was thought it wouldn’t appeal to their target audience. After a great deal of pressure from Jackson’s label MTV conceded, and the video became very successful. This brought a significant rise in popularity to both the network and artist, and that in turn showed the labels the importance of music videos. After that, videos were major undertakings with major label backing and significant repercussions. It was found that even if the music wasn’t good, if the artist looked good in the video then they could be successful. This really is a continuation of the teen idol phase of the late 1950s, just taken to the next level and across a broader range of styles, which still continues today. Though MTV had become more popular and mainstream, it also had the double edged effect of negative media attention for the content of the videos it played. Applying images to music that was said to be â€Å"a help to the devil† (Gilmore 263) would bring further scrutiny to the content of the music itself. Though rap music was already under attack from the media and PMRC (Parents Music Resource Commission), videos like that of N. W. A. would further widen the gap. The most important technological advancement of the last 20 years or so is the development of the internet. This one creation has done more to connect the globe and share information than anything else in the history of man. The amount of information that is readily available o anyone with an internet connection is almost incomprehensible. This sharing of information has also had a drastic effect on the music industry and artists. According to Brian Hiatt and Evan Serpick â€Å"the Internet appears to be the most consequential technology shift for selling music since the 1920s. † (Hiatt Serpick) Because of the internet, anyone with a microphone or video camera an d internet access can publish their music. With the advent of some computer programs like Pro-Tools there isn’t even a need for musicianship. This has greatly changed the landscape for artists and how music is viewed socially. Until an artist becomes successful enough for corporations to heavily invest in, the responsibility for creating an image and fan base has largely moved from the label to the artists themselves. No longer does the label sign a band, make a record, and then produce a formulaic video to try to garner interest. Take Arctic Monkeys for example. Their debut album â€Å"Whatever people Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not† released in 2006 became the fastest selling debut album in British music history. (NME) They did this by recording early demos and giving them away on burned CDs at shows. In the digital age, these songs were immediately shared on the internet as well by their fans, which greatly broadened their popularity. Once their popularity was recognized, they were signed and had a huge debut album. This shows the shift in landscape and how the sharing of information and files on the internet can impact such a major industry. Works Cited Covach, John. What’s That Sound? An Introduction to Rock and Its History. New York: W. W. Norton ; Company, 2009. Essortment. com. The Nickelodeon’s History. ; http://www. essortment. com/nickelodeons-history-21268. html;. Gilmore, Mikal. Night Beat: a Shadow History of Rock ; Roll. New York: Anchor Books, 1998. Hiatt, Brian and Evan Serpick. â€Å"The Record Industry’s Decline†. Rolling Stone 19 June 2007: n. pag. Web. Miller, James. Flowers In the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock n’ Roll 1947-1977. New York: Fireside, 1999. NME. com. â€Å"Susan Boyle beats Leona Lewis, Arctic Monkeys to ‘biggest first week sales for UK debut album’ title†. http://www. nme. com/news/various-artists/48619 Samuels, David. Only Love Can Break Your Heart. New York: W. W. Norton Company, 2008. Savage, Jon. Teenage: the prehistory of youth culture: 1875-1945. New York: Penguin Books, 2007. How to cite The Impact of Technology on Music in the 20th Century, Essays

Media Portrayal of Stereo Types free essay sample

Most rappers are black people and the way the media orators them causes people of others races to look at them in a negative manner. To carry on the country singer example, most people look at country singers in a positive manner. The rap music that blasts from the stereo causes stereotypes, maybe that where that word originated from. When a jury member enters the court room those stereotypes are embedded in there subconscious. They may sneak and watch the news or talk to people about the rapper their judging.The usual senior is the prosecutors play the rappers USIA and videos in court, the jurors hear the music and automatically deliberate a guilty verdict based off the rappers violent lyrics. Most rappers have a vivid imagination that should be taken into account but usually that is not the case. The Media caused the death of two famous rappers Tuba Shaker and Biggie Smalls by sensationalistic a fall out between the two rappers. We will write a custom essay sample on Media Portrayal of Stereo Types or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Mr.. Shaker was a complex and sometimes contradictory figure, with a career featuring million-selling albums, gunshot wounds and run-ins with the police.He was an intelligent, vivid writer who had studied acting at the High School of Performing Arts in Baltimore; he was an accomplished rapper with a husky baritone and crisp enunciation. He was also a convicted sex offender, and the words Thug Life and Outlaw were tattooed on his body. Its really unfortunate that the violent perception that the world has of that young man may be exacerbated by the way he died: art is being confused with real life, Mr.. Shakers lawyer, Shawn S. Chapman, said yesterday in Los Angels.There was this wonderful, charming, bright, talented, funny person that no one is going to get to know; they are just going to know this other side. Hopefully, this will have some positive effect on people the gang members who are shooting each other. Although some may say that Tuba laid down in the bed he made, it is always unfortunate when someone with talent dies at such a young age, regardless of circumstances, hopefully the reaction to what has happened will dampen enthusiasm for violence among those who looked up to him, rather than promote it.

