Long before he was ever a professional writer Matt was a columnist in waiting. He is always armed with a strong opinion no matter what the subject and an ability to deliver his views with a wit and sense of humor that has earned him the respect of his readers, often times even if they disagree with his opinion.

In April, Matt was recognized by the New York Press Association as Just a Thought earned a third place award for Best Column, a category that drew 114 entries from across New York State.

Please review the sample columns below and if you feel Just a Thought may be a strong fit with your publication Matt would be interested in speaking with you. Just a Thought is available on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis to fit your publication needs.

Just a Thought is a mix of humorous views of sometimes serious topics and serious views of sometimes humorous topics. In other words, it is often, Just a Thought. Written with a broad appeal that isn't demographic specific, the column works well in publications nationwide serving a wide and varying readership. When asked about his philosophy on how he writes his column Matt had this to say:

"I speak from the heart about things that interest me. Rather than pigeonholing into one type of column, I try to make people laugh, make them think, and connect with them. As for the success the column has enjoyed, I credit it to not being afraid to have people criticize what I write. Many people I talk to enjoy my column and at the same time, many people disagree with every word I write. The key to being a successful columnist is to harness both groups and get them to pick up the paper and read you each week.

I've met too many writers who are so afraid to upset people that they filter their thoughts and what the reader gets is a watered down version of what the columnist really wanted to say. For better or for worse, I never do that. What you see is what you get and I appreciate every criticism I get just as much as every compliment, because both mean my readers are not only reading my work, but I evoked something in them strong enough to get them to pick up the phone or to send me a letter."