Articles written by Matt Bird in Arts & Humanities

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What is Helium

About me - Matt Bird

What's there to say, really? I'm a Canadian Journalism student who loves to write. I've done it since I was a child and I hope to continue writing 'til I'm in my grave. Prior to Journalism I went to the University of Toronto, St. George Campus for English

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Arts & Humanities > Literature (Other) Readers share their favorite novels: 3 of 56
Everybody has their favorite books, whether they're avid readers or not. I, of course, am no exception, and though I've not read as many titles as I'd like to think I still have a few tales that hold a special place in my heart. Here's a listing of some of my favorite novels, and what sets them above the rest for me. It, by ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Fantasy & Science Fiction Favorite Harry Potter books: 1 of 16
Seven books, one favorite. It's not always easy to choose an overwhelming winner out of a collection of stories by the same author, especially when those stories are all part of one long tale. The whole matter is even more difficult when those stories come from a great writer like JK Rowling. This is a listing of my top thre... More..
Arts & Humanities > Fantasy & Science Fiction Your favorite Harry Potter character: 2 of 28
Considering how many bloody characters there are in the Harry Potter septology, it's difficult to choose just one as sitting out amongst the rest. Most are likable, even if it's just in some small way, and all have their redeeming qualities - I think my favorite has switched dozens of times over the course of the books, goin... More..
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing When it's okay for the protagonist to die: 1 of 14
Most fiction, especially that geared towards younger audiences, strives for the happy ending. We want the characters we've come to love to end their day victorious, and, more important, together. Seeing them part from one another is just too painful, especially when parting comes from the death of one of the major protagonis... More..
Arts & Humanities > Literary Themes & Ideas Favorite literary characters: 1 of 13
Millions of stories to choose from, billions of characters between them. Not an easy list to make, this. Yet I will try. Here's a brief sample of some of my all-time favorite characters from works of fictional literature, be they bad, good, realistic, horrific or otherwise just plain weird. Note now that they won't be in any... More..
Arts & Humanities > History (Other) Why man should study history: 2 of 20
I've never really wondered why I studied history or in school, or why I continue to read non-fictional accounts of historical happenings all throughout recorded time and beyond. I didn't really think we'd need to question it since, let's face it, there's a lot of really interesting history out there. Who wouldn't want to rea... More..
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing Writing tips for creating a fictional world: 3 of 27
Creating a fictional world for a story is one of the best parts of writing. There's something powerful about moulding an entire mythology in your mind and then putting it down on paper, something akin to godhood (or the closest we'll ever get to it, anyway). That said it's not always an easy process, and can be fraught with ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips How to write an effective movie review: 4 of 35
Anybody can review a movie. Can they do it properly, however? Can they enter the affair with a clear mind and an unprejudiced heart? Often enough, no. Most movie viewers possess little biases and preconceptions that invariably mold their view of a movie, possibly before they've even seen it. Consequently their reviews will b... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Using your own life as inspiration for comedic writing: 3 of 22
Whether as a direct source or just a general template, one's own life is a great - and readily accessible! - way to write humor pieces. There's so much to laugh about in our lives that you can't fail to churn out at least one funny thing a day, as long as you keep your eyes open. I generally find that there are two different... More..
Arts & Humanities > Comic Books & Graphic Novels Comic books: Where have all the heroes gone?: 3 of 21
Comic books used to have decidedly simple concepts. A bad guy was causing some sort of trouble - whether it was putting the world itself at risk, or just committing some minor atrocity like robbing a bank - and a good guy, the hero, came rushing out to save the day. And he (yes, generally he, though there were a few females)... More..