Miss Essays (246 words) - Kids, Physical Exercise, Parenting

Miss Most kids love to play sports. Its important to them, but for the majority, its just one type of activity out of many that they do. For a small number of kids, though, a sport becomes their whole life. They spend almost all their time and energy practicing. This has both advantages and disadvantages. Sports are good for young children in many ways. Kids who enjoy sports are likely to have better health. They develop good habits of daily exercise that will keep them healthy as adults, too. Today, many children and adults are overweight, but those who love sports stay in shape. Plus, by developing their physical abilities, they will learn how to work hard towards a goal. Their achievements in sports will make them feel good about themselves. Theyll also make friends and learn teamwork. Sports, whether a little or a lot, can have positive effects. We admire the talent and dedication of young athletes, but we also wonder if theyre losing something. Their focus is very narrow. If they devote most of their time to sports, are they neglecting schoolwork? What about other interests? Children should try out many different activities. In addition, many young athletes are pressured by parents or coaches to succeed. Kids whose drive comes from inside usually do okay, but others can be unhappy and have health and emotional problems. So sports, like anything else in excess, can have negative effects too.

Low Book Sales 11 Methods to Give Your Book a Boost Sell More

Low Book Sales 11 Methods to Give Your Book a Boost Sell More Low Book Sales: 11 Methods to Give Your Book a Boost Sell More You wrote a book for a few reasons†¦To fulfill a need in your life and also likely to make some passive income.Both of which are great reasons to write a book but what if only one outcome is coming to fruition and in fact, you’re not making much- if anything- off the hard work you put into your book?It can be really frustrating but we can help. After all, that’s part of what we do here at Self-Publishing School.Low Book SalesMany self-published authors who are doing this on their own may see an encouraging spike in sales early on in their publishing journey.After their launch, however, they check their stats, only to be let down by the low book sales they see. What happened to this vision of an author who actually made a living from their books?While it’s challenging, making a full-time income from your books is possible. You just have to have the right system in place. Our very own coach here at Self-Publishing School, Lise Cartwright, has been able to grow her passive income to over $4,000 per month in sales.And we want to teach you how to do the same.Nobody likes low book sales. If you did, you’d never publish a book in the first place but instead, just hoard your books for yourself to read.But it’s not always just about the money, either. More book sales means that more people are reading your book and changing their lives as a result.Since sharing your book’s deep purpose is linked to book sales, it’s only reasonable to want to learn how to sell more books.Plus, we all like to be paid fairly for the work we put into our books, right?NOTE: We cover everything in this blog post and much more about how to build a platform and maintain consistent book sales in our Sell More Books Program. Learn more about it hereHow to Sell More BooksSo you did it. You went through the arduous process of self-publishing and now you’re left with more questions than when you started.Since your focus was on actually pub lishing your book, you may have overlooked the very important step of making sure it actually sells.Here at Self-Publishing School, we know what it takes to self-publish and maintain your book sales.Just take a look at this student’s results with our methods. Jed Jurchenko committed, and made it happen, so much so that he’s now one of our very own coaches, so he can teach new students how to implement these techniques in the same way he did.Here’s how you can get rid of your low book sales and actually sell more books. #1 Realize the marketing doesn’t stop once you hit â€Å"publish†The best thing for you to do is realize that just because you’ve published, it doesn’t mean the work is done.In order to maintain steady, continuous book sales, you have to set up a foundation in which you can grow from. This often means marketing regularly in order to keep your book in the limelight.For example, the more you market your book, the more vi sitors you’ll get on your book’s page.Why is this important?Because the Amazon algorithm uses other user’s information to make sure your book pops up in the â€Å"Customers who bought this item also bought†¦Ã¢â‚¬  section, as seen in the example below.The more people visit your book’s page, the more information Amazon gathers about those users, and this helps your book land in that spot, which increases sales.#2 Adjust your book description on AmazonThe description you put on Amazon is much like a short sales letter.Why should someone buy your book? What’s in it for them? If they’re going to be paying you money, they often want to ensure they’re getting their money’s worth.Is your Amazon book description written in a captivating way?This is an example of a strong, powerful book description that helps pull in thousands of dollars in sales per month.Here are a few HTLM tips to ensure your book description on Amazon is hel ping increase your book sales:br Create line breaksem Emphasize the enclosed text in italicsfont Determines the appearance of the text within these bracketsh1 to h6 Determines the size of the text (h1 is the largest)hr This creates a horizontal line used to divide sectionsli is used to create lists (it stands for list item)ol creates a numbered liststrong created bolded textu underlines enclosed textIf you need more help, we have an entire blog post all about this topic, you can read right here.#3 Get more reviewsReviews are so important for book sales. Not only do they help readers discover if the book is a good fit for them, but Amazon relies on book reviews heavily in order to determine where to rank your book.The way the algorithm works is to reward authors who are getting consistent, high rating reviews. Meaning, if your book got 50 4 or 5 star reviews during launch and nothing since, it might fall in the rankings compared to a book that has fewer reviews, but had received the m on a consistent basis.The reason for this is because Amazon wants to promote books that are consistently getting sales and are pleasing the people actually buying them.So it’s your job to get out there and increase your reviews!Here are a few ways you can work to get more reviews (and we have a whole blog post about this here if you want to head over and read that):Add a section about reviewing the book within your bookHost giveaways with a review as one of the criteria to enterRemind people to write a review if they reach out about your bookIn order to increase your book sales, getting more reviews is essential. Don’t underestimate the power of a book review.#4 Create adsIf you’re willing to invest in your book, creating ads on Amazon and even BookBubs is a great way to increase your sales.Make sure you’re not putting more in than what you’re making. In order to ensure you’re using the ads to the best of your abilities, check out this po st about how to create unique Amazon ads to help your book stand out against the rest.#5 Host a relaunchA great way to help your book gain momentum again is to host a relaunch. This could be just a fun event where you get another launch team together to promote your book, or you could also put out a hardcover copy and host a launch for it.As of right now, Amazon does not allow printing of hardcover books, but you can use other sources like IngramSpark for your hardcover.This will bring new attention to your book and when you have more than one version (paperback, hardback, and kindle), you’re seen as more of an authority, which can skyrocket your sales.#6 Reassess your keywords on AmazonAuthors need to start treating Amazon like a search engine, because that’s what it is. But in its case, you’re searching for products and not just information, like you do in Google.Without hitting the right keywords, you can lose out on sales that should rightfully be yours, s imply because your book isnt’ showing up when someone looks for its contents.Take this, for example.If you search for the term â€Å"be happier† in the â€Å"books† category on Amazon, a number of results pop up.We go into even more details of this in our VIP Self-Publishing course, which you can check out right here.#7 Assess your categoriesThe categories you place your book in can make or break your chances of becoming an Amazon bestselling author!Do not make light of this.When you put in your information on Amazon, you’re able to select which categories your book belongs in. These are what’s shown in the example image below.We have a blog post covering this topic in much more detail than you can read right here, but we’ll give you the basics for getting approved for more categories:Use Amazon Keyword Selection. Place your categories in strategic places.Contact Amazon. These category placements are what will attract the right readers and help you become a bestseller remember that!#8 Upgrade your author bioYou want to make sure that people searching Amazon for the types of books you write can find you easily. And sometimes, that means optimizing your Amazon Author bio so others can do so.Take this example of Joanna Penn’s author bio.As you can see, she has a few keywords right away in her biography, which can help those searching for authors who cover the same material she does.Not only that, but she also posts â€Å"author updates† to keep her bio fresh. This shows others that she’s active, which can motivate them to purchase from her, since they know she’s frequently available.#9 Get book endorsementsBook endorsements are one of the best ways you can place yourself as more of an authority in your field. When others see that your book has an endorsement by someone they deem as highly credible, it can prompt them to purchase from you.The reason for this is because they already trust the person who is endorsing you.Since they may not have heard of you before, they might feel less inclined to purchase from you.But having a book endorsement from someone they trust will help calm their qualms so they purchase.Take this example of a book endorsement by one of our students, Cloris Kylie, and her book Beyond Influencer Marketing.#10 Land interviewsInterviews are a powerful way to get your name out and show people just how much you know about the topic you’ve discussed.Whether this is an in-person interview, like one of our youngest students, Emma Sumner as she discusses her book, The Fairies of Waterfall Island: The Search for the Missing Crystal, or an interview on a podcast, you can only benefit from allowing others to ask you questions about your book. Because you’re leveraging someone else’s audience, you can increase your book sales from those who may not have been able to find you or your book through other means.#11 Be consistentOverall, the best thing you can do for you and your low book sales is to be consistent with your methods of marketing.As scary as the term â€Å"marketing† can be, there are many ways you can up your exposure in order to increase your book sales.Our most successful students are those who put in the work and remain consistent in their efforts to sell more books.What’s to do NextAre you ready to increase your low book sales and turn your passion into consistent passive income?Were ready for you!

