BIOGRAPHY

My name is Michael Kwan, and I am a freelance writer born and raised in Vancouver, BC Canada. My work has been featured in a number of websites and publications. Most recently, I've been focusing most of energies toward two websites: Mobile Magazine, a technology news site wherein I write product reviews, news articles, and the like; and the LoveToKnow family of websites, such as their Video Games, Buyer's Guide, Tattoos, Party, and Cell Phones sections. I have also worked on a number of creative and writing projects for such organizations as the University of British Columbia, XGeneration Marketing, and The Commentary.

Education and Training

As I prepared myself for the University of British Columbia, I intended on pursuing a CA (chartered accountant) designation. Several of my first year courses reflected this decision -- mathematics, economics, and the like -- but I also took Psychology as an elective and was enthralled by the fascinating material. I decided to major in Psychology instead, adding in an English Literature minor for good measure. It was the latter that gave me a creative outlet to express myself, so to speak, and what slowly directed me toward a career in writing.

While at UBC, I also partook in the Arts Co-op program. Beyond the work experiences themselves, I helped with the mentorship program, helping to organize pairs of junior and senior students, as well as kick-off events and meet-and-greets. Moreover, I also worked with the publishing team and it was here that I found my niche. I wrote for Arts@Work, the official UBC Arts Co-op newsletter, before taking on the role of Co-Editor in my senior year.

Writing Experience

Upon graduation from the University of British Columbia, I began looking for work that would provide me with a creative outlet, one that would let me develop my writing skills. I found this at Puti Meditation Centre in Richmond, BC. A Buddhist organization originally based in Mainland China, Puti needed a native English speaker to ensure that their materials were translated in such a way that would more easily received by the North American public. While there, I edited many of their translated works, as well as producing several articles of my own on the relationship between Western psychology and Eastern philosophy, scientific support for the benefits of meditation, and other works.

Since then, I have gone on to produce varied projects for a range of companies, from copywriting and cover letters to event coverage and product reviews. I feel prepared to tackle any writing project.

Other Work History

Outside of writing, I have had quite a varied work experience from popping popcorn and selling tickets at a local movie theatre to managing 26 workplace campaigns for United Way (raising over $600,000 for our community in the process). Along the way, I have also performed research for a university dean's office, supervised a central poll site for a federal election, and was a management trainee at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Add to that my experience as a research assistant for the Alzheimer's Clinic at UBC Hospital, preparing venues for trade shows, and serving thousands of guests at the Pacific National Exhibition. I draw on this wealth of experience in my everyday activities, but more importantly, these experiences and my growing knowledge base allow me to be an incredibly versatile writer and editor.

Other Biographies

I have a few other biography pages set up around the internet. Here is a small sample:
--LoveToKnow Video Games
--LoveToKnow Buyers Guide
--LoveToKnow Cell Phones
--The Commentary
--Dailypixel Network

Also be sure to check out my blog -- Beyond the Rhetoric -- for a look into my daily life.