Bookpleasures.com welcomes as our guest, poet, writer, educator, filmmaker, and standup comedian Matt Nagin. Matt's poetry has been published in Antigonish Review, Dash Literary Journal, Oxford Magazine, Grain Magazine, and Arsenic Lobster.

His first poetry collection, Butterflies Lost Within The Crooked Moonlight, was released in 2017, and he’s just followed up on it with Feast of Sapphires (Burning Flower Press 2019).

Matt has performed standup in seven countries, in movies and on TV, and serves as a Talent and Show Coordinator for the Gotham Comedy Foundation. His first comedic short film, Inside Job, has won acting and directing awards on the festival circuit.

Good day Matt and thanks for participating in our interview.

Matt: Good day Norm. Thanks for the interview.


Norm: What do you consider to be your greatest success (or successes) so far in your careers?

Matt: Honestly, awards and external success are not my primary motivation. The artist motivated by that might very well go insane. I am a believer in the idea that internal change/development leads to external success, anyway, so that is my primary focus. Growth. Spiritual and technical refinement etc.

While, on a pretty much continual basis I’m evolving—as are most artists—I’d say a key breakthrough internally—was making a conscious decision to complete works. Before that, too often, I’d start something, lose interest, and move on to something else. I had an enormous backlog of unfinished works. To me success only became possible when I shifted my attitude and put work out into the world. Being able to do that, in spite of, at the time, being highly sensitive, and kind of whimsical by nature, has been my greatest success.

Norm: What has been your greatest challenge (professionally) that you’ve overcome in getting to where you’re at today?

Matt: I just listed my inability to fully complete works as my principal detriment. I will add to that coping with rejection. As a standup comic, you invariably face crowds who are not particularly fond of you. I’ve faced more of those than many—in part because I’m inherently a bit of a provocateur and in part because I’m not overly concerned with the sensitivities of others.

Rejection can be difficult to take—and yet—I’ve definitely learned that in can be liberating in the sense that you know what others feel and the tangibility of that—and the fact that it has not destroyed you—can be empowering.

Norm: How did you get started in writing poetry? What draws you to express yourself through poetry and what drew you to poetry?

Matt: I have been writing poetry since a summer program at Penn State where I took a creative writing class while in high school. I’ve continued on, in some form, for the past twenty-six years. It’s a regular practice now; but, even when not writing much, I always seemed to come back to it—particularly when feeling down. I am drawn to poetry because it is one of the most direct ways to express yourself. Poetry is immediate. Either you get it or you don’t.

I also like the fact that anything can be part of it. It can be in almost any style. With poetry, all rules are meant to be broken. It just seems a great way to communicate on a primal level. This may be why it has survived thousands of years. Actually, in our digital age, it may be more imperative that we connect with each other through poetry—a kind of field of intensity—than ever before.

Norm: Has you career as a standup comedian influenced in any way your poetry writing or vice versa?

Matt: Yes. Some of my poems are humorous. Also, with poetry and standup, it’s very important what you don’t say. Editing, what you leave out, can strengthen a joke in a similar fashion to how it can strengthen a poem.

Norm: Has the Internet changed the way poetry reaches people?

Matt: Yes. Instagram is popular for poetry. In some sense it has led to a revitalization of the form. Poetry readings can go viral—such as with slam competitions. Further, videos of readings of poetry with imagery can be a very effective way to present this type of work. I made an attempt to do this recently, with five poems from Feast Of Sapphires, which will be released for free on YouTube in the coming weeks.

These videos were made with the help of Julia Noel Goldman, and hopefully are another interesting avenue through which to view the work. A sample of this, Regret, is available HERE

Norm: How would you define a good poem?

Matt: A good poem is one that resonates with the reader. It further, very often, has an original concept or style, and, in many cases, has something to say. Of course, a poem could have none of the above and still be great. I guess that is because a big part of poetry is surprise. Then, too, poetry is constantly reinventing itself and changing with the cultural norms of the day.

Norm: It is sometimes said that people in times of need turn to poetry. Is this true and if so, why?

Matt: Yes. I think so. I know, as a writer, when I am in a despondent state, I often find writing poetry uplifting. By confronting the source of the sadness, it ceases to be such an overwhelming monster. Reading poetry can also help me feel less alone.

Norm: Would you say you get clarity about a subject from writing a poem about it? If so, please elaborate.

Matt: Yes. Writing about a subject, in many cases, brings clarity. Poetry can help us come to terms with difficult or uncomfortable truths. Awareness of the complexities of an issue and a rearrangement of former paradigms can have a myriad of benefits. In my case, in several instances, poetry inspired personal growth.

Norm: How do you feel as to the way language and words are used today?

Matt: I have noticed, with the rise of social media, and streaming platforms, that literacy is on the decline. Our collective vocabulary has shrunk. This is sad since reading is critical to education and personal empowerment.

Norm: Do you feel that there are some subjects that are more important than others to write poetry about or for that matter use in your standup acts?

Matt: With poetry I will cover just about any topic. In fact, I’m constantly searching for a topic no one else would think to discuss. With comedy, however, I find audiences tend to laugh at a narrower range of topics, so I restrict myself more.

Norm: What advice do you have for readers who might dream of becoming poets?

Matt: Buy a cheap black and white marble notebook and fill it up with poems. Don’t censor yourself. Just let your imagination wander. Put it away. Weeks later, pick it up again, revise the best poems, send them out, and start up on a new notebook. Keep writing on a regular basis, and, eventually, after a few years perhaps, you will begin to feel like a poet. Of course, all that being said, you will probably have to write a lot of terrible poems before writing anything of merit.

Norm: Could you tell our readers a little about Feast Of Sapphires?

Matt: This is my second poetry collection. I think the book is highly accessible and shows many different facets of my character. It deals with basic human emotions that anyone can relate to and the emphasis was often on the musicality of the poems.

Norm: If people can only buy one poetry book this month, why should it be yours?

Matt: I think the book will entertain you and possibly even help you on your own spiritual and existential journey. This was a passion project, so, if nothing else, buy this book to support an indie author trying to create a unique book that defies expectations.

Norm: What were your goals and intentions in this poetry book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?

Matt: I achieved my goals of conveying my ideas in as immediate and direct a way as possible. I also generated the poetic sentiment I considered vital to this type of work. That said, I believe my next book will be even stronger as I’m continually growing as a poet.

Norm: Where can our readers find out more about you and your poetry?

Matt: Readers interested in my poetry should read my two books available on Amazon, Feast of Sapphires and Butterflies Lost Within The Crooked Moonlight. They can also find out more about me through my WEBSITE.

Norm: What is next for Matt Nagin?

Matt: I have a humor collection that will be released by an indie publisher later this year. I also have a collection of short stories I’m seeking a publisher for. After that there are two unfinished novels I’m hoping to finally complete.

Norm: As this interview comes to an end, what question do you wish that someone would ask about Feast Of Sapphires but nobody has?

Matt: Why do you write poems about such a wide-range of topics? First, I’m a Gemini and mercurial by nature. Second, I like to expose myself to a wide range of influences and ideas and I suppose that reflects in my poetry. Finally, picking new topics helps me see the world through a new lens, which, at times, can be invigorating.

Norm: Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors. I appreciate the interview and wish you the best as well.