Definition and Examples of Vogue Words

Definition and Examples of Vogue Words A vogue word is a fashionable word or phrase that tends to lose its effectiveness through overuse. Also called a  voguism. Vogue words, says Kenneth G. Wilson, are perfectly good Standard English words that suddenly become modish, so that for a time we hear them being used everywhere, by everyone, until we are utterly sick of them (The Columbia Guide to Standard American English, 1993). Examples and Observations [Some] vogue words are technical words clumsily applied to other fields. These include parameter, bottom line, interface, mode, and space; phrases like immediate feedback and close the loop; and, in a sense, ballpark figure, and touch base with you.(Matt Young, The Technical Writers Handbook: Writing With Style and Clarity. University Science Books, 2002)IconicMr. Leopold is not turning 95 years old, but his iconic ice cream business is. . . .Now owned by Peters youngest son, Stratton, and his wife Mary, the iconic sweets shop on Broughton Street still serves its premium recipes in a fun, retro-style soda shop. . . .She says they plan to offer plenty of room for guests to find a seat while hot dogs will be for sale and the iconic Leopolds portable carts will be on hand outside the store.(BDay Bash: Leopolds Celebrates 95 Years. Savannah Morning News, August 14, 2014)ArtisanThere are, I think, two ways one could read the fact that McDonalds is using the word  artisan  to market it s chicken. On the one hand, it could be a self-aware joke meant to finally deal a death blow to one of the most grating words in the pop lexicon. The king of mass-produced fast food has officially appropriated a phrase that once denoted something expensive and handmade, thus rendering it fully devoid of meaning. In which case: McDonalds 1, upper-middle-class foodies 0.The other possibility: The chain is struggling to  reverse its sales woes, and bewildered by the brave new world ushered in by Shake Shack and Chipotle, it has latched on to artisan as an inadvertently desperate-sounding synonym for less industrial.†(Jordan Weissmann, McDonald’s, Bewildered by Modernity, Is Now Selling an Artisan Chicken Sandwich. Slate, April 27, 2015) Favorite and Least Favorite Words: Awe and Awesome!- Awe, a word we are about to lose, that has been robbed of its meaning by the unfortunate adjective awesome. Awe meaning ecstatic, reverential feeling before Beauty, before the Magnificent. Awesome, a tiresome word, flung indiscriminately in all directions, on all occasions until it has become so trivial, it is valueless.Awe, to be used on rare occasions before the marvelous, the extraordinary. It conveys wonder and amazement. Even the sound conveys a feeling. Saying the word, the mouth opens in speechless delight before that which is greater than the self.(Elizabeth Strong-Cuevas, quoted by Lewis Burke Frumkes in Favorite Words of Famous People. Marion Street Press, 2011)- In a world of sensory overload, most terms of acclaim are exaggerations. A pile of french fries hardly makes us tremble in awe, yet we call it awesome, exaggerating for the sake of persuasion. But because awesome is so worn out, the exaggeration doesnt register; it needs an element of novelty to help it to do so. Novelty gets attention. The fries were industrial-strength awesome. The ride was shiver-me-timbers awesome.(Arthur Plotnik, Better Than Great: A Plenitudinous Compendium of Wallopingly Fresh Superlatives. Cleis Press, 2011)- Im just amazed that hundreds of people can gobble up this malarkey and repeat it, with straight faces. Im equally amazed by the high regard in which HubSpot people hold themselves. They use the word awesome incessantly, usually to describe themselves or each other. Thats awesome! Youre awesome! No, youre awesome for saying that Im awesome!(Dan Lyons, Disrupted: My Misadventure in the Start-Up Bubble. Hachette, 2016)- Vogue words like  awesome  catch on because everyone is using them, and they irritate because everyone is using them. Adopters hear other people using  awesome  to indicate enthusiastic approval generally and pick it up because it gives them a sense of solidarity and group identity. Scorner s resist  awesome  because they do not care to sound like those people.Acceptance or rejection of group identity sharpens the reactions.For example, sticklers will likely carp about impoverishment of vocabulary and semantic drift,  awesome  in the enthusiastic approval generally sense having little or nothing to do with  awe  (just as they would previously have objected to  terrible  for its attenuated connection to  terror). For the stickler, disapproval is a badge of cultural and social superiority. For the adopter, approval is a thumb in the eye of the pretentious.(John E. McIntyre, Shock and Awesome. The Baltimore Sun, December 23, 2015) ViableViable means workable and likely to survive. It has become a vogue word and is commonly used in the sense of workable or achievable. Adjectives such as durable, lasting, effective, and practical are more appropriate.(James S. Major, Writing Classified and Unclassified Papers in the Intelligence Community. Scarecrow Press, 2009)Associate You walk into a PetSmart, a supermarket for dog and cat supplies that allows customers to shop along with their animal companions. You hear a voice on a loudspeaker say urgently, Would an associate report to the rubber-toys aisle. Instantly, a guy with a mop and pail appears, zeros in on the puddle behind a shamefaced puppy and takes care of the problem.The job title of the person doing the mopping-up is associate. No longer is today’s man with a muck rake termed an employee; that description is deemed demeaning. Associate hints at managerial equality.(William Safire, On Language: Vogue-Word Watch. The New York Times, July 15, 2009)Unacce ptableWhy is everyone using the word unacceptable lately? An irate woman on Five Live phoned in this morning and said that it was completely unacceptable that the banks were gambling with our money.Tonight, on East Midlands Today, after a disturbing report about a sawn-up body found in a wheelie bin in a Nottingham suburb, a policeman said, This is a quiet residential area and, as such, this crime is totally unacceptable.A neighbour who was interviewed in the street said, I noticed the bin had been out on the pavement for three days, which is obviously unacceptable.(Sue Townsend, Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years. Penguin, 2010) ImageA great darling among the loosely used pseudoscientific vogue words of recent years is image in the sense impression that others subconsciously have of someone. A jaundiced observer of modern life might well suppose that what we actually are is not nearly so important as the image we are ableto use another vogue wordto project.(John Algeo and Thomas Pyles, The Origins and Development of the English Language, 5th ed. Thomson, 2005)FeedbackFeedback. In its rigorous scientific sense, feedback is the return to an input of part of its output, so as to provide self-corrective action. Feedback is a vogue word in a loose sense for which response would be a perfectly adequate alternative, as in we got a lot of valuable feedback on our advertising campaign.(Ernest Gowers, et al. The Complete Plain Words, rev. ed. David R. Godine, 1988)How to Resist Vogue WordsThe best way to offset the harm of vogues is to stick resolutely, in speech and writing, to each vogue words central meaning. Addre ss an audience or a postcard, but not a problem or a question. Call a substance or a temperament volatile, but not an issue or a situation. Express sympathy far and wide, but keep empathy for aesthetics or psychiatry. Remember Tiny Tim and avoid naming things minuscule or minimal.(Jacques Barzun, Simple Direct: A Rhetoric for Writers. Harper Row, 1975)

