Matthew Binder: On Writing About His Own Bizarre World

Matthew Binder is the author of the novels Pure Cosmos Club, The Absolved, and High in the Streets. He is also a primary member of the recording project Bang Bang Jet Away. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

In this post, Binder explains the inspiration for his novel Pure Cosmos Club, why he thinks its creation was only possible through divine intervention, and what writers should do instead of talking about writing.

Name: Matthew Binder
Book title: Pure Cosmos Club
Publisher: Stalking Horse Press
Release date: May 15, 2023
Genre/category: Absurdist Fiction
Previous titles: The Absolved, High in the Streets
Elevator pitch for the book: Pure Cosmos Club is an absurd tragicomedy about a painter who falls under the influence of a New Age guru. With his life already slipping out of his grasp, he joins the guru’s cult in search of a solution beyond the daily humdrum materialism of life in today’s America.

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What prompted you to write this book?

My life in NYC had itself become an absurdist comedy. I was dating a super model-cum-Harvard grad. A friend was touring the country with Oprah, leading mass meditations to arenas full of acolytes while secretly hating himself because he had yet to build a billion-dollar company.

Meantime—in the scheme of all things NYC—I was penniless after being unceremoniously fired from my job in Big Tech for not meeting even the minimum expectations. What could I do but write a book about this bizarre world I’d somehow come to inhabit?

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

If I remember correctly, I began work on the book in June 2019. It’s being published in May 2023. My arithmetic is horrible. What is that, roughly four years?

That said, the actual business of writing the book took about 18 months. It came out fully formed from start to finish, minus an omitted subplot about a child actor who looked like a young Ronald Reagan.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

To write and publish a book requires courage and poor judgement. Happily, I possess both in extreme measure. I learned to carry the torch into the darkness without fear, because my destiny is spelled out in the central plot of life.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

Every day was a surprise because I never had a plan. Each morning I’d sit down at the computer, say a prayer, and then, because God was with me, miracles occurred. People might sneer at this claim, but it’s true. The book’s creation is far beyond the narrow limits of my talent. The only explanation is divine intervention.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

A writer should never put too much intention or meaning into their work lest it render it stupid or, worse, merely dry. However, I am very interested in learning people’s actual impressions of the book.

Sometimes a very savvy reader will make an insight that I never before considered. When that happens, it’s a wonderful revelation.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Stop talking about writing. Instead, sit your butt in the chair and write. 

While there’s no shortage of writing advice, it’s often scattered around—a piece of advice here, words of wisdom there. And in the moments when you most need writing advice, what you find might not resonate with you or speak to the issue you’re dealing with. In A Year of Writing Advice, the editors of Writer’s Digest have gathered thoughts, musings, and yes, advice from 365 authors in dozens of genres to help you on your writing journey.

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