Developing self-awareness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Developing self-awareness - Essay Example At the same time, continuous self-examination of feelings and emotions within a person opens a way to self-mastery. This paper is an examination of the â€Å"self† and â€Å"others† processes. It directly discusses my self-awareness skills and how I can understand and improve it in my daily interactions. I understand that both positive and negative feedback are important to me and in order to improve, I should share with others what I feel. I am not aware of my cognitive style and how I process information and this needs improvement. My emotional maturity is not much improved and I only show the capacity to develop it. I struggle a lot to hide my emotions and try to rationalize them. However, sometimes I become emotional before thinking which lands me in saying unintended things to others. This has made me try my best to withhold my emotions as much as I can and dealing with them later by confronting myself. I do not like being uncertain about everything and I try my best to master situations otherwise I quit. I realize that I am quite principled in my behaviour because I have tried my best to nourish it since my early age. I also like being aware of what happens around me and rarely feel angry, depressed or anxious without knowing the reason. Sometimes I annoy others unknowingly an d I like apologizing where possible. I like having someone close to me to share my personal feelings When upset, I look into the problems without sometimes facing the real persons. I am concerned with others and like remaining in touch, though am less group-oriented. I like consulting others just as I tell others what I do not like. I like helping people opposed to each other to find something they can agree upon. In situations needing my attention such that I have to leave work early, I tend to exaggerate a bit to my colleagues of a duty I cannot fail to attend. I do not like people who yell at me when they are